Understanding Claude Code's plugin marketplace system

Explained via the real known_marketplaces.json and claude plugin commands.

Plugins and marketplaces

Claude Code bundles subagents, skills, commands and MCP connections into distributable "plugins", hosted in a "marketplace" (a GitHub repo, URL, or local path).

Marketplace commands

`claude plugin marketplace` manages marketplaces themselves (`add`/`list`/`remove`/`update`, verified on this Mac). Plugin management uses `claude plugin install/list/enable/disable/uninstall/update`.

$ claude plugin marketplace add <github-repo-or-url>
$ claude plugin marketplace list
$ claude plugin install <plugin-name>@<marketplace-name>

What a registered marketplace looks like

Stored at `~/.claude/plugins/known_marketplaces.json`. The official one looks like this on this Mac:

{
  "claude-plugins-official": {
    "source": { "source": "github", "repo": "anthropics/claude-plugins-official" },
    "installLocation": "/Users/you/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/claude-plugins-official",
    "lastUpdated": "2026-07-28T17:44:45.193Z"
  }
}

Installed plugins

Tracked at `~/.claude/plugins/installed_plugins.json`, starting empty as `{ "version": 2, "plugins": {} }`.

Building your own plugin

`claude plugin init <name>` scaffolds one at `~/.claude/skills/<name>/`, auto-loaded next session as `<name>@skills-dir`. Validate with `claude plugin validate <path>`.

vs. ConfigDeck

`claude plugin` is Anthropic's own CLI mechanism for pulling from GitHub-hosted marketplaces. ConfigDeck is a separate, independent web marketplace for searching, buying and one-click installing individual subagents/skills/commands — more of an additional channel than a competitor.

FAQ

What is a marketplace?

A place plugins are distributed from — typically a GitHub repo you register.

Where are registered marketplaces stored?

`~/.claude/plugins/known_marketplaces.json`.

How do I build my own plugin?

`claude plugin init <name>` scaffolds it; validate with `claude plugin validate`.

Where can I see installed plugins?

`claude plugin list`, also tracked in `~/.claude/plugins/installed_plugins.json`.

ConfigDeck vs claude plugin?

claude plugin is Anthropic's own CLI mechanism; ConfigDeck is an independent web marketplace for individual configs.

Find individual configs on the market →Sell what you build →See School →