By Panaversity -- Master the Full Plugin Lifecycle
Welcome! This package contains 12 exercises + 3 capstone projects (15 total) covering Claude Code's extensibility system -- from settings hierarchy and hooks through plugin creation and autonomous iteration with Ralph Wiggum Loop. You'll configure real settings, write working hooks, build plugins from scratch, distribute them via marketplaces (in Capstone A), and run autonomous loops.
plugins-exercises/
+-- README.md <- You are here
+-- EXERCISE-GUIDE.md <- Full pedagogical guide
+-- module-1-settings-hierarchy/
| +-- exercise-1.1-multi-scope-config/ (configure settings across 3 levels)
| +-- exercise-1.2-settings-conflict/ (debug conflicting settings)
+-- module-2-hooks/
| +-- exercise-2.1-event-automation/ (build hooks for real workflows)
| +-- exercise-2.2-hook-failures/ (fix broken hooks.json)
+-- module-3-plugin-discovery/
| +-- exercise-3.1-marketplace-explorer/ (evaluate plugins for workflow needs)
| +-- exercise-3.2-plugin-audit/ (audit and fix a broken plugin setup)
+-- module-4-plugin-usage/
| +-- exercise-4.1-install-and-use/ (install and verify plugins)
| +-- exercise-4.2-plugin-workflow-chain/ (chain plugins for a complete workflow)
+-- module-5-plugin-packaging/
| +-- exercise-5.1-package-skills-plugin/ (package skills into a plugin)
| +-- exercise-5.2-full-plugin-bundle/ (build a complete plugin bundle -- Advanced)
+-- module-7-ralph-wiggum/
| +-- exercise-7.1-autonomous-loop/ (run your first Ralph Wiggum loop)
| +-- exercise-7.2-stuck-loop-debug/ (diagnose a stuck loop from logs)
+-- module-8-capstones/
+-- capstone-A-full-plugin/ (build a complete plugin + marketplace distribution)
+-- capstone-B-team-extensibility-kit/ (design extensibility for a team)
+-- capstone-C-your-workflow/ (audit and extend your own workflow)
- Open Claude Desktop app on macOS
- Switch to the Cowork tab
- Point Cowork at the exercise folder you want to work on
- Read the INSTRUCTIONS.md file in the exercise folder
- Start working through the steps with Claude
- Open your terminal
- Navigate to the exercise folder:
cd module-1-settings-hierarchy/exercise-1.1-multi-scope-config - Launch Claude Code
- Read the INSTRUCTIONS.md and start working
Week 1 (Settings Hierarchy): Exercises 1.1, 1.2 Week 2 (Hooks): Exercises 2.1, 2.2 Week 3 (Plugin Discovery): Exercises 3.1, 3.2 Week 4 (Plugin Usage): Exercises 4.1, 4.2 Week 5 (Plugin Packaging): Exercises 5.1, 5.2 Week 6 (Ralph Wiggum Loop): Exercises 7.1, 7.2 Week 7 (Capstone): Choose one capstone project
Use this for every exercise:
- Understand -- What does this component do and why does it exist?
- Configure -- Set it up correctly (settings, hooks, plugins, loops).
- Test -- Verify the configuration works as expected.
- Debug -- When something breaks, trace the cause through the extensibility layers.
- Integrate -- Combine components into a cohesive workflow.
- Share -- Package and distribute your work for others.
| Criteria | Beginner (1) | Developing (2) | Proficient (3) | Advanced (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings Understanding | Uses only default settings | Configured one level | Manages all 3 levels with precedence | Designs team-wide configuration strategies |
| Hook Design | Cannot create hooks | Basic single-event hooks | Multi-event hooks with matchers | Hook systems with error handling and logging |
| Plugin Usage | Cannot install plugins | Installs and uses basic plugins | Evaluates plugin fit for workflows | Chains plugins for complex workflows |
| Plugin Creation | Cannot create plugins | Basic manifest with skills only | Full plugin bundle with hooks + MCP | Production plugins with docs, tests, and marketplace distribution |
| Autonomous Iteration | Never used Ralph Loop | Basic loop with simple task | Effective completion promises + safety | Complex multi-stage loops with cost management |
| Integration Thinking | Components used in isolation | Combines 2 components | Full extensibility stack configured | Team-wide extensibility architecture |
Built for Panaversity's AI-Native Development Curriculum