/plugin-structure

name: Plugin Structure
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a plugin", "scaffold a plugin", "understand plugin structure", "organize plugin components", "set up plugin.json", "use ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}", "add commands/agents/skills/hooks", "configure auto-discovery", or needs guidance on plugin directory layout, manifest configuration, component organization, file naming conventions, or Claude Code plugin architecture best practices.
version: 0.1.0

Plugin Structure for Claude Code

Overview

Claude Code plugins follow a standardized directory structure with automatic component discovery. Understanding this structure enables creating well-organized, maintainable plugins that integrate seamlessly with Claude Code.

**Key concepts:**

• Conventional directory layout for automatic discovery
• Manifest-driven configuration in `.claude-plugin/plugin.json`
• Component-based organization (commands, agents, skills, hooks)
• Portable path references using `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}`
• Explicit vs. auto-discovered component loading

Directory Structure

Every Claude Code plugin follows this organizational pattern:

plugin-name/
├── .claude-plugin/
│   └── plugin.json          # Required: Plugin manifest
├── commands/                 # Slash commands (.md files)
├── agents/                   # Subagent definitions (.md files)
├── skills/                   # Agent skills (subdirectories)
│   └── skill-name/
│       └── SKILL.md         # Required for each skill
├── hooks/
│   └── hooks.json           # Event handler configuration
├── .mcp.json                # MCP server definitions
└── scripts/                 # Helper scripts and utilities

**Critical rules:**

1. **Manifest location**: The `plugin.json` manifest MUST be in `.claude-plugin/` directory 2. **Component locations**: All component directories (commands, agents, skills, hooks) MUST be at plugin root level, NOT nested inside `.claude-plugin/` 3. **Optional components**: Only create directories for components the plugin actually uses 4. **Naming convention**: Use kebab-case for all directory and file names

Plugin Manifest (plugin.json)

The manifest defines plugin metadata and configuration. Located at `.claude-plugin/plugin.json`:

Required Fields

{
  "name": "plugin-name"
}

**Name requirements:**

• Use kebab-case format (lowercase with hyphens)
• Must be unique across installed plugins
• No spaces or special characters
• Example: `code-review-assistant`, `test-runner`, `api-docs`

Recommended Metadata

{
  "name": "plugin-name",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Brief explanation of plugin purpose",
  "author": {
    "name": "Author Name",
    "email": "author@example.com",
    "url": "https://example.com"
  },
  "homepage": "https://docs.example.com",
  "repository": "https://github.com/user/plugin-name",
  "license": "MIT",
  "keywords": ["testing", "automation", "ci-cd"]
}

**Version format**: Follow semantic versioning (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH) **Keywords**: Use for plugin discovery and categorization

Component Path Configuration

Specify custom paths for components (supplements default directories):

{
  "name": "plugin-name",
  "commands": "./custom-commands",
  "agents": ["./agents", "./specialized-agents"],
  "hooks": "./config/hooks.json",
  "mcpServers": "./.mcp.json"
}

**Important**: Custom paths supplement defaults—they don't replace them. Components in both default directories and custom paths will load.

**Path rules:**

• Must be relative to plugin root
• Must start with `./`
• Cannot use absolute paths
• Support arrays for multiple locations

Component Organization

Commands

**Location**: `commands/` directory **Format**: Markdown files with YAML frontmatter **Auto-discovery**: All `.md` files in `commands/` load automatically

**Example structure**:

commands/
├── review.md        # /review command
├── test.md          # /test command
└── deploy.md        # /deploy command

**File format**:

---
name: command-name
description: Command description
---

Command implementation instructions...

**Usage**: Commands integrate as native slash commands in Claude Code

Agents

**Location**: `agents/` directory **Format**: Markdown files with YAML frontmatter **Auto-discovery**: All `.md` files in `agents/` load automatically

**Example structure**:

agents/
├── code-reviewer.md
├── test-generator.md
└── refactorer.md

**File format**:

---
description: Agent role and expertise
capabilities:
  - Specific task 1
  - Specific task 2
---

Detailed agent instructions and knowledge...

**Usage**: Users can invoke agents manually, or Claude Code selects them automatically based on task context

Skills

**Location**: `skills/` directory with subdirectories per skill **Format**: Each skill in its own directory with `SKILL.md` file **Auto-discovery**: All `SKILL.md` files in skill subdirectories load automatically

**Example structure**:

skills/
├── api-testing/
│   ├── SKILL.md
│   ├── scripts/
│   │   └── test-runner.py
│   └── references/
│       └── api-spec.md
└── database-migrations/
    ├── SKILL.md
    └── examples/
        └── migration-template.sql

**SKILL.md format**:

---
name: Skill Name
description: When to use this skill
version: 1.0.0
---

Skill instructions and guidance...

**Supporting files**: Skills can include scripts, references, examples, or assets in subdirectories

**Usage**: Claude Code autonomously activates skills based on task context matching the description

Hooks

**Location**: `hooks/hooks.json` or inline in `plugin.json` **Format**: JSON configuration defining event handlers **Registration**: Hooks register automatically when plugin enables

**Example structure**:

hooks/
├── hooks.json           # Hook configuration
└── scripts/
    ├── validate.sh      # Hook script
    └── check-style.sh   # Hook script