creating-plugins
Creating EmDash Plugins
EmDash plugins extend the CMS with hooks, storage, settings, admin UI, API routes, and custom Portable Text block types. All plugins are TypeScript packages.
Plugin Types
EmDash has two plugin formats:
| Type | Format | Admin UI | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | definePlugin({ hooks, routes }) |
Block Kit | Isolate on Cloudflare, in-process elsewhere |
| Native | createPlugin() / definePlugin() with id+version |
React or Block Kit | Always in host isolate |
Standard is the default. Most plugins should use it. Standard plugins can be published to the marketplace and work in both trusted and sandboxed modes.
Native is an escape hatch for plugins that need React admin components, direct DB access, or custom Astro components. Native plugins can only run in plugins: [] -- they cannot be sandboxed or published to the marketplace.
Plugin Anatomy
More from emdash-cms/emdash
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36emdash-cli
Use the EmDash CLI to manage content, schema, media, and more. Use this skill when you need to interact with a running EmDash instance from the command line — creating content, managing collections, uploading media, generating types, or scripting CMS operations.
35adversarial-reviewer
Adversarial code review that assumes bugs exist and hunts for them. Use when asked to review code, find bugs, audit for correctness, stress-test a PR, or when someone says "tear this apart" or "what's wrong with this". Give no benefit of the doubt — every line is guilty until proven innocent.
26wordpress-plugin-to-emdash
Port a WordPress plugin to EmDash CMS. Use this skill when asked to migrate, convert, or port a WordPress plugin, theme functionality, or custom post type to EmDash. Provides concept mapping and implementation patterns.
19agent-browser
Browser automation for testing and verification. Use when you need to interact with web UIs, verify visual changes, fill forms, or capture screenshots.
18wordpress-theme-to-emdash
Port WordPress themes to EmDash CMS. Use when asked to convert, migrate, or port a WordPress theme to EmDash, or when creating an EmDash site that should match an existing WordPress site's design. Handles design extraction, template conversion, and EmDash-specific features like menus, taxonomies, and widgets.
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