MCP Plugin Template

A GitHub template for packaging any MCP server as an installable Claude Code plugin. Zero dependencies — just Node.js.

For plugin authors

1. Use this template

Click "Use this template" on GitHub to create your own repo.

2. Add your MCP server

Edit server/index.js — add tools and resources to the objects at the top of the file. The included server implements the MCP protocol directly with no dependencies.

If you need npm packages, add them to package.json and see Adding dependencies below.

3. Fill in the placeholders

Search for YOUR_ across the repo and replace:

Placeholder	Where	What
YOUR_PLUGIN_NAME	plugin.json, .mcp.json, package.json, server/index.js	Your plugin's name (kebab-case)
YOUR_DESCRIPTION	plugin.json	What your plugin does
YOUR_NAME	plugin.json	Your name
YOUR_EMAIL	plugin.json	Your email
YOUR_USERNAME	plugin.json	Your GitHub username
YOUR_REPO	plugin.json	Your GitHub repo name

4. Distribute

Share your repo — users install the plugin directly from the GitHub URL.

Important: The plugin is read from the repository's default branch. Make sure your changes are merged to main/master before distributing.

For users installing a plugin built from this template

VS Code: Type /plugins in the Claude Code prompt box, then add the plugin's GitHub repo URL.

CLI:

claude plugin add https://github.com/AUTHOR/REPO

How it works

your-plugin/
├── .claude-plugin/
│   └── plugin.json       # Plugin metadata
├── .mcp.json             # MCP server declaration
├── server/
│   └── index.js          # Your MCP server (edit this)
├── package.json          # Plugin metadata
└── README.md

• .mcp.json tells Claude Code to start your server via node server/index.js
• The server implements the MCP protocol (JSON-RPC over stdio) with no external dependencies
• ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} points to the plugin's install directory

Adding dependencies

If your server needs npm packages:

1. Add them to package.json
2. Create hooks/hooks.json with a SessionStart hook to auto-install them:

{
  "hooks": {
    "SessionStart": [
      {
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "diff -q \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/package.json\" \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA}/package.json\" >/dev/null 2>&1 || (cd \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA}\" && cp \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/package.json\" . && npm install --production) || rm -f \"${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA}/package.json\""
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

3. Add NODE_PATH to .mcp.json so your server can find the installed modules:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "your-plugin": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/server/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "NODE_PATH": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA}/node_modules"
      }
    }
  }
}