paperclip/doc
Dotta b947a7d76c
[codex] Improve local plugin development workflow (#5821)
## Thinking Path

> - Paperclip is the control plane for autonomous AI-agent companies.
> - Plugins are the extension point for adding capabilities without
expanding the core product surface.
> - Local plugin development needed a tighter CLI-first loop so plugin
authors can scaffold, run, install, inspect, and reload plugins without
reaching into internal package paths.
> - The server plugin install path also needed local-path handling that
keeps plugin identity, dashboard routes, and development watchers
coherent.
> - This pull request adds the CLI scaffold/install workflow, fixes the
server and SDK edge cases that blocked that loop, and updates the
agent-facing plugin creation skill and docs.
> - The benefit is that contributors can develop plugins from local
folders with a documented, repeatable happy path.

## What Changed

- Added `paperclipai plugin init` coverage and CLI wiring for local
plugin scaffolding.
- Improved local plugin install handling, plugin key route resolution,
dashboard capability behavior, and dev watcher startup/reload behavior.
- Fixed plugin SDK worker entrypoint validation for symlinked package
layouts.
- Added targeted tests for plugin init, server plugin authz/watcher
behavior, SDK worker host validation, and the authoring smoke example.
- Added a short local plugin development guide and refreshed the plugin
authoring guide plus `paperclip-create-plugin` skill instructions.

## Verification

- `pnpm run preflight:workspace-links && pnpm --filter
@paperclipai/plugin-sdk build && pnpm --filter
@paperclipai/create-paperclip-plugin typecheck && pnpm --filter
paperclipai typecheck && pnpm --filter @paperclipai/plugin-sdk typecheck
&& pnpm --filter @paperclipai/server typecheck`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --project paperclipai
cli/src/__tests__/plugin-init.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --project @paperclipai/plugin-sdk
packages/plugins/sdk/tests/worker-rpc-host.test.ts`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --project @paperclipai/server
server/src/__tests__/plugin-dev-watcher.test.ts --pool=forks
--poolOptions.forks.isolate=true`
- `pnpm exec vitest run --project @paperclipai/server
server/src/__tests__/plugin-routes-authz.test.ts --pool=forks
--poolOptions.forks.isolate=true`
- `pnpm --dir packages/plugins/examples/plugin-authoring-smoke-example
test`
- Confirmed `pnpm-lock.yaml` is not included in the PR diff.

## Risks

- Medium risk: this touches plugin install routing, CLI command
behavior, and the local development watcher.
- Local path plugin installs execute trusted local code by design; the
new docs call out that trust boundary.
- No database migrations are included.

> For core feature work, check [`ROADMAP.md`](ROADMAP.md) first and
discuss it in `#dev` before opening the PR. Feature PRs that overlap
with planned core work may need to be redirected — check the roadmap
first. See `CONTRIBUTING.md`.

## Model Used

- OpenAI Codex, GPT-5 coding agent, tool-enabled local shell and git
workflow, medium reasoning effort. Context window details were not
exposed in this runtime.

## Checklist

- [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context
to this change
- [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability
details)
- [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate
planned core work
- [x] I have run tests locally and they pass
- [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable
- [x] If this change affects the UI, I have included before/after
screenshots
- [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes
- [x] I have considered and documented any risks above
- [x] I will address all Greptile and reviewer comments before
requesting merge

UI screenshots: not applicable; this PR changes CLI/server/plugin docs
and tests, not board UI rendering.

---------

Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
2026-05-12 17:38:24 -05:00
..
assets Add planning mode for issue work (#5353) 2026-05-06 07:01:28 -05:00
experimental updating paths 2026-03-10 14:43:34 -05:00
plans [codex] Add LLM Wiki plugin host support (#5597) 2026-05-10 07:34:12 -05:00
plugins [codex] Improve local plugin development workflow (#5821) 2026-05-12 17:38:24 -05:00
pr/5429 Add secrets provider vaults and remote import (#5429) 2026-05-09 18:22:17 -05:00
spec [codex] Add run liveness continuations (#4083) 2026-04-20 06:01:49 -05:00
AGENTCOMPANIES_SPEC_INVENTORY.md Add routine support to recurring task portability 2026-03-23 16:57:38 -05:00
CLI.md [codex] Add LLM Wiki plugin host support (#5597) 2026-05-10 07:34:12 -05:00
CLIPHUB.md refactor: rename packages to @paperclipai and CLI binary to paperclipai 2026-03-03 08:45:26 -06:00
DATABASE.md Add secrets provider vaults and remote import (#5429) 2026-05-09 18:22:17 -05:00
DEPLOYMENT-MODES.md feat: implement multi-user access and invite flows (#3784) 2026-04-17 09:44:19 -05:00
DEVELOPING.md [codex] Add LLM Wiki plugin host support (#5597) 2026-05-10 07:34:12 -05:00
DOCKER.md chore(docker): improve base image and organize docker files 2026-04-01 11:36:27 +00:00
execution-semantics.md [codex] Add source-scoped recovery actions (#5599) 2026-05-12 09:37:15 -05:00
GOAL.md [codex] Refresh docs and agent skills (#4693) 2026-04-28 16:12:03 -05:00
memory-landscape.md chore: improve worktree tooling and security docs 2026-04-10 22:26:30 -05:00
OPENCLAW_ONBOARDING.md Introduce bind presets for deployment setup 2026-04-11 07:09:07 -05:00
PRODUCT.md [codex] Refresh docs and agent skills (#4693) 2026-04-28 16:12:03 -05:00
PUBLISHING.md fix(ci): gate new release packages on npm bootstrap (#5146) 2026-05-03 19:31:28 -07:00
README-draft.md docs: add README, draft README, and adapter logo assets 2026-03-02 10:31:59 -06:00
RELEASE-AUTOMATION-SETUP.md fix(ci): gate new release packages on npm bootstrap (#5146) 2026-05-03 19:31:28 -07:00
RELEASING.md Harden release flow with registry verification and dist-tag checks (#4800) 2026-04-29 15:56:20 -07:00
SECRETS-AWS-PROVIDER.md Add secrets provider vaults and remote import (#5429) 2026-05-09 18:22:17 -05:00
SPEC-implementation.md [codex] Add source-scoped recovery actions (#5599) 2026-05-12 09:37:15 -05:00
SPEC.md docs: update SPEC work artifacts and deprecate bootstrapPromptTemplate 2026-03-26 07:23:09 -05:00
TASKS-mcp.md Add product spec and MCP task interface docs 2026-02-16 19:07:30 -06:00
TASKS.md Add task management data model spec 2026-02-16 14:25:00 -06:00
UNTRUSTED-PR-REVIEW.md chore(docker): improve base image and organize docker files 2026-04-01 11:36:27 +00:00