openclaw/docs/plugins/bundles.md

293 lines
8.3 KiB
Markdown

---
summary: "Unified bundle format guide for Codex, Claude, and Cursor bundles in OpenClaw"
read_when:
- You want to install or debug a Codex, Claude, or Cursor-compatible bundle
- You need to understand how OpenClaw maps bundle content into native features
- You are documenting bundle compatibility or current support limits
title: "Plugin Bundles"
---
# Plugin bundles
OpenClaw supports one shared class of external plugin package: **bundle
plugins**.
Today that means three closely related ecosystems:
- Codex bundles
- Claude bundles
- Cursor bundles
OpenClaw shows all of them as `Format: bundle` in `openclaw plugins list`.
Verbose output and `openclaw plugins info <id>` also show the subtype
(`codex`, `claude`, or `cursor`).
Related:
- Plugin system overview: [Plugins](/tools/plugin)
- CLI install/list flows: [plugins](/cli/plugins)
- Native manifest schema: [Plugin manifest](/plugins/manifest)
## What a bundle is
A bundle is a **content/metadata pack**, not a native in-process OpenClaw
plugin.
Today, OpenClaw does **not** execute bundle runtime code in-process. Instead,
it detects known bundle files, reads the metadata, and maps supported bundle
content into native OpenClaw surfaces such as skills, hook packs, MCP config,
and embedded Pi settings.
That is the main trust boundary:
- native OpenClaw plugin: runtime module executes in-process
- bundle: metadata/content pack, with selective feature mapping
## Shared bundle model
Codex, Claude, and Cursor bundles are similar enough that OpenClaw treats them
as one normalized model.
Shared idea:
- a small manifest file, or a default directory layout
- one or more content roots such as `skills/` or `commands/`
- optional tool/runtime metadata such as MCP, hooks, agents, or LSP
- install as a directory or archive, then enable in the normal plugin list
Common OpenClaw behavior:
- detect the bundle subtype
- normalize it into one internal bundle record
- map supported parts into native OpenClaw features
- report unsupported parts as detected-but-not-wired capabilities
In practice, most users do not need to think about the vendor-specific format
first. The more useful question is: which bundle surfaces does OpenClaw map
today?
## Detection order
OpenClaw prefers native OpenClaw plugin/package layouts before bundle handling.
Practical effect:
- `openclaw.plugin.json` wins over bundle detection
- package installs with valid `package.json` + `openclaw.extensions` use the
native install path
- if a directory contains both native and bundle metadata, OpenClaw treats it
as native first
That avoids partially installing a dual-format package as a bundle and then
loading it later as a native plugin.
## What works today
OpenClaw normalizes bundle metadata into one internal bundle record, then maps
supported surfaces into existing native behavior.
### Supported now
#### Skill content
- bundle skill roots load as normal OpenClaw skill roots
- Claude `commands` roots are treated as additional skill roots
- Cursor `.cursor/commands` roots are treated as additional skill roots
This means Claude markdown command files work through the normal OpenClaw skill
loader. Cursor command markdown works through the same path.
#### Hook packs
- bundle hook roots work **only** when they use the normal OpenClaw hook-pack
layout. Today this is primarily the Codex-compatible case:
- `HOOK.md`
- `handler.ts` or `handler.js`
#### MCP for CLI backends
- enabled bundles can contribute MCP server config
- current runtime wiring is used by the `claude-cli` backend
- OpenClaw merges bundle MCP config into the backend `--mcp-config` file
#### Embedded Pi settings
- Claude `settings.json` is imported as default embedded Pi settings when the
bundle is enabled
- OpenClaw sanitizes shell override keys before applying them
Sanitized keys:
- `shellPath`
- `shellCommandPrefix`
### Detected but not executed
These surfaces are detected, shown in bundle capabilities, and may appear in
diagnostics/info output, but OpenClaw does not run them yet:
- Claude `agents`
- Claude `hooks.json` automation
- Claude `lspServers`
- Claude `outputStyles`
- Cursor `.cursor/agents`
- Cursor `.cursor/hooks.json`
- Cursor `.cursor/rules`
- Cursor `mcpServers` outside the current mapped runtime paths
- Codex inline/app metadata beyond capability reporting
## Capability reporting
`openclaw plugins info <id>` shows bundle capabilities from the normalized
bundle record.
Supported capabilities are loaded quietly. Unsupported capabilities produce a
warning such as:
```text
bundle capability detected but not wired into OpenClaw yet: agents
```
Current exceptions:
- Claude `commands` is considered supported because it maps to skills
- Claude `settings` is considered supported because it maps to embedded Pi settings
- Cursor `commands` is considered supported because it maps to skills
- bundle MCP is considered supported where OpenClaw actually imports it
- Codex `hooks` is considered supported only for OpenClaw hook-pack layouts
## Format differences
The formats are close, but not byte-for-byte identical. These are the practical
differences that matter in OpenClaw.
### Codex
Typical markers:
- `.codex-plugin/plugin.json`
- optional `skills/`
- optional `hooks/`
- optional `.mcp.json`
- optional `.app.json`
Codex bundles fit OpenClaw best when they use skill roots and OpenClaw-style
hook-pack directories.
### Claude
OpenClaw supports both:
- manifest-based Claude bundles: `.claude-plugin/plugin.json`
- manifestless Claude bundles that use the default Claude layout
Default Claude layout markers OpenClaw recognizes:
- `skills/`
- `commands/`
- `agents/`
- `hooks/hooks.json`
- `.mcp.json`
- `.lsp.json`
- `settings.json`
Claude-specific notes:
- `commands/` is treated like skill content
- `settings.json` is imported into embedded Pi settings
- `hooks/hooks.json` is detected, but not executed as Claude automation
### Cursor
Typical markers:
- `.cursor-plugin/plugin.json`
- optional `skills/`
- optional `.cursor/commands/`
- optional `.cursor/agents/`
- optional `.cursor/rules/`
- optional `.cursor/hooks.json`
- optional `.mcp.json`
Cursor-specific notes:
- `.cursor/commands/` is treated like skill content
- `.cursor/rules/`, `.cursor/agents/`, and `.cursor/hooks.json` are
detect-only today
## Claude custom paths
Claude bundle manifests can declare custom component paths. OpenClaw treats
those paths as **additive**, not replacing defaults.
Currently recognized custom path keys:
- `skills`
- `commands`
- `agents`
- `hooks`
- `mcpServers`
- `lspServers`
- `outputStyles`
Examples:
- default `commands/` plus manifest `commands: "extra-commands"` =>
OpenClaw scans both
- default `skills/` plus manifest `skills: ["team-skills"]` =>
OpenClaw scans both
## Security model
Bundle support is intentionally narrower than native plugin support.
Current behavior:
- bundle discovery reads files inside the plugin root with boundary checks
- skills and hook-pack paths must stay inside the plugin root
- bundle settings files are read with the same boundary checks
- OpenClaw does not execute arbitrary bundle runtime code in-process
This makes bundle support safer by default than native plugin modules, but you
should still treat third-party bundles as trusted content for the features they
do expose.
## Install examples
```bash
openclaw plugins install ./my-codex-bundle
openclaw plugins install ./my-claude-bundle
openclaw plugins install ./my-cursor-bundle
openclaw plugins install ./my-bundle.tgz
openclaw plugins info my-bundle
```
If the directory is a native OpenClaw plugin/package, the native install path
still wins.
## Troubleshooting
### Bundle is detected but capabilities do not run
Check `openclaw plugins info <id>`.
If the capability is listed but OpenClaw says it is not wired yet, that is a
real product limit, not a broken install.
### Claude command files do not appear
Make sure the bundle is enabled and the markdown files are inside a detected
`commands` root or `skills` root.
### Claude settings do not apply
Current support is limited to embedded Pi settings from `settings.json`.
OpenClaw does not treat bundle settings as raw OpenClaw config patches.
### Claude hooks do not execute
`hooks/hooks.json` is only detected today.
If you need runnable bundle hooks today, use the normal OpenClaw hook-pack
layout through a supported Codex hook root or ship a native OpenClaw plugin.