Marketplace Update Skill
This skill provides functionality to update the .claude-plugin/marketplace.json file when plugins are added, modified, or removed from the marketplace.
Purpose
Maintain the marketplace catalog by:
- •Adding new plugin entries
- •Updating existing plugin metadata
- •Removing obsolete plugins
- •Validating marketplace structure
- •Ensuring consistency across the catalog
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- •A new plugin is created and needs to be registered
- •An existing plugin's components change (agents, commands, skills added/removed)
- •Plugin metadata needs updating (version, description, keywords, etc.)
- •A plugin is being removed from the marketplace
- •Validating marketplace.json structure
Marketplace Structure
The marketplace.json file follows this schema:
json
{
"name": "marketplace-name",
"owner": {
"name": "Owner Name",
"email": "email@example.com",
"url": "https://github.com/username"
},
"metadata": {
"description": "Marketplace description",
"version": "1.0.0"
},
"plugins": [
{
"name": "plugin-name",
"source": "./plugins/plugin-name",
"description": "Plugin description",
"version": "1.0.0",
"author": {
"name": "Author Name",
"url": "https://github.com/username"
},
"homepage": "https://github.com/username/repo",
"repository": "https://github.com/username/repo",
"license": "MIT",
"keywords": ["keyword1", "keyword2"],
"category": "category-name",
"strict": false,
"commands": ["./commands/command-name.md"],
"agents": ["./agents/agent-name.md"],
"skills": ["./skills/skill-name"]
}
]
}
Operations
Add Plugin
Add a new plugin entry to the marketplace:
python
# Use the provided Python script python marketplace_update.py add \ --name "plugin-name" \ --description "Plugin description" \ --version "1.0.0" \ --category "category-name" \ --agents "agent1.md,agent2.md" \ --commands "command1.md,command2.md" \ --skills "skill1,skill2"
Required Fields:
- •
name- Plugin name (hyphen-case) - •
description- Brief plugin description - •
version- Semantic version (e.g., "1.0.0")
Optional Fields:
- •
category- Plugin category (default: "general") - •
agents- Comma-separated list of agent files - •
commands- Comma-separated list of command files - •
skills- Comma-separated list of skill directories - •
keywords- Comma-separated list of keywords - •
license- License type (default: "MIT") - •
strict- Strict mode flag (default: false)
Update Plugin
Update an existing plugin entry:
python
python marketplace_update.py update \ --name "plugin-name" \ --description "Updated description" \ --version "1.1.0" \ --add-agent "new-agent.md" \ --remove-command "old-command.md"
Update Operations:
- •
--description- Update description - •
--version- Update version - •
--category- Update category - •
--keywords- Update keywords (replaces all) - •
--add-agent- Add agent file - •
--remove-agent- Remove agent file - •
--add-command- Add command file - •
--remove-command- Remove command file - •
--add-skill- Add skill directory - •
--remove-skill- Remove skill directory
Remove Plugin
Remove a plugin from the marketplace:
python
python marketplace_update.py remove --name "plugin-name"
Validate Marketplace
Validate the marketplace.json structure:
python
python marketplace_update.py validate
This checks:
- •JSON syntax validity
- •Required fields presence
- •File path existence
- •Component reference validity
- •Duplicate plugin names
Python Script
The skill includes a Python script at marketplace_update.py that provides command-line interface for all operations.
Usage from Claude Code
When invoked as a skill:
- •
Read Plugin Structure
- •Scan plugin directory for components
- •Extract metadata from frontmatter
- •Build component lists
- •
Execute Python Script
- •Call marketplace_update.py with appropriate arguments
- •Pass plugin details
- •Handle success/error responses
- •
Validate Result
- •Verify marketplace.json is valid
- •Confirm plugin entry is correct
- •Report success or errors
Examples
Example 1: Add New Plugin
python
# Plugin: golang-development # Components: 3 agents, 1 command, 4 skills python marketplace_update.py add \ --name "golang-development" \ --description "Go language development tools" \ --version "1.0.0" \ --category "languages" \ --keywords "golang,go,development" \ --agents "golang-pro.md,gin-pro.md,charm-pro.md" \ --commands "golang-scaffold.md" \ --skills "async-golang-patterns,golang-testing-patterns,golang-packaging,golang-performance-optimization"
Example 2: Update Plugin Version
python
# Update version and add new agent python marketplace_update.py update \ --name "golang-development" \ --version "1.1.0" \ --add-agent "gorm-pro.md"
Example 3: Remove Plugin
python
python marketplace_update.py remove --name "obsolete-plugin"
Integration with Commands
The /claude-plugin:create and /claude-plugin:update commands should invoke this skill automatically:
From /claude-plugin:create Command
After creating a new plugin:
code
1. Scan plugin directory for components 2. Extract metadata from agent/command frontmatter 3. Invoke marketplace-update skill: - Operation: add - Plugin name: [from user input] - Components: [scanned from directory] - Metadata: [extracted from frontmatter]
From /claude-plugin:update Command
After updating a plugin:
code
1. Determine what changed (added/removed/modified) 2. Invoke marketplace-update skill: - Operation: update - Plugin name: [from user input] - Changes: [specific updates]
Error Handling
Plugin Already Exists (Add)
code
Error: Plugin 'plugin-name' already exists in marketplace. Suggestion: Use 'update' operation instead.
Plugin Not Found (Update/Remove)
code
Error: Plugin 'plugin-name' not found in marketplace. Suggestion: Use 'add' operation to create it.
Invalid JSON
code
Error: marketplace.json contains invalid JSON. Suggestion: Fix JSON syntax before proceeding.
Component File Missing
code
Warning: Component file './agents/agent-name.md' not found. Suggestion: Create the file or remove from plugin entry.
Validation Failure
code
Error: Marketplace validation failed: - Plugin 'plugin-a' missing required field 'description' - Plugin 'plugin-b' references non-existent agent 'missing.md' Suggestion: Fix errors and validate again.
Best Practices
- •
Always Validate After Changes
- •Run validate after add/update/remove
- •Fix any warnings or errors
- •Ensure all referenced files exist
- •
Scan Plugin Directory
- •Don't manually list components
- •Scan directory to detect agents/commands/skills
- •Extract metadata from frontmatter
- •
Semantic Versioning
- •Patch: Bug fixes, documentation updates (1.0.0 → 1.0.1)
- •Minor: New components, enhancements (1.0.0 → 1.1.0)
- •Major: Breaking changes, removals (1.0.0 → 2.0.0)
- •
Consistent Metadata
- •Keep descriptions concise (< 100 chars)
- •Use relevant keywords
- •Maintain consistent author information
- •Use appropriate categories
- •
Backup Before Changes
- •Create backup of marketplace.json
- •Test changes in development first
- •Validate before committing
Categories
Common plugin categories:
- •
languages- Language-specific tools (Python, Go, Rust, etc.) - •
development- General development tools - •
security- Security scanning and analysis - •
testing- Test generation and automation - •
operations- DevOps and operations tools - •
infrastructure- Cloud and infrastructure tools - •
documentation- Documentation generation - •
architecture- Architecture and design tools - •
workflow- Workflow orchestration - •
general- General purpose tools
File Structure
code
plugins/claude-plugin/skills/marketplace-update/
├── SKILL.md # This file
├── marketplace_update.py # Python implementation
└── references/ # Optional examples
└── examples.md
Requirements
- •Python 3.8+
- •No external dependencies (uses standard library only)
- •Access to
.claude-plugin/marketplace.json - •Read/write permissions on marketplace file
Success Criteria
After running this skill:
- •✓ marketplace.json is valid JSON
- •✓ Plugin entry is correct and complete
- •✓ All referenced files exist
- •✓ No duplicate plugin names
- •✓ Required fields are present
- •✓ Validation passes without errors