# Supported Plugin Source Types in marketplace.json

> Discover the three supported plugin source types github, gitlab, and url within marketplace.json for efficient plugin management in the Claude Plugins Community.

- Repository: [Anthropic/claude-plugins-community](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-08-29

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**The [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json) file in the `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository accepts exactly three plugin source types—`github`, `gitlab`, and `url`—which determine how the platform locates, retrieves, and installs plugin packages.**

The `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository uses [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json) as the central configuration schema that validates all plugin submissions. This file contains a `pluginSourceTypes` array that explicitly enumerates the supported plugin source types in [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json), ensuring the ingestion system knows precisely how to fetch each plugin. Developers must specify one of these three valid types within their plugin configuration to pass marketplace validation.

## The pluginSourceTypes Array Structure

Inside [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json), the allowed distribution methods are defined within the `pluginSourceTypes` array. According to the repository source code, this array restricts submissions to three distinct protocols for package retrieval and installation.

### GitHub Repositories

The `github` type supports plugins hosted on GitHub, including both public and private repositories. When a plugin specifies `github` as its source type, the marketplace clones the repository directly using standard Git protocols. This is the most common source type for community-contributed plugins integrated into the Claude ecosystem.

### GitLab Instances

The `gitlab` type accommodates plugins hosted on GitLab, including both gitlab.com and self-managed GitLab instances. This source type provides flexibility for organizations that maintain internal GitLab servers while still allowing seamless integration with the Claude plugins marketplace.

### Direct URL Downloads

The `url` type enables fetching plugins directly from a web-accessible URL pointing to a zipped package archive. This option is ideal for distributing compiled binaries, private builds, or plugins hosted on version control platforms other than GitHub or GitLab.

## JSON Configuration Schema

When defining a plugin entry, the source type must match one of these three string values. Here is the structural representation of the `pluginSourceTypes` array as implemented in the repository:

```json
{
  "pluginSourceTypes": [
    "github",
    "gitlab",
    "url"
  ]
}

```

Each plugin submission must reference exactly one of these types to pass schema validation. The marketplace ingestion process uses this field to determine the appropriate fetch strategy—repository cloning for Git-based sources or HTTP download for archived URL packages.

## Summary

- **[`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json)** in `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` defines supported plugin source types exclusively through the `pluginSourceTypes` array.
- **Three valid types exist:** `github` for GitHub repositories, `gitlab` for GitLab instances, and `url` for direct zip archive downloads.
- **Source type determines fetch method:** Git-based values trigger repository cloning protocols, while `url` initiates direct download of zipped packages.
- **Strict validation applies:** Every plugin submission must specify exactly one of these three supported types or the marketplace will reject the configuration.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What happens if I specify a source type not listed in the pluginSourceTypes array?

The marketplace ingestion system will reject the submission during the validation phase. Only `github`, `gitlab`, and `url` are recognized as valid values according to the schema defined in [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json).

### Does the github source type support private repositories?

Yes. The `github` source type explicitly supports both public and private GitHub repositories. You must configure appropriate authentication credentials to allow the marketplace to access private code.

### Is the url source type limited to specific archive formats?

The `url` type expects a pointer to a zipped package archive, typically a `.zip` file. The marketplace automatically extracts and installs the contents, so ensure the URL points to a valid, accessible archive format.

### Where is the marketplace.json file located within the repository?

The [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-community/blob/main/marketplace.json) file resides in the root directory of the `anthropics/claude-plugins-community` repository. This location serves as the primary configuration entry point for the entire Claude plugins ecosystem.