Validate Plugin

Validate Plugin

Validate that a plugin follows the correct Claude Code plugin format.

When to use

After creating or modifying a plugin, run validation to catch structural issues before publishing.

Checks performed

1. Directory structure — .claude-plugin/plugin.json exists at plugin root
2. plugin.json schema — required fields present (name, description, version)
3. Skills auto-discovery — every skills/<name>/SKILL.md is a valid skill (Claude Code auto-discovers from directory; plugin.json MUST NOT list a skills array)
4. Commands auto-discovery — every commands/<name>.md is a valid command (auto-discovered; no commands array in plugin.json)
5. Agents auto-discovery — every agents/<name>.md is a valid agent (auto-discovered; no agents array in plugin.json)
6. No legacy arrays in plugin.json — presence of skills, commands, or agents arrays in plugin.json is a validation error (they cause Claude Code to reject the plugin)
7. SKILL.md frontmatter — each skill has name, description, and allowed-tools (no wildcards)
8. Agent frontmatter — each agent has name, description, and model
9. No files in wrong locations — skills/commands/agents not inside .claude-plugin/
10. MCP tool references — tools in allowed-tools are valid mcp__plugin_ruflo-core_ruflo__* identifiers

Steps

1. Read the plugin's plugin.json and assert no skills / commands / agents arrays present
2. Glob skills/*/SKILL.md, commands/*.md, agents/*.md and validate each frontmatter
3. For each SKILL.md, verify frontmatter has required fields and allowed-tools has no wildcards
4. For each agent .md, verify frontmatter has required fields
5. Report pass/fail for each check with actionable fix suggestions

Source: ruvnet/ruflo → plugins/ruflo-plugin-creator/skills/validate-plugin/SKILL.md