Where is the Canonical marketplace.json File Located in Claude Plugins Community?

The canonical marketplace.json file is located at .claude-plugin/marketplace.json in the root of the anthropics/claude-plugins-community repository.

The anthropics/claude-plugins-community repository serves as the central registry for community-built Claude plugins. Understanding the exact canonical marketplace.json file location is essential for developers who want to inspect available plugins or integrate with the Claude CLI tooling. This hidden directory structure ensures the catalog remains distinct from source code while remaining accessible to automated systems.

Exact File Path for the Canonical marketplace.json

The authoritative plugin catalog resides in a hidden directory at the repository root. The full path is:

.claude-plugin/marketplace.json

This file functions as the single source of truth for all publicly listed community plugins. According to the repository's README, this path contains "the list of community plugins available to install" when using Claude Code or Claude Cowork CLIs.

The file is generated nightly from Anthropic's internal review pipeline, ensuring that every entry meets security and quality standards before appearing in the catalog.

CLI Integration and Marketplace Consumption

Claude Code and Claude Cowork CLIs reference this specific path when executing plugin-related commands. When you run marketplace operations, the tools fetch and parse this JSON file to present available options.

Adding the Community Marketplace

Before installing individual plugins, you must register the marketplace source:

# Add the community marketplace (one-time setup)

claude plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-community

Installing Plugins from the Canonical List

Once registered, install specific plugins by referencing the catalog:

# Install a specific plugin listed in marketplace.json

claude plugin install my-plugin@claude-community

CI Validation and Automation Workflows

The repository's continuous integration system enforces strict validation rules against the canonical file path. The validate-plugins workflow explicitly targets this location to ensure JSON schema compliance and security scanning.

In .github/workflows/validate-plugins.yml, the workflow configuration specifies:

marketplace-path: .claude-plugin/marketplace.json

Similarly, the custom action defined in .github/actions/validate-plugins/action.yml accepts this path as a parameter, allowing reusable validation logic across different workflow files. These safeguards prevent malformed or unauthorized entries from reaching the canonical marketplace.

Inspecting the marketplace.json Contents

Developers can examine the catalog directly using standard command-line tools.

Viewing the Complete Catalog

To display the entire JSON structure with syntax highlighting:

# Show the raw marketplace JSON with jq formatting

cat .claude-plugin/marketplace.json | jq .

Querying Specific Plugin Entries

Filter the catalog for specific packages using jq:

# Find the entry for the "quickdesign" plugin

jq '.plugins[] | select(.name=="quickdesign")' .claude-plugin/marketplace.json

This direct access allows developers to verify plugin metadata, version constraints, and author information before installation.

Summary

• The canonical marketplace.json file location is .claude-plugin/marketplace.json at the repository root.
• This path is referenced by Claude CLI tools including Claude Code and Claude Cowork.
• The file is generated nightly from Anthropic's internal review pipeline, not edited manually.
• CI workflows in .github/workflows/validate-plugins.yml validate against this specific path using the marketplace-path parameter.
• The README.md explicitly documents this location as the official community plugin list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is marketplace.json stored in the repository?

The file is stored at .claude-plugin/marketplace.json in the root directory of the anthropics/claude-plugins-community repository. This hidden directory structure keeps the catalog separate from visible documentation and source code while remaining accessible to CLI tools and CI systems.

Is marketplace.json generated automatically?

Yes, the file is regenerated nightly through Anthropic's internal review pipeline. This automated process ensures all listed plugins meet current security and quality standards before being published to the canonical location, rather than accepting direct manual edits.

How do I verify the marketplace.json file is valid?

The repository includes automated validation through GitHub Actions. The workflow defined in .github/workflows/validate-plugins.yml runs schema checks and security scans against .claude-plugin/marketplace.json on every pull request and scheduled interval, using the marketplace-path input parameter to target the correct file.

Can I submit changes directly to marketplace.json?

No, developers should not submit pull requests directly modifying .claude-plugin/marketplace.json. The file is managed automatically by Anthropic's review pipeline based on internal quality checks. Plugin submissions must follow the repository's contribution guidelines for adding new entries through the proper review channels rather than editing the canonical file directly.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}