Do I need to restart Claude Code after changing a settings file?

Yes, because Claude Code hooks are typically loaded at the start of a session, a restart is required for the updated settings to be recognized by the hook logic.

How do I extract YAML frontmatter from these files in Bash?

You can use a sed command like 'sed -n "/^---$/,/^---$/{ /^---$/d; p; }"' to extract the content between the delimiters for further parsing.

Why use the .local.md extension for configuration?

The .local.md suffix signals that the file contains user-specific configuration or state that should be added to .gitignore and not committed to version control.

Where should I store plugin settings in my project?

Settings should be stored in the project root directory under .claude/plugin-name.local.md to ensure they are correctly scoped to the project.

Claude Plugin Settings Pattern

Name: Claude Plugin Settings Pattern
Author: stevessr

bystevessr

0•

Developer Tools

Implements structured per-project configuration for Claude Code plugins using YAML frontmatter and markdown files.

This skill provides a standardized architectural pattern for managing plugin state and user-configurable settings within Claude Code environments. By utilizing .claude/*.local.md files, developers can define project-specific behaviors, toggle features via hooks, and maintain persistent state without polluting the global environment or git history. It includes detailed implementation guides for parsing settings in Bash scripts, commands, and agents, ensuring a consistent developer experience across custom Claude integrations.

Key Features

01Markdown body support for dynamic prompts and context

02YAML frontmatter for structured key-value configuration

03Robust Bash parsing patterns for plugin hooks and commands

04Standardized .claude/plugin-name.local.md file structure

05Git-safe configuration patterns using .local.md naming conventions

060 GitHub stars

Use Cases

01Storing agent state or task-specific metadata for multi-agent coordination swarms

02Toggling specific plugin features on a per-project basis without modifying source code

03Providing user-configurable thresholds or API settings for custom developer utilities

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add stevessr/dotsfiles plugin-settings

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill