plugin-creator
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'create a plugin', 'scaffold a plugin', 'set up plugin structure', 'new plugin', 'edit the plugin manifest', 'wire plugin hooks', 'validate plugin structure', or needs plugin-level work spanning multiple components. For creating or editing a single skill (even inside a plugin), use skill-creator instead.
Best use case
plugin-creator is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'create a plugin', 'scaffold a plugin', 'set up plugin structure', 'new plugin', 'edit the plugin manifest', 'wire plugin hooks', 'validate plugin structure', or needs plugin-level work spanning multiple components. For creating or editing a single skill (even inside a plugin), use skill-creator instead.
Teams using plugin-creator should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/plugin-creator/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How plugin-creator Compares
| Feature / Agent | plugin-creator | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'create a plugin', 'scaffold a plugin', 'set up plugin structure', 'new plugin', 'edit the plugin manifest', 'wire plugin hooks', 'validate plugin structure', or needs plugin-level work spanning multiple components. For creating or editing a single skill (even inside a plugin), use skill-creator instead.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Plugin Creator (with Superpowers Enforcement)
This skill wraps the built-in `plugin-dev:create-plugin` with enforcement pattern awareness from the superpowers framework. It adds an enforcement audit layer and PostToolUse validation hooks that the built-in version lacks.
## Process
### Step 1: Classify the Plugin
Before drafting, classify what's being created or edited:
| Type | Description | Enforcement Needs |
|------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Full plugin** | New plugin with skills, hooks, commands, agents | High — needs enforcement across all components |
| **Skill addition** | Adding a skill to an existing plugin | Medium — needs skill-level enforcement audit |
| **Hook addition** | Adding hooks to an existing plugin | Medium — needs path validation, matcher coverage |
| **Component edit** | Substantial edit to existing plugin component | Medium — needs re-audit of affected enforcement |
### Anti-Patterns: Read Before Drafting
!`cat ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../references/creator-anti-patterns.md`
### Step 1b: Check for Mechanical Enforcement Opportunities
Before drafting, identify constraints that should be **mechanically enforced** rather than prompt-enforced. Four mechanisms are available:
| Mechanism | Resolves at | Use for |
|-----------|------------|---------|
| `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}` | Skill load | Script paths in Bash templates (use directly, never wrap in `$()`) |
| `!`command`` (bang) | Skill load | Injecting reference file content, environment state |
| Scoped hooks (Pre/PostToolUse) | Each tool call | Mechanically checkable constraints (lint, path guards) |
| SessionStart hook (`once: true`) | Session start | Expensive computations (API calls, index builds) — not paths or content |
**The principle:** if a constraint is mechanically checkable, enforce it with a hook. If it requires judgment, keep it as prompt text.
### Step 2: Invoke the Built-in Plugin Creator
Use the Skill tool to invoke the built-in plugin creator:
```
Skill(skill="plugin-dev:create-plugin")
```
Follow its full process. The built-in creator handles the workflow — do not reimplement it.
### Step 3: Enforcement Audit (After Each Draft)
After writing or revising plugin components (and before final validation), audit against the superpowers enforcement patterns. Read the enforcement checklist:
!`cat ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../references/enforcement-checklist.md`
Then score the draft using the appropriate template:
#### For Plugin Skills
Score against all 12 patterns from the checklist. Focus especially on:
1. **Iron Laws** — Does each skill have absolute constraints for high-drift actions?
2. **Fact Rows** (supersedes Rationalization Tables, v5.36.0) — Does each skill state its incident-learned, non-derivable knowledge (numbers, thresholds, named incidents, tool quirks) as declarative bullets with drive-framed consequences? Legacy excuse/reality tables count as present but convert on next touch; never author new ones.
3. **Red Flags + STOP** — Are there pattern interrupts for observable wrong actions?
4. **Trigger-Only Descriptions** — Does each skill description contain ONLY trigger phrases, no process summary?
5. **Gate Functions** — Does every phase transition have a verifiable exit condition?
#### For Plugin Hooks
Verify:
1. **Matcher coverage** — Do hooks fire on the right tool events?
2. **Path validity** — Do hook commands use `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../..` (not `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}`)?
3. **Error handling** — Do hooks fail gracefully (non-zero exit blocks the action)?
4. **Scope** — Are hooks scoped to skills (frontmatter) or global (plugin.json)?
#### For Plugin Structure
Verify:
1. **plugin.json** — Valid manifest with correct version, name, description
2. **marketplace.json** — Version matches plugin.json in all locations
3. **Directory layout** — skills/, hooks/, commands/, agents/ as needed
4. **Path portability** — No hardcoded absolute paths in any component
### Step 4: Reconcile Tensions
**Tension resolution:** Enforcement patterns go in skill body (not description), implementation code goes in scripts/, names are descriptive but descriptions are trigger-only.
### Step 5: Continue Iteration
Return to the built-in plugin creator's process for validation and testing. After each iteration's revision, re-run the enforcement audit (Step 3).
During iteration, watch for enforcement iteration signals (see "Enforcement Iteration Signals" in the anti-patterns reference loaded above).
## References
- **Enforcement checklist**: `references/enforcement-checklist.md` (loaded above via bang injection)
- **Anti-patterns**: `references/creator-anti-patterns.md` (loaded above via bang injection)
- **Philosophy**: `references/PHILOSOPHY.md`
- **Built-in plugin creator**: `plugin-dev:create-plugin`Related Skills
workflow-creator
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'create a workflow', 'design a workflow', 'edit a workflow', 'audit workflow', 'improve workflow', 'break down a task into phases', 'migrate a phase to a dynamic workflow (ultracode)', 'convert fan-out to a workflow script / ultracode', or needs to substantially create or edit any multi-phase workflow.
skill-creator
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'create a skill', 'improve a skill', 'edit a skill', 'add a skill to a plugin', 'add enforcement patterns', 'add Iron Laws or fact rows', 'fix a skill description', 'audit skill enforcement', or needs to substantially create or edit any SKILL.md file — including a single skill inside a plugin. Use plugin-creator only for plugin-level work (manifest, hooks wiring, multi-component scaffolding).
writing
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'write a paper', 'start a writing project', 'draft an article', 'write about', 'brainstorm writing topics', 'gather sources for a paper', 'what should I write about', or needs the writing workflow entry point for any writing task.
writing-validate
Validate draft sections cover all PRECIS claims before review.
writing-setup
Internal skill for creating PRECIS.md, OUTLINE.md, and ACTIVE_WORKFLOW.md. Called after brainstorm sources are gathered.
writing-revise
This skill should be used when the user asks to 'revise writing', 'fix review issues', 'polish draft', 'apply review feedback', 'complete writing workflow', or after /writing-review produces REVIEW.md with issues to fix.
writing-review
Internal skill for hierarchical document review. Called by writing-validate after claim validation passes.
writing-precis-reviewer
Internal skill used by writing-setup at exit gate. Dispatches a reviewer subagent to verify PRECIS.md quality before outlining. NOT user-facing.
writing-outline
Internal skill for creating detailed section outlines. Called by /writing workflow after PRECIS and master OUTLINE are complete.
writing-outline-reviewer
Internal skill used by writing-outline at exit gate. Dispatches a reviewer subagent to verify OUTLINE.md quality before drafting. NOT user-facing.
writing-lit-review
Internal skill for literature review and source materialization. Called after brainstorm, before setup. NOT user-facing.
writing-legal
Internal skill for academic legal writing. Loaded by /writing when style=legal. Based on Volokh's "Academic Legal Writing".