/desktop-plugins-tauri

name: desktop-plugins-tauri
description: Tauri 2.x official plugin ecosystem, plugin APIs, permissions, and custom plugin development

Tauri 2.x Plugin Ecosystem

> **Quick Guide:** Tauri plugins follow a dual-install pattern: Cargo crate (Rust backend) + npm package (JS frontend). Every plugin must be registered with `.plugin()` in Rust AND have permissions granted in a capability file. Missing any step causes runtime errors, not compile errors. Custom plugins use `tauri::plugin::Builder` with optional mobile support (Swift/Kotlin). There are 30+ official plugins covering fs, http, dialog, store, notification, shell, updater, sql, log, stronghold, deep-link, global-shortcut, and more. > > **Current version:** Tauri 2.x (stable). All plugins require Rust 1.77.2+.

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<critical_requirements>

CRITICAL: Before Using This Skill

**(You MUST complete ALL four installation steps for every plugin: 1) cargo add crate, 2) npm install bindings, 3) `.plugin()` registration in Rust, 4) permissions in capability file -- missing any step causes runtime errors)**

**(You MUST scope plugin permissions in capability files -- never grant unscoped `fs:allow-read-text-file` or `http:default` without URL restrictions)**

**(You MUST use `@tauri-apps/plugin-*` npm packages for JS bindings -- not `@tauri-apps/api/*` which is the core API)**

**(You MUST use `#[cfg(desktop)]` guard when registering desktop-only plugins -- mobile builds will fail otherwise)**

**(You MUST use `tauri::plugin::Builder` with an `init()` convention when creating custom plugins -- not raw command registration)**

</critical_requirements>

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**Auto-detection:** tauri-plugin, @tauri-apps/plugin, tauri_plugin, plugin registration, .plugin(), tauri-plugin-fs, tauri-plugin-http, tauri-plugin-store, tauri-plugin-dialog, tauri-plugin-notification, tauri-plugin-shell, tauri-plugin-updater, tauri-plugin-log, tauri-plugin-sql, tauri-plugin-stronghold, tauri-plugin-deep-link, tauri-plugin-global-shortcut, tauri-plugin-autostart, tauri-plugin-clipboard-manager, tauri-plugin-window-state, tauri-plugin-single-instance, tauri-plugin-barcode-scanner, tauri-plugin-biometric, tauri-plugin-os, tauri-plugin-process, custom plugin, plugin development, npx tauri plugin new

**When to use:**

• Installing and configuring official Tauri plugins
• Using plugin JavaScript APIs from the frontend
• Scoping plugin permissions in capability files
• Creating custom plugins with Rust backend + optional JS API
• Adding mobile support (Swift/Kotlin) to custom plugins
• Choosing between plugins for a specific use case (store vs stronghold, fs vs dialog)

**When NOT to use:**

• Tauri core framework patterns (commands, invoke, state, events, tray, windows -- use the framework skill)
• Frontend framework patterns (component architecture, state management -- use respective framework skills)
• General Rust programming not related to Tauri plugin APIs
• Build tool or bundler configuration (separate tooling concern)

**Key patterns covered:**

• Four-step plugin installation pattern ([examples/core.md](examples/core.md))
• Data & storage plugins: fs, store, sql, stronghold ([examples/data-storage.md](examples/data-storage.md))
• System integration plugins: shell, notification, clipboard, dialog, os, process ([examples/system.md](examples/system.md))
• App lifecycle plugins: updater, deep-link, autostart, single-instance, window-state, global-shortcut ([examples/lifecycle.md](examples/lifecycle.md))
• Networking plugins: http, log, websocket, upload ([examples/networking.md](examples/networking.md))
• Mobile-only plugins: barcode-scanner, biometric, geolocation, haptics, nfc ([examples/mobile.md](examples/mobile.md))
• Custom plugin development: Builder pattern, commands, config, lifecycle hooks, mobile support ([examples/custom-plugins.md](examples/custom-plugins.md))

**Detailed resources:**

• [examples/core.md](examples/core.md) - Installation pattern, permission scoping, multi-plugin registration
• [examples/data-storage.md](examples/data-storage.md) - fs, store, sql, stronghold plugin APIs
• [examples/system.md](examples/system.md) - shell, notification, clipboard, dialog, os, process APIs
• [examples/lifecycle.md](examples/lifecycle.md) - updater, deep-link, autostart, single-instance, window-state, global-shortcut
• [examples/networking.md](examples/networking.md) - http, log, websocket, upload
• [examples/mobile.md](examples/mobile.md) - barcode-scanner, biometric, geolocation, haptics, nfc
• [examples/custom-plugins.md](examples/custom-plugins.md) - Custom plugin scaffolding, Builder, mobile (Swift/Kotlin)
• [reference.md](reference.md) - Full plugin registry table, permission patterns, platform support matrix

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<philosophy>

Philosophy

Tauri plugins extend the core framework with native capabilities through a **dual-architecture** design: a Rust backend crate providing the implementation, and an npm package providing typed JavaScript bindings. This separation enforces security -- every plugin operation must be explicitly permitted in a capability file.

**Plugin architecture principles:**

• **Security by default**: Plugins do nothing until permissions are granted. Permissions are scoped per-window and can restrict operations to specific paths, URLs, or commands.
• **Dual install**: Rust crate handles native operations; npm package provides the typed JS API. Both are required.
• **Platform awareness**: Some plugins are desktop-only (shell, autostart, global-shortcut), some are mobile-only (barcode-scanner, biometric, haptics), and many work on both.
• **Convention over configuration**: All official plugins follow the same four-step install pattern. Custom plugins use `tauri::plugin::Builder` with an `init()` export.

**When to use plugins vs custom commands:**

• Need file system, HTTP, notifications, or other OS features? Use the official plugin.
• Need custom business logic that runs in Rust? Write a Tauri command (framework skill).

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