What is the difference between a skill and a plugin?

A skill is a specific behavior or guidance file, while a plugin is a packaging format that bundles skills, commands, agents, and hooks for distribution.

What is the most common error in Claude Code plugin design?

The most frequent mistake is placing directories like 'commands/' or 'agents/' inside the '.claude-plugin/' folder. These must remain at the plugin root to be correctly identified.

Does this skill help with MCP server integration?

Yes, it provides specific patterns for both Stdio and HTTP transports, including workarounds for known interpolation bugs and OAuth flow documentation.

How do I handle secrets like API keys in my plugins?

This skill enforces the use of environment variable references (e.g., ${API_KEY}) in manifest files to ensure sensitive credentials are never hardcoded or committed to version control.

Claude Code Plugin Architect

Name: Claude Code Plugin Architect
Author: racurry

byracurry

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Developer Tools

Guides the design, architecture, and distribution of Claude Code plugins using official specifications and best practices.

Claude Code Plugin Architect is an essential skill for developers looking to package and share custom extensions. It provides interpretive guidance on the official plugin specification, helping you navigate complex requirements for directory structures, manifest files, and MCP server bundling. By following its structured workflows, you can avoid common pitfalls—such as incorrect folder nesting—and implement secure patterns for environment variables and OAuth authentication. This skill ensures your plugins are not only functional but also ready for marketplace distribution with standardized documentation and validation.

Key Features

01Validates directory structures to ensure plugin components are discoverable

02Outlines secure environment variable patterns for handling sensitive API keys

030 GitHub stars

04Provides templates for plugin.json manifests and MCP server configurations

05Offers quality checklists for marketplace-ready plugin distribution

06Guides OAuth implementation for remote MCP services using native HTTP transport

Use Cases

01Integrating third-party APIs via MCP servers with standardized authentication

02Converting local scripts and agents into modular, version-controlled extensions

03Packaging internal company workflows into distributable team plugins

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add racurry/neat-little-package plugin-design

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill