Where should the plugin manifest be located?

The plugin.json manifest must be placed within a directory named .claude-plugin/ at the root of your plugin project.

What is the correct file format for Claude Code commands?

Commands should be Markdown files located in the commands/ directory, featuring YAML frontmatter for the command name and description.

Why should I use the ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} variable?

This environment variable ensures your plugin remains portable across different operating systems and installation methods by providing a dynamic reference to the absolute path of the plugin root.

How does auto-discovery work in Claude Code?

Claude Code automatically scans root-level directories such as commands/, agents/, and skills/ for valid Markdown and JSON files, registering them without requiring manual paths in the manifest.

Claude Code Plugin Structure Guide

Name: Claude Code Plugin Structure Guide
Author: kgadek

bykgadek

0•

Developer Tools

Guides developers through standardizing directory layouts, manifest configurations, and component organization for Claude Code plugins.

This skill provides essential architectural guidance for developers building Claude Code plugins, ensuring seamless integration through standardized directory layouts and automatic component discovery. It covers everything from configuring the plugin.json manifest and organizing commands, agents, and skills to implementing portable path references using the ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} environment variable. By following these established patterns, developers can create maintainable, portable, and well-structured plugins that leverage Claude Code's native discovery mechanisms and lifecycle hooks.

Key Features

010 GitHub stars

02Standardized directory layout for automatic component discovery

03Comprehensive manifest configuration (plugin.json) best practices

04Naming convention guidance for files and directories

05Component-based organization for commands, agents, skills, and hooks

06Portable path management via ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} variables

Use Cases

01Scaffolding a new Claude Code plugin from scratch with the correct architecture

02Migrating existing developer tools into the Claude Code plugin ecosystem

03Optimizing plugin performance and portability using portable path references

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add kgadek/kgadek-claude-plugin plugin-structure

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill