bb-plugins

bb plugins

bb plugins are TypeScript packages that run inside bb. They are how bb extends itself.

Many first-party features are plugins: GitHub, Docs, Memory, Tasks, Connect, Automations, Secrets, Keep Awake, and the coding-agent providers.

Trust

Plugins are full-trust. Server code runs in-process. App UI is same-origin page code, not a sandbox. Host workers run as Node on enrolled machines.

Review source before installing third-party plugins. Keep credentials in secret: true settings.

This skill vs others

• Use this skill to create, install, or change a plugin.
• Use bb-cli to operate bb (threads, projects, environments).
• For exact API signatures, read the bb-plugin-authoring skill if it is available, then run bb guide plugins. In the plugin directory, run bb plugin types before trusting local SDK types. Do not guess from minified dist/ files.

Scaffold

bb plugin new hello            # add --app for a React UI
cd bb-plugin-hello
bb plugin install . --yes
bb plugin dev                  # rebuild + reload on save

The manifest is the bb object in package.json. Required: bb.name, bb.description, bb.branding.icon, bb.server. Optional: bb.app, bb.host, bb.skills, bb.themes.

Plugin id is the last package-name segment with a bb-plugin- prefix stripped. bb-plugin-hello and @acme/bb-plugin-hello both become hello.

Put runtime imports in dependencies. Leave types and tooling in devDependencies. Git installs run npm install --omit=dev.

What a plugin can add

A default-export factory in server.ts receives BbPluginApi and registers surfaces:

• settings, kv + SQLite storage, HTTP, RPC, realtime
• background services and cron
• one top-level bb <name> … command
• agent tools, skills/ folders, extra instructions
• mention providers
• optional host workers and experimental agent providers

app.tsx default-exports definePluginApp and can add pages, thread-panel actions, composer controls, file openers, and a replacement sidebar.

Do not copy the full API into this skill. Read bb-plugin-authoring when implementing a surface.

Install and ship

bb plugin install .                                 # local path
bb plugin install github                            # bundled official plugin
bb plugin install npm:bb-plugin-notes@^1.0.0
bb plugin install git:https://github.com/acme/bb-plugin-notes.git@^1.2.0
bb plugin list
bb plugin reload <id>
bb plugin logs <id> -f

Installs prompt because the code is full-trust. Pass --yes to skip.

A failed managed update rolls back. Catalog refresh never installs code.

Community listings live at https://getbb.app/marketplace/v1/marketplace.json. Submit via a PR to https://github.com/get-bb/marketplace. Use the submit-a-plugin skill for that workflow.

Check the work

1. bb plugin list shows the plugin running.
2. If it added a CLI, bb <command> --help works.
3. If it added UI, open the page or panel in bb and confirm it loads.
4. If the factory throws, the plugin is error. Read bb plugin logs <id> and fix, then bb plugin reload <id>.