Build a remote MCP package

Prepared, unreleased authoring contract. This public page documents a reviewed future authoring workflow. Future authoring commands described here are not available in current releases; they do not claim that plugin-kit-ai@2 is available. Existing installer examples are identified separately. Public activation remains pending.

Choose remote MCP when the server already exists and the package should describe how an agent connects to it. Authoring records the URL without contacting it. You remain responsible for knowing the service's transport and authentication requirements before handing the package to users.

Supply the endpoint explicitly

The examples use https://mcp.example.com/mcp as a documentation placeholder. Replace it with your service's real MCP endpoint when preparing your own package. The authoring command accepts the URL as configuration; it does not verify that the address serves MCP or that your account can use it.

Future installer-hosted authoring spelling:

agentplugins author init ./docs-service \
  --template mcp-remote \
  --name docs-service \
  --description 'Connect to the team documentation MCP service' \
  --url https://mcp.example.com/mcp

Equivalent future authoring executable spelling; run only one:

plugin-kit-ai init ./docs-service \
  --template mcp-remote \
  --name docs-service \
  --description 'Connect to the team documentation MCP service' \
  --url https://mcp.example.com/mcp

Use an absent destination under an existing parent. The template requires an absolute HTTPS URL, or HTTP on loopback. Credentials, fragments, and unresolved URL tokens are not accepted template inputs. Do not put a password in the URL.

Understand the files

docs-service/
  plugin.json
  mcp.json
  README.md
  .gitignore

The root manifest owns package identity. mcp.json describes the server under mcpServers; this template uses type: streamable-http and the supplied URL. It does not generate a server or add a Skill. Use hybrid if the package also needs instructions that explain when to call its tools.

Review the README and document the endpoint's purpose, account prerequisites, and where users obtain authentication guidance. Keep secrets outside the package. A URL in a conforming file is not evidence of a live service.

Check configuration and target support

agentplugins author validate ./docs-service
agentplugins author inspect ./docs-service --target codex,claude
agentplugins author test ./docs-service
agentplugins author compat ./docs-service --target codex,claude
agentplugins author doctor ./docs-service

The same arguments work with the future plugin-kit-ai prefix. inspect can show components and unresolved requirements. compat evaluates the selected clients' static adapter support; neither command needs those clients installed. Doctor does not contact the endpoint.

Keep the remaining work visible

The author's static evidence should identify the transport and intended clients. The receiving installer still needs to evaluate installation policy and show activation instructions. The user may need to sign in, approve access, or start a new client session. Runtime tool discovery and calls need separate evidence.

If static checks fail, correct the captured configuration first. If the endpoint is unreachable later, investigate the service or client connection instead of interpreting another successful static test as a connectivity check.

Continue with report interpretation and the planner handoff.