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0004-three-layer-agent-distribution.md

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ADR-0004: Distribute agent integration in three layers — Claude Code plugin, MCP server, AGENTS.md snippet

  • Status: Accepted
  • Date: 2026-05-03
  • Affects: cppjs-agents/, cppjs-core/cppjs-mcp/, website/src/pages/agents.mdx, docs/playbooks/

Context

ADR-0001 establishes that AI agents are first-class consumers. The next question is how we deliver agent support. Each viable channel has different reach, depth, and maintenance cost:

  • A Claude Code plugin (skills + slash commands) gives Claude Code users the deepest experience — auto-triggering on user phrases, structured slash commands, but only in Claude Code.
  • An MCP server is vendor-neutral — any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex, Cline, …) can call its tools — but provides function calls only, not prompted skills.
  • An AGENTS.md snippet that users paste into their own project root works in every modern agent today, requires no install, but gives the agent text only — no live tools.

We could pick one. We chose all three.

Decision

Ship three distribution layers in parallel. They serve different audiences and reinforce each other:

Layer Reach Depth Distribution
Claude Code plugin (cppjs-agents/) Claude Code users Skills + slash commands + native plugin UX /plugin marketplace add bugra9/cpp.js
MCP server (@cpp.js/mcp) Any MCP-aware agent 8 typed tools (recommend, list, detect, scaffold, build, …) npx -y @cpp.js/mcp in client config
AGENTS.md snippet (agents.mdx) Every modern agent Text-only recognition + routing Copy-paste into the user's AGENTS.md

Internally, all three layers reference the same docs/playbooks/*.md as the source of truth for what to do. The plugin and MCP wrap the same scripts/{detect-framework,scaffold-package,doctor}.{js,sh} for what to run. So the maintenance cost is sub-linear: one workflow update flows through all three.

Consequences

Positive:

  • Maximum reach — no agent ecosystem is locked out.
  • Each layer plays to its strengths: plugin for Claude Code's native UX, MCP for typed tool calls, snippet for the lowest-friction floor.
  • Skills and tools are complementary, not redundant — agents that have both use them in concert (skill prompt picks the workflow → MCP tool executes a step).
  • Single source of truth (docs/playbooks/) keeps the layers consistent.

Negative:

  • Three things to update when a workflow changes (skill prompt, MCP tool description, AGENTS.md snippet). Mitigated by the shared playbook, but never zero.
  • Three install paths to document and support. Users can be confused about which to pick — we address this on the cppjs.org/docs/agent/overview page.
  • Spec churn risk × 3. Plugin format, MCP spec, and AGENTS.md convention may all evolve independently.

Alternatives considered

  • Plugin only — best Claude Code UX, but excludes Cursor, Codex, Cline, Claude Desktop, and every future client. Rejected.
  • MCP only — universal, but no skill prompts. Agents that don't already know about cpp.js won't call its tools because they won't know to. Rejected.
  • AGENTS.md only — works everywhere today, zero install, but gives agents recognition without execution. The user still has to do the work the tools could automate. Rejected as the floor, not the answer.

See also

  • ADR-0001: AI agents are first-class consumers of cpp.js.
  • cppjs-agents/.claude-plugin/plugin.json — plugin manifest.
  • cppjs-core/cppjs-mcp/src/index.js — MCP server entry.
  • website/src/pages/agents.mdx — public-facing comparison and install instructions.