---
title: Plugin reference
description: Local plugin files, client and server runtimes, platform limits, contributions, RPCs, lifecycle, hosts, and CLI commands.
nav: Reference
order: 46
category: Plugins
---

# Plugin reference

Local plugins are directory sources installed into one Paseo daemon. A plugin can contribute:

- React Native surfaces and sidebar items to Paseo clients;
- workspace and agent panels opened as workspace tabs;
- global, workspace, and agent actions in the Command Center;
- client slash commands in the message composer;
- transformed and daemon-pushed agent timeline rows;
- dark themes in Settings → Appearance;
- schema-validated RPC handlers running beside the daemon;
- normal Paseo operations through the TypeScript SDK;
- searchable external resources in the message composer.

Plugin code is trusted and unsandboxed. Client surfaces run in the Paseo app. Backend contributions run in a subprocess with access to the daemon machine, including its files, processes, credentials, and network.

## Project files

`paseo plugin init /absolute/path/to/my-plugin` creates:

```text
my-plugin/
  paseo-plugin.json
  index.ts
  main.client.tsx
  package.json
  tsconfig.json
```

The required root manifest is `paseo-plugin.json`. It contains the default plugin ID:

```json
{ "id": "my-plugin" }
```

The entry point is `index.ts` at the plugin root. Plugin, surface, sidebar-item, workspace-panel,
Command Center item, and attachment-source IDs start with a lowercase letter and contain lowercase
letters, numbers, or hyphens. Client slash-command names follow the same rule.

The generated `package.json` installs `@getpaseo/plugin` and the other host modules as development
dependencies for local typechecking and tests. Paseo supplies their runtime instances. Consumers do
not install them when adding the plugin.

Add runtime-specific files as the plugin grows:

```text
my-plugin/
  action.shared.ts
  action.server.ts
  panel.client.tsx
```

| Suffix         | Use it for                                                           |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `*.client.tsx` | React, React Native, hooks, styles, surfaces, panels, and callbacks. |
| `*.server.ts`  | Node APIs, local resources, credentials, and RPC handlers.           |
| `*.shared.ts`  | Zod RPC contracts and plain values imported by both runtimes.        |

## Runtime modules

Paseo builds separate client and server bundles from `index.ts`. It rejects imports from `*.server` files into client modules and imports from `*.client` files into server modules. Keep shared modules free of Node and React Native runtime code.

### Client runtime

Paseo provides these modules to client code:

| Module                          | Use it for                            |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `@getpaseo/plugin`              | Contribution contracts and data hooks |
| `@getpaseo/plugin/react-native` | Paseo UI components and UI hooks      |
| `@getpaseo/plugin/server`       | Shared RPC and attachment contracts   |
| `@tanstack/react-query`         | Request state and caching             |
| `react`                         | Components and hooks                  |
| `react/jsx-runtime`             | Compiled JSX                          |
| `react-native`                  | Cross-platform UI                     |
| `zod`                           | Shared schemas                        |

These exact module specifiers use the host's runtime instances. A client bundle that requests another host module fails with `Module "<name>" is not available in plugin client code`.

Do not import `lucide-react-native`, `react-native-svg`, or DOM libraries. Set contribution `icon` fields to a [Lucide icon name](https://lucide.dev/icons/); Paseo validates the name and renders the icon.

Client components are React Native components rendered by Paseo. Web clients render them through React Native Web. Browser globals such as `localStorage` and `location` exist only when `layout.platform === "web"`; iOS and Android have no equivalent. Gate any use on that field.

There is no plugin storage API. Browser storage does not persist settings across Paseo clients. There is also no general host navigation API: plugin code cannot open native Paseo routes. Command Center callbacks can only open surfaces and panels registered by the same plugin.

### Server runtime

Paseo provides `@getpaseo/plugin`, `@getpaseo/plugin/server`, and `zod` to server code. Backend contributions run in a daemon subprocess with Node access to the host machine. Keep filesystem, process, credential, and other machine-local work in `*.server.ts` files.

## Entry point and cleanup

`index.ts` wires contributions together and default-exports one contribution function. It must return cleanup, even when it has nothing to clean:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Main } from "./main.client";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addSurface("main", Main);
  return () => {};
}
```

Cleanup can be async. Release timers, watchers, sockets, and other resources created by the plugin. Paseo also removes registrations, unmounts surfaces, rejects pending RPCs, closes the plugin's daemon session, and stops its subprocess on reload, disable, removal, disconnect, or daemon shutdown.

## Surfaces and sidebar items

Register a component, then point a sidebar item at its surface ID:

`main.client.tsx`:

```tsx
import type { PluginSurfaceProps } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { useMemo } from "react";
import { Text, View } from "react-native";

export function Main({ theme, host, layout }: PluginSurfaceProps) {
  const styles = useMemo(
    () => ({
      screen: {
        flex: 1,
        padding: layout.compact ? 16 : 24,
        backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface0,
      },
      title: { color: theme.colors.foreground },
      detail: { color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted },
    }),
    [theme, layout.compact],
  );
  return (
    <View style={styles.screen}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>{host.label}</Text>
      <Text style={styles.detail}>{layout.platform}</Text>
    </View>
  );
}
```

`index.ts`:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Main } from "./main.client";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addSurface("main", Main);
  plugin.addSidebarItem({
    id: "main",
    title: "My plugin",
    icon: "Blocks",
    surface: "main",
  });
  return () => {};
}
```

`PluginSurfaceProps` contains:

| Field        | Meaning                                                                                                                      |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `theme`      | Typed `PluginTheme` color tokens for the active Paseo theme.                                                                 |
| `host`       | Selected host `id` and display `label`.                                                                                      |
| `layout`     | `compact` and the `ios`, `android`, or `web` platform.                                                                       |
| `navigation` | Optional client navigation. `openAgent({ agentId })` and `openWorkspace({ workspaceId })` open targets on the selected host. |

Paseo owns the route, header, close action, host picker, error boundary, and query client. The plugin owns the surface body.

## Host UI

Import Paseo-owned UI from `@getpaseo/plugin/react-native` in `*.client.tsx` files. This example
opens a controlled modal, renders a host icon, and confirms the action with a toast:

```tsx
import type { PluginSurfaceProps } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Icon, Modal, useToast } from "@getpaseo/plugin/react-native";
import { useState } from "react";
import { Pressable, Text, View } from "react-native";

export function IssueActions({ theme }: PluginSurfaceProps) {
  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
  const toast = useToast();

  function saveIssue() {
    toast.show("Issue saved", { variant: "success" });
    setOpen(false);
  }

  return (
    <View>
      <Pressable accessibilityRole="button" onPress={() => setOpen(true)}>
        <View style={{ flexDirection: "row", alignItems: "center", gap: 8 }}>
          <Icon name="Pencil" size={18} color={theme.colors.foreground} />
          <Text style={{ color: theme.colors.foreground }}>Edit issue</Text>
        </View>
      </Pressable>

      <Modal
        title="Edit issue"
        icon={<Icon name="Pencil" size={18} color={theme.colors.foreground} />}
        open={open}
        onOpenChange={setOpen}
      >
        <Modal.Content>
          <Pressable accessibilityRole="button" onPress={saveIssue}>
            <Text style={{ color: theme.colors.foreground }}>Save</Text>
          </Pressable>
        </Modal.Content>
      </Modal>
    </View>
  );
}
```

### Modal

`Modal` uses a bottom sheet on compact layouts and a centered dialog otherwise. The plugin owns
the `open` state.

| Prop           | Type                      | Required | Behavior                                     |
| -------------- | ------------------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `title`        | `string`                  | Yes      | Labels the modal and its visible header.     |
| `icon`         | `ReactNode`               | No       | Renders before the title in the header.      |
| `open`         | `boolean`                 | Yes      | Shows the modal content when `true`.         |
| `onOpenChange` | `(open: boolean) => void` | Yes      | Receives `false` when the user dismisses it. |
| `children`     | `ReactNode`               | Yes      | Contains `Modal.Content`.                    |

`Modal.Content` owns the body below the host-rendered header:

| Prop       | Type        | Required | Behavior                                      |
| ---------- | ----------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `children` | `ReactNode` | Yes      | Renders the plugin's React Native UI content. |

The close button, backdrop, platform back action, web Escape key, and compact sheet gesture dismiss
the modal. Dismissal calls `onOpenChange(false)`; the plugin must update `open` to close it.

Modal children keep the plugin runtime context. `usePaseo`, `useRpc`, `useWorkspace`, and
`useAgent` work inside them.

### Toasts

`useToast()` returns two methods:

| Method                    | Behavior                                                    |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `show(message, options?)` | Shows a toast for 2,200 ms unless `durationMs` is supplied. |
| `error(message)`          | Shows an error toast for 3,200 ms.                          |

`show` accepts these options:

| Option       | Type                                                       | Default     |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| `variant`    | `"default" \| "info" \| "success" \| "warning" \| "error"` | `"default"` |
| `durationMs` | `number`                                                   | `2200`      |

Showing another toast replaces the currently visible toast. An empty message is ignored.

### Icons

`Icon` renders a [Lucide icon](https://lucide.dev/icons/) from Paseo's installed icon set. Plugin bundles do not import
`lucide-react-native` or `react-native-svg`.

| Prop    | Type     | Required | Behavior                                        |
| ------- | -------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `name`  | `string` | Yes      | Lucide icon name. Unknown names render nothing. |
| `size`  | `number` | No       | Icon width and height.                          |
| `color` | `string` | No       | Icon color. Use a plugin theme token.           |

## Timeline items

A plugin can replace an agent timeline entry with its own data and React Native renderer. Both
registrations are client contributions. Paseo applies the transformer while building the render
model, including every live streaming update.

```tsx
import type { PluginContext, PluginTimelineItemProps } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Text } from "react-native";
import { z } from "zod";

const schema = z.object({ label: z.string() });

function Card({ item, theme }: PluginTimelineItemProps<z.output<typeof schema>>) {
  return <Text style={{ color: theme.colors.foreground }}>{item.data.label}</Text>;
}

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addTimelineTransformer({
    id: "command-card",
    query: { itemType: "tool_call" },
    transform({ item, phase }) {
      return {
        items: [
          {
            type: "plugin",
            kind: "command-card",
            version: 1,
            data: { label: item.name, phase },
          },
        ],
      };
    },
  });
  plugin.addTimelineRenderer({
    kind: "command-card",
    version: 1,
    schema,
    Component: Card,
  });
  return () => {};
}
```

`query.itemType` is the stable, coarse selector. Inspect the selected item inside `transform` for
provider- or tool-specific recognition. Returning `undefined` keeps the original entry. Returning
`items` replaces it; an empty array removes it. Item `data` must be JSON-compatible. The `phase`
input is `"streaming"` for running tool calls and loading reasoning, and `"complete"` otherwise.
Each replacement may set an optional plugin-local `id`; otherwise Paseo uses its index within that
source item's output.

Renderers receive `agentId`, `item`, `timestamp`, `theme`, `host`, and `layout`. Paseo validates
`item.data` with the registered schema before rendering. Keep transformers synchronous and
deterministic. Paseo memoizes results by source-item reference and derives replacement identity from
the source row, so updates to one streaming item do not remount its renderer. Use the exported
`useRevealedText(text, phase)` hook when a renderer should pace streaming text like Paseo's built-in
assistant rows.

### Append a timeline row from the daemon

A server handler can add a plugin-owned row to canonical history:

```ts
import type { PluginHandlerContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";

async function publishReview(agentId: string, { paseo }: PluginHandlerContext) {
  await paseo.agents.ref(agentId).timeline.append({
    type: "plugin",
    id: "review",
    kind: "review-result",
    version: 1,
    data: { verdict: "ready" },
  });
}
```

| Field     | Type             | Required | Behavior                                                       |
| --------- | ---------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `type`    | `"plugin"`       | Yes      | Selects the plugin timeline variant.                           |
| `id`      | `string`         | Yes      | Stable plugin-local identity. Reusing it replaces the old row. |
| `kind`    | `string`         | Yes      | Selects the registered renderer.                               |
| `version` | positive integer | Yes      | Selects the renderer contract version.                         |
| `data`    | JSON-compatible  | Yes      | Renderer payload, at most 64 KiB after JSON serialization.     |

The daemon stamps `pluginId` from the calling plugin session and rejects this RPC from non-plugin
sessions. The row appears live, survives timeline refetches, and keeps only the latest value for the
same plugin and `id`. If its renderer is missing, Paseo shows the existing unavailable row. Daemons
reject `data` over the limit rather than truncating it. Daemons that support this operation
advertise `server_info.features.pluginTimelineItems`.

## Theme and layout

Plugin UI runs on desktop, browser, iOS, and Android, across every Paseo theme. `theme` is a typed `PluginTheme` mapped from the active host theme. Color and spacing must come from those props. Hardcoded colors and unstyled `Text` break when the host theme changes.

Recreate styles when `theme` or `layout.compact` changes.

| Key                             | Required for               | Use it for                          |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `theme.colors.foreground`       | Every primary `Text`       | Titles and body copy                |
| `theme.colors.foregroundMuted`  | Secondary `Text`           | Labels and supporting copy          |
| `theme.colors.surface0`         | Root view                  | Panel background                    |
| `theme.colors.surface1`         | Raised surfaces            | Cards and panels                    |
| `theme.colors.surface2`         | Control surfaces           | Inputs and secondary controls       |
| `theme.colors.border`           | Surface boundaries         | Borders and dividers                |
| `theme.colors.accent`           | Primary action fills       | Buttons and selected states         |
| `theme.colors.accentForeground` | Text on an accent fill     | Button labels                       |
| `theme.colors.statusSuccess`    | Success feedback           | Success messages and indicators     |
| `theme.colors.statusWarning`    | Warning feedback           | Warning messages and indicators     |
| `theme.colors.statusDanger`     | Failure copy               | Error messages and destructive text |
| `layout.compact`                | Padding and stacking       | `true` on mobile and narrow windows |
| `layout.platform`               | Platform-specific behavior | `ios`, `android`, or `web`          |

Do not hardcode `#000`, `#fff`, or React Native's default text color. Primary copy uses `foreground`. Labels use `foregroundMuted`. Tighten padding when `layout.compact` is true.

Workspace and agent panels receive the same `theme`, `layout`, and optional `navigation` fields.

## Contribute a theme

`addTheme` adds a light or dark theme to Settings → Appearance, listed under the built-ins by its `name`. A
theme is data, so it needs no client file:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addTheme({
    id: "mocha",
    name: "Catppuccin Mocha",
    appearance: "dark",
    colors: {
      background: "#1e1e2e",
      foreground: "#cdd6f4",
      raised: "#313244",
      control: "#45475a",
      border: "#45475a",
      accent: "#cba6f7",
      mutedForeground: "#a6adc8",
      ring: "#6c7086",
    },
  });
  return () => {};
}
```

Every color is a hex string; anything else fails to load. Paseo expands the palette into the full
token set the built-in dark themes use, so a contributed theme covers panels, menus, diffs, status
colors, and the terminal without listing them.

| Color             | Becomes                                                           |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `background`      | App, workspace, and terminal background                           |
| `foreground`      | Primary text, terminal foreground and cursor                      |
| `raised`          | Cards, popovers, and hovered rows                                 |
| `control`         | Inputs, secondary fills, and the light-theme sidebar              |
| `border`          | Borders and the highest raised-surface tint                       |
| `accent`          | Buttons, selection, and focus. Optional; `foreground` if omitted. |
| `mutedForeground` | Secondary text                                                    |
| `ring`            | Focus rings, scrollbars, and terminal bright black                |

`appearance` is `"light"` or `"dark"`. Paseo uses it to select the matching surface, status,
diff, syntax, terminal, and shadow derivation.

Only one contributed theme is active at a time. Selecting one persists the choice; if the plugin is
later disabled or removed, Paseo falls back to the default theme rather than leaving the app
unpainted.

Themes need a host that supports them. A daemon released before `addTheme` compiles the call into
the plugin's backend bundle, where it does not exist, and the plugin fails to start with
`plugin.addTheme is not a function`. Update the host.

## Workspace panels

Register one panel for workspace or agent context:

`review.client.tsx`:

```tsx
import { type PluginAgentPanelProps, useAgent, useWorkspace } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { useMemo } from "react";
import { Text, View } from "react-native";

export function ReviewPanel({ theme, layout, workspaceId, agentId }: PluginAgentPanelProps) {
  const workspaceName = useWorkspace(workspaceId, (workspace) => workspace.name);
  const agent = useAgent(agentId, ({ id, title }) => ({ id, title }));
  const styles = useMemo(
    () => ({
      screen: {
        flex: 1,
        padding: layout.compact ? 16 : 24,
        backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface0,
      },
      title: { color: theme.colors.foreground },
      detail: { color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted },
    }),
    [theme, layout.compact],
  );
  return (
    <View style={styles.screen}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>{workspaceName}</Text>
      <Text style={styles.detail}>{agent?.title ?? agent?.id}</Text>
    </View>
  );
}
```

`index.ts`:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { ReviewPanel } from "./review.client";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addWorkspacePanel({
    id: "review",
    title: "Review",
    icon: "Scan",
    context: "agent",
    locations: ["workspace", "explorer"],
    Component: ReviewPanel,
  });
  return () => {};
}
```

`addWorkspacePanel` fields:

| Field       | Required | Meaning                                                       |
| ----------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`        | Yes      | Plugin-local panel ID.                                        |
| `title`     | Yes      | Workspace-tab title.                                          |
| `icon`      | Yes      | Lucide icon name.                                             |
| `context`   | Yes      | `workspace` or `agent`.                                       |
| `locations` | No       | `workspace` and/or `explorer`. Defaults to `workspace`.       |
| `Component` | Yes      | React Native component matching the selected context's props. |

A workspace panel receives `PluginWorkspacePanelProps`: `context: "workspace"`, `theme`, `host`, `layout`, and `workspaceId`. An agent panel receives `PluginAgentPanelProps`: `context: "agent"`, the same common fields and `workspaceId`, plus `agentId`.

Read cached state with `useWorkspace(workspaceId, selector)` and `useAgent(agentId, selector)`. A selector is required. Paseo compares its result shallowly, so selecting `{ name, status }` does not re-render when unrelated fields change. Select every field the component renders in one call; do not select the whole snapshot.

Both hooks return `null` when the record is unavailable. Otherwise they run synchronously against normalized client state. Snapshot DTOs and their nested values are deeply readonly and frozen at runtime. Do not call plugin RPC to discover the current workspace or agent. Fetch optional or vendor-specific enrichment after the component renders.

Workspace snapshot fields:

| Field                | Type                                                              |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`                 | `string`                                                          |
| `projectId`          | `string`                                                          |
| `projectDisplayName` | `string`                                                          |
| `projectRootPath`    | `string`                                                          |
| `directory`          | `string`                                                          |
| `projectKind`        | `"git" \| "non_git" \| "directory"`                               |
| `kind`               | `"directory" \| "local_checkout" \| "checkout" \| "worktree"`     |
| `name`               | `string`                                                          |
| `title`              | `string \| null`                                                  |
| `status`             | `"needs_input" \| "failed" \| "running" \| "attention" \| "done"` |
| `statusEnteredAt`    | ISO timestamp or `null`                                           |
| `archivingAt`        | ISO timestamp or `null`                                           |
| `diffStat`           | `{ additions: number; deletions: number } \| null`                |

Agent snapshot fields:

| Field               | Type                                                           |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`                | `string`                                                       |
| `workspaceId`       | `string`                                                       |
| `provider`          | `string`                                                       |
| `status`            | `"initializing" \| "idle" \| "running" \| "error" \| "closed"` |
| `createdAt`         | ISO timestamp                                                  |
| `updatedAt`         | ISO timestamp                                                  |
| `lastActivityAt`    | ISO timestamp                                                  |
| `title`             | `string \| null`                                               |
| `cwd`               | `string`                                                       |
| `model`             | `string \| null`                                               |
| `currentModeId`     | `string \| null`                                               |
| `thinkingOptionId`  | `string \| null`                                               |
| `requiresAttention` | `boolean`                                                      |
| `attentionReason`   | `"finished" \| "error" \| "permission" \| null`                |
| `parentAgentId`     | `string \| null`                                               |
| `labels`            | `Record<string, string>`                                       |

Paseo owns tab focus, splitting, closing, persistence, query state, the API/RPC providers, and the render error boundary. A restored tab whose plugin, panel, context, workspace, or agent is unavailable stays open with an unavailable message instead of crashing the workspace.

## Command Center items

Open the Command Center with **⌘K** on macOS or **Ctrl+K** on Windows and Linux, then search for the item title.

Register an action and open a panel from the callback:

```tsx
import { defineRpc } from "@getpaseo/plugin/server";
import { z } from "zod";

const refreshReview = defineRpc({
  name: "review.refresh",
  input: z.object({ agentId: z.string() }),
  output: z.object({ refreshed: z.boolean() }),
});

plugin.addCommandCenterItem({
  id: "open-review",
  title: "Open review",
  icon: "Scan",
  keywords: ["inspect"],
  context: "agent",
  async onSelect({ paseo, rpc, workspace, agent, openPanel }) {
    await paseo.workspaces.ref(workspace.id).setTitle(`Review ${agent.id}`);
    await rpc(refreshReview, { agentId: agent.id });
    openPanel("review");
  },
});
```

`addCommandCenterItem` fields:

| Field      | Required | Meaning                                        |
| ---------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `id`       | Yes      | Plugin-local item ID.                          |
| `title`    | Yes      | Search result title.                           |
| `icon`     | Yes      | Lucide icon name.                              |
| `keywords` | No       | Additional Command Center search terms.        |
| `context`  | Yes      | `global`, `workspace`, or `agent`.             |
| `onSelect` | Yes      | Client-side callback for the matching context. |

Global items appear on the installation's selected host. Workspace items appear only when that host has an active cached workspace. Agent items appear only when the focused workspace tab is an agent or an agent-context plugin panel whose cached record belongs to that workspace. Missing context removes the item rather than calling the plugin to discover it.

Every callback receives:

| Field                     | Context             | Meaning                                                                                                         |
| ------------------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `context`                 | All                 | Matching discriminator.                                                                                         |
| `paseo`                   | All                 | Selected host's existing `PaseoApi`.                                                                            |
| `rpc(contract, input)`    | All                 | Typed call to this installation's daemon-side plugin handler.                                                   |
| `openSurface(id)`         | All                 | Opens one of this plugin's registered global surfaces.                                                          |
| `workspace`               | Workspace and agent | Synchronous workspace snapshot.                                                                                 |
| `agent`                   | Agent               | Synchronous matching agent snapshot.                                                                            |
| `openPanel(id, options?)` | Workspace and agent | Opens a registered panel in the callback's current context. Pass `{ location: "explorer" }` to target Explorer. |

An agent callback may open either an agent panel or a workspace panel. A workspace callback may open only a workspace panel. Unknown surface and panel IDs fail visibly. Use `paseo` for normal workspace, agent, provider, and daemon-config operations. Use `rpc` for plugin-specific filesystem, credential, vendor, or daemon-local work.

## Client slash commands

Register a command that runs entirely in the Paseo client when the user submits it from the message
composer:

```ts
plugin.addClientSlashCommand({
  name: "review",
  description: "Run the review bot",
  argumentHint: "[scope]",
  context: "agent",
  async onSubmit({ args, agent, rpc, openPanel }) {
    await rpc(refreshReview, { agentId: agent.id, scope: args });
    openPanel("review");
  },
});
```

| Field          | Required | Meaning                                        |
| -------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `name`         | Yes      | Command name without the leading slash.        |
| `description`  | Yes      | Composer autocomplete description.             |
| `argumentHint` | Yes      | Short usage hint shown after the command name. |
| `context`      | Yes      | `"workspace"` or `"agent"`.                    |
| `onSubmit`     | Yes      | Client callback for the matching context.      |

`onSubmit` receives the matching Command Center callback context plus `args`. For `/review src`,
`args` is `"src"`; Paseo trims only the remainder's leading and trailing whitespace. Paseo owns the
autocomplete row, input clearing, and error toast. A handled command is never sent to the agent.
The compiler removes this registration from the plugin's server bundle.

Precedence is built-in client commands, plugin commands, then provider commands. A lower-precedence
collision is omitted. Built-in aliases also reserve their names. The first plugin in stable catalog
order wins a collision between plugins. Commands do not run while the composer has attachments.

## Composer pills

Register a headless client entrypoint from `index.ts`:

```ts
import { contributeClient } from "./review.client";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.addClientSide(contributeClient);
  return () => {};
}
```

The client entrypoint owns pill creation and removal:

```tsx
import {
  Icon,
  type PluginClientContext,
  type PluginComposerPillProps,
  useAgent,
} from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Text } from "react-native";

function ReviewPill({ theme, agentId }: PluginComposerPillProps) {
  const agent = useAgent(agentId, ({ title }) => ({ title }));
  return (
    <>
      <Icon name="Scan" size={14} color={theme.colors.foregroundMuted} />
      <Text numberOfLines={1} style={{ color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted, flexShrink: 1 }}>
        {agent?.title ?? "Review"}
      </Text>
    </>
  );
}

export function contributeClient(client: PluginClientContext) {
  const pills = new Map<string, () => void>();
  const unsubscribe = client.paseo.agents.subscribe((update) => {
    if (update.kind !== "upsert" || !update.agent.workspaceId) return;
    const { id: agentId, workspaceId } = update.agent;
    pills.get(agentId)?.();
    pills.set(
      agentId,
      client.addComposerPill({
        id: "review",
        title: "Open review",
        workspaceId,
        agentId,
        Component: ReviewPill,
        async onPress() {
          await client.rpc(refreshReview, { agentId });
          client.openPanel("review", { workspaceId, agentId });
        },
      }),
    );
  });
  return () => {
    unsubscribe();
    for (const remove of pills.values()) remove();
  };
}
```

`addComposerPill` fields:

| Field         | Required | Meaning                                                    |
| ------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`          | Yes      | Plugin-local ID within the target agent.                   |
| `title`       | Yes      | Accessible button label.                                   |
| `workspaceId` | Yes      | Workspace whose composer track owns the pill.              |
| `agentId`     | Yes      | Agent whose composer track owns the pill.                  |
| `Component`   | Yes      | React Native component rendering the pill's icon and text. |
| `onPress`     | Yes      | Client-side callback.                                      |

`addClientSide` runs once per plugin installation in each connected app. Its context exposes
`paseo`, typed `rpc`, `openSurface`, explicit-context `openPanel`, and `addComposerPill`.
`addComposerPill` returns an idempotent removal function. Paseo also removes every outstanding pill
when the client entrypoint, plugin installation, or host connection is torn down.

Paseo owns the pressable, shared pill chrome, pending state, error reporting, and track-bar
placement. The component receives `theme`, `host`, `layout`, `workspaceId`, and `agentId`. Read
current values with `useWorkspace` and `useAgent`. The plugin owns when the pill exists, its icon
and text, and the callback. `openPanel(id, { workspaceId, agentId? })` opens or focuses a panel
registered by the same plugin.

## Use the Paseo SDK

Use `usePaseo()` for ordinary Paseo operations from a surface. It borrows the selected host's existing connection; do not create another client.

```tsx
import { usePaseo } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { Pressable, Text } from "react-native";

function PullRequestAction() {
  const paseo = usePaseo();

  async function createReviewWorkspace() {
    const workspace = await paseo.workspaces.create({
      title: "Review PR 42",
      source: {
        kind: "worktree",
        cwd: "/absolute/path/to/repository",
        action: "checkout",
        checkoutSource: { kind: "change_request", forge: "github", number: 42 },
      },
    });
    await workspace.agents.create({
      config: { provider: "codex/gpt-5.5" },
      prompt: "Review PR #42.",
    });
  }

  return (
    <Pressable accessibilityRole="button" onPress={() => void createReviewWorkspace()}>
      <Text>Create review workspace</Text>
    </Pressable>
  );
}
```

The returned API covers projects, workspaces, agents, providers, and daemon config. See the [SDK API reference](/docs/sdk/reference) for its methods. Connection lifecycle methods are intentionally absent because Paseo owns the connection.

## Add plugin-specific backend behavior

Use plugin RPC only for work that is not a normal Paseo operation: reading a vendor API, accessing daemon-local resources, or keeping credentials off the client.

Define one contract with Zod, handle it in the subprocess, and call it from the surface:

`greeting.shared.ts`:

```ts
import { defineRpc } from "@getpaseo/plugin/server";
import { z } from "zod";

export const greeting = defineRpc({
  name: "greeting.create",
  input: z.object({ name: z.string() }),
  output: z.object({ message: z.string() }),
});
```

`greeting.client.tsx`:

```tsx
import { useRpc } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { greeting } from "./greeting.shared";

export function GreetingButton() {
  const createGreeting = useRpc(greeting);
  // Call createGreeting({ name: "Ada" }) from an event or query.
  return null;
}
```

`greeting.server.ts`:

```ts
import type { output as ZodOutput } from "zod";
import { greeting } from "./greeting.shared";

export function createGreeting({ name }: ZodOutput<typeof greeting.input>) {
  return { message: `Hello, ${name}` };
}
```

`index.ts`:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { GreetingButton } from "./greeting.client";
import { createGreeting } from "./greeting.server";
import { greeting } from "./greeting.shared";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.handle(greeting, createGreeting);
  plugin.addSurface("main", GreetingButton);
  return () => {};
}
```

Inputs and outputs are validated on both sides. RPC names start with a lowercase letter and contain lowercase letters, numbers, dots, hyphens, or underscores. `useRpc()` returns a typed async function. Use TanStack Query for request state, caching, and mutations.

Backend handlers receive the same `PaseoApi` as `{ paseo }`. Their connection belongs to the subprocess and closes when the plugin stops. Backend code can use Node APIs and dependencies installed in the plugin directory.

## Debug backend output

Backend contributions can write to stdout and stderr with normal Node logging:

```ts
console.log("Refreshing issues");
console.error("Issue refresh failed", error);
```

Paseo adds `[paseo]` entries when the plugin starts loading, becomes ready, starts stopping, and has
stopped. It records compilation and load failures as stderr entries, including failures that happen
before the plugin subprocess starts. Paseo also captures output emitted during initialization, RPC
handlers, cleanup, and process failure. Protocol traffic uses a separate channel, so `console.log()`
cannot corrupt plugin RPCs.

Open **Settings → Plugins → Logs** for the plugin, or inspect the same recent tail from the daemon
CLI:

```bash
paseo plugin logs my-plugin
paseo plugin logs my-plugin --json
paseo plugin logs my-plugin --host <url>
```

The command returns a snapshot rather than following live output. Refresh the settings view or run
the command again for newer entries. Each entry includes its timestamp, stdout or stderr stream,
sequence, and message.

Paseo retains up to 500 entries and 256 KiB per plugin in memory. Individual lines are capped at
16 KiB. Reload, disable, compilation failure, initialization failure, and process failure retain the
tail. Removing the plugin clears it, and a daemon restart starts a new tail. Structured copies are
also written to the daemon log at `$PASEO_HOME/daemon.log`.

Only daemon-side output is captured. Logs from client surfaces remain in the app runtime. Do not log
credentials, access tokens, or other secrets: connected users can read the retained tail, and the
daemon log persists it.

## Add a composer attachment source

An attachment source searches external resources and returns a stable text snapshot for an agent prompt. Keep credentials and vendor calls in the backend handler.

`issues.shared.ts`:

```ts
import { defineAttachmentSource, defineRpc } from "@getpaseo/plugin/server";
import { z } from "zod";

export const searchIssues = defineRpc({
  name: "issues.search",
  input: z.object({ query: z.string() }),
  output: z.object({
    items: z.array(
      z.object({
        id: z.string(),
        identifier: z.string(),
        title: z.string(),
        subtitle: z.string().optional(),
        url: z.string().url(),
        text: z.string(),
        resourceType: z.string(),
      }),
    ),
  }),
});

export const issues = defineAttachmentSource({
  id: "issues",
  title: "Acme issue",
  icon: "CircleDot",
  pickerTitle: "Attach Acme issue",
  searchPlaceholder: "Search by identifier or title",
  search: searchIssues,
});
```

`issues.server.ts`:

```ts
import type { output as ZodOutput } from "zod";
import { searchIssues } from "./issues.shared";

export function search({ query }: ZodOutput<typeof searchIssues.input>) {
  return searchAcmeIssues(query);
}
```

`index.ts`:

```ts
import type { PluginContext } from "@getpaseo/plugin";
import { search } from "./issues.server";
import { issues, searchIssues } from "./issues.shared";

export default function contribute(plugin: PluginContext) {
  plugin.handle(searchIssues, search);
  plugin.addAttachmentSource(issues);
  return () => {};
}
```

Paseo owns the composer menu, search picker, selected pill, draft state, and submission. The `text` value is the complete snapshot sent to the agent.

## Hosts and lifecycle

Plugins are installed per daemon. When the same contribution exists on several connected hosts, Paseo shows one sidebar item and adds a host picker. The selected host supplies the bundle, Paseo API, RPC transport, and query cache. Calls never fall through to another host when the selected host is offline.

Attachment sources remain scoped to each composer's host.

Workspace panels and Command Center items stay scoped to the active host and exact cached context.
Reload replaces their registrations. Disable, removal, host disconnect, and evaluation failure
remove Command Center items and clear the installation's query state. An already-restored panel tab
remains as unavailable until its matching contribution returns or the user closes it. Panel render
failures stay inside the plugin error boundary.

## CLI reference

```bash
paseo plugin init /absolute/path/to/plugin
paseo plugin install /absolute/path/to/plugin
paseo plugin install /absolute/path/to/plugin --id another-runtime-id
paseo plugin add owner/repository
paseo plugin add https://git.example.com/owner/repository.git --ref main
paseo plugin add owner/monorepo:plugins/review
paseo plugin status [id]
paseo plugin update <id>
paseo plugin update --all
paseo plugin ls
paseo plugin reload my-plugin
paseo plugin logs my-plugin
paseo plugin disable my-plugin
paseo plugin enable my-plugin
paseo plugin remove my-plugin
```

Pass `--host <url>` to management commands when the target is not the CLI's default daemon. `remove`
never deletes a directory source; it deletes the managed checkout for a Git source. The install-time
`--id` is the runtime ID and allows the same directory or repository to be installed more than once.

> **Trust every plugin you add.** `paseo plugin add` and `paseo plugin install` mean “I trust this codebase.” Server code and Git preparation commands run unsandboxed with the daemon user's access on the daemon host; client contributions run inside Paseo. Dependencies and future updates are part of that decision. With `--host`, commands run on the remote daemon host.

An existing directory wins over `owner/repository` GitHub shorthand. Append `:relative/path` when
the plugin lives below the repository root. Omit `--ref` to track the default branch. Explicit
branches track updates; tags and commits stay pinned.

Most plugins should omit `build`. Use it only when the staged checkout must install a dependency
that Paseo does not provide, generate source or assets, or perform another required preparation
step:

```json
{
  "id": "review",
  "build": [
    ["npm", "ci"],
    ["npm", "run", "build"]
  ]
}
```

`build` is a list of non-empty argv arrays. Paseo runs each executable directly, without a shell,
from the staged plugin directory after resolving the exact commit and manifest. It never infers a
package manager or commands from lockfiles. Install and update both run `build` before validation,
compilation, activation, or replacement. A failing command reports its output, discards the
candidate, and leaves the installed/running version intact. The daemon log records each command and
output; with `--host`, execution is on that daemon host.

Run `npm run typecheck` before install or reload. Never edit the daemon config directly.

The daemon-wide **Enable plugins** switch lives under **Settings → Plugins**. A configured plugin remains `disabled` until that switch and the plugin's own enabled state are both on.

The switch is the root `pluginsEnabled` field in `config.json`. After changing it, run `paseo reload --json`. Enabling starts every configured plugin whose own `enabled` value is not `false`; disabling tears down all plugins. No daemon restart is required. Manual edits to plugin source entries are not reloaded—use the plugin lifecycle commands for those.

## Load failures

Use `paseo plugin ls` to read the current status and error.

| Symptom                      | Check                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Sidebar item is missing      | The plugin is `running`, the item references an existing surface, the icon name is valid, and the client is on the installation's host. |
| Client module is unavailable | Import only the host-provided client modules listed above.                                                                              |
| RPC rejects                  | Check both Zod schemas and the daemon-side handler error.                                                                               |
| Edited code does not appear  | Run `npm run typecheck`, then `paseo plugin reload <id>`.                                                                               |
| Reload fails                 | Read `paseo plugin ls` and `paseo plugin logs <id>`, fix the source error, then reload; Paseo does not restore the previous bundle.     |
| Plugin exits unexpectedly    | Read `paseo plugin logs <id>` for retained initialization, cleanup, stderr, and final crash output.                                     |