dev-mode.md

Dev mode

The plugin manager installs a tagged release into a version-pinned directory under ~/.claude/plugins/cache/, so a commit that's on main but not tagged is invisible to /plugin marketplace update — it correctly reports the installed version as the latest. That's right for consumers and painful while authoring a skill. Dev mode points the installed plugin at this checkout instead, so local edits are live with no bump/tag/push/update round trip:

skill-tree dev --on      # symlink the install path at this checkout
skill-tree dev           # --status, the default with no arguments
skill-tree dev --off     # restore the real install

Restart Claude after --on or --off for it to take effect. A bare skill-tree tags the dev line with [dev mode ON]/[dev mode OFF], so a forgotten link is visible without asking; skill-tree doctor shows the full link target.

--on never deletes anything: the real install is moved aside to <install-path>.real and restored by --off. If a /plugin install re-downloads the plugin while the link is in place, a second --on discards the re-download and keeps the original backup. It refuses to touch a symlink pointing at some other checkout. Both directions are idempotent.

Turn dev mode off before cutting a release — while it's on, the "installed" plugin is your working tree, uncommitted changes and all.