[EPIC][PLUGIN]: Plugin marketplace UI

[crivetimihai]

🛒 Epic: Plugin Marketplace UI

Goal

Build a plugin marketplace interface where users can browse, discover, install, configure, and rate plugins from a curated registry. Enable ecosystem growth by making plugin discovery and installation seamless.

Why Now?

1. Ecosystem Growth: Easy plugin discovery drives adoption
2. 1.5.0 Theme: "Plugin Marketplace" is a milestone goal
3. Community: Enable third-party plugin contributions
4. Enterprise: Curated plugins with security reviews

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📖 User Stories

US-1: Browse Plugin Catalog

As a user
I want to browse available plugins
So that I can discover useful extensions

Acceptance Criteria:

• Grid/list view of available plugins
• Search and filter (category, author, rating)
• Plugin cards with icon, name, description, rating
• Categories: Security, Observability, Integration, AI, etc.
• Sort by: Popular, Recent, Rating, Name

US-2: Plugin Details Page

As a user
I want to view detailed plugin information
So that I can evaluate before installing

Acceptance Criteria:

• Full description and documentation
• Screenshots/demo images
• Version history and changelog
• Author information and links
• Compatibility information
• User reviews and ratings
• Install count / popularity

US-3: One-Click Install

As a user
I want to install plugins easily
So that I can extend functionality quickly

Acceptance Criteria:

• "Install" button on plugin page
• Show required permissions before install
• Download and install progress
• Automatic configuration setup
• Post-install setup wizard if needed
• Success confirmation with next steps

US-4: Plugin Management

As an administrator
I want to manage installed plugins
So that I can configure, update, or remove them

Acceptance Criteria:

• List of installed plugins
• Enable/disable toggle per plugin
• Update available indicator
• One-click update
• Uninstall with cleanup
• Plugin settings access

US-5: Ratings and Reviews

As a user
I want to rate and review plugins
So that I can help others make decisions

Acceptance Criteria:

• 5-star rating system
• Written review option
• View all reviews
• Sort reviews by date/helpfulness
• Report inappropriate reviews
• Author can respond to reviews

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📋 Implementation Tasks

Phase 1: Registry Backend

• Design plugin registry API
• Create plugin metadata schema
• Set up plugin storage (S3/CDN)
• Implement search and filtering
• Add rating/review endpoints

Phase 2: Marketplace UI

• Create marketplace page layout
• Build plugin card component
• Implement search and filters
• Build plugin detail page
• Add category navigation

Phase 3: Installation Flow

• Implement install button flow
• Show permissions dialog
• Download and install logic
• Post-install configuration
• Success/error handling

Phase 4: Plugin Management

• Build installed plugins page
• Enable/disable functionality
• Update checking and installation
• Uninstall with cleanup
• Settings integration

Phase 5: Community Features

• Implement rating system
• Add review functionality
• Build review display
• Author verification badges
• Security review badges

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⚙️ Plugin Metadata Schema

{
  "id": "security-clearance-plugin",
  "name": "Security Clearance Levels",
  "version": "1.2.0",
  "author": {
    "name": "ContextForge Team",
    "verified": true
  },
  "description": "Enforce Bell-LaPadula MAC security model",
  "longDescription": "...",
  "category": "security",
  "tags": ["mac", "clearance", "compliance"],
  "icon": "https://registry.contextforge.io/icons/security.svg",
  "screenshots": ["..."],
  "compatibility": {
    "minVersion": "1.3.0",
    "maxVersion": null
  },
  "permissions": ["database", "config"],
  "rating": 4.8,
  "reviewCount": 124,
  "installCount": 5420,
  "securityReviewed": true,
  "downloadUrl": "...",
  "documentationUrl": "...",
  "repositoryUrl": "..."
}

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✅ Success Criteria

• Browse plugins with search/filter
• View detailed plugin information
• Install plugins with one click
• Manage installed plugins
• Rate and review plugins
• Update plugins easily

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🔗 Related Issues

• [EPIC][PLUGIN]: Plugin UI extension framework #2285 - Plugin UI Extension Framework

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📚 References

• VS Code Marketplace
• Grafana Plugins
• WordPress Plugin Directory