# Extending ShinBot

Add capabilities from **Plugins**, or use **Home** to create and share bot profiles. Extensions can be available to one bot or shared across your bots.


# Choose what to add

| You want to | Use |
|----|----|
| Connect a service or add executable tools | A [plugin](plugins.md#find-a-plugin) or [MCP server](plugins.md#connect-an-mcp-server) |
| Add a sidebar app, theme or chat shortcut | A [UI extension](../developers/plugins.md#sidebar-apps-themes-and-ui-patches) |
| Add chat context, check tool calls or handle finished replies | [Lifecycle hooks](../developers/plugins.md#chat-and-tool-hooks) |
| Teach a repeatable procedure or writing style | A [skill](plugins.md#install-agent-skills) |
| Reuse a bot's role, prompts and browser settings | A [bot template](bots-and-templates.md#start-from-a-template) |
| Save a procedure a bot has tested | A [learned skill](plugins.md#learn-from-completed-work), reviewed before activation |


# Install from a repository

Open **Plugins** to browse the official marketplace, or choose **Add marketplace** to add a personal or community repository. Stage a package, review its files, configure any credentials, and activate it. Start a new conversation to use the active version.

The [official plugin repository](https://github.com/adarshdigievo/shinbot-official-plugins) contains optional integrations. Each plugin has its own setup requirements. The [plugin guide](plugins.md) covers installation, MCP connections, skills and bot access.

For templates, open a preview on Home and inspect the instructions and browser-sharing choices before importing. Add the [official template repository](https://github.com/adarshdigievo/shinbot-official-templates) or a repository of your own. Templates can contain an individual bot or a group.


# Ask your bot to help

Describe the capability and when you will use it:

> Check the marketplace for a writing-style skill. If none fits, create one that uses short paragraphs and keeps source links. Show me the files before activation.

ShinBot can search marketplaces, inspect packages, and write and test tools, sidebar apps, themes and hooks before staging them for review. It can also export a bot profile and save it as a local template. Setup and activation follow your permissions; enter credentials through the Plugins settings.


# Build and share your own

- [Write a plugin](../developers/plugins.md) for a skill, tool, UI contribution or workflow hook, then publish a marketplace repository.
- [Publish bot templates](../developers/templates.md) for individual bots or groups, with validated profiles and a repository catalog.
- [Share an existing bot](bots-and-templates.md#share-a-template) from Home or the CLI.

Use your own repository for personal extensions, or submit a pull request to the official plugin or template repository. Include setup instructions, a license and a way to check that the extension works.