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zotero-plugin

Build, debug, and release Zotero 7-9 plugins using classic bootstrap or TypeScript toolkit stacks.

Updated Apr 18, 2026
Search Tags:#typescript#zotero#plugin development#manifest.json#bootstrap.js#xul#xpi
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ppavlidis/skillz --skill zotero-plugin-ppavlidis
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: zotero-plugin
Source: https://github.com/ppavlidis/skillz/tree/main/skills/zotero-plugin
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ppavlidis/skillz --skill zotero-plugin-ppavlidis

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Zotero plugin development involves undocumented pitfalls—silent timer failures, React re-renders stripping injected UI, missing update URLs—that cause hours of debugging. This Skill encodes production-tested patterns for the full plugin lifecycle so these failures are avoided from the start. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Two-stack guidance: Covers both the classic bootstrapped stack (bootstrap.js + plain JS + manifest.json) and the TypeScript stack (zotero-plugin-scaffold + zotero-plugin-toolkit), with detection rules for existing repos. - Lifecycle and UI patterns: Startup promise sequencing, per-window add/remove tracking, XUL menu injection, ProgressWindow notifications, Notifier observers, MutationObserver re-injection, and preference panes with Fluent localization. - Build and release: XPI packaging, updates.json auto-update wiring, and GitHub release tagging. - Use Case: You want to add a context-menu item that finds PDFs for selected Zotero items. The Skill provides the manifest fields, bootstrap lifecycle, menu injection code, HTTP probing with magic-byte PDF verification, and release steps. ## Quick Start Help me create a Zotero plugin that adds a Tools menu item and shows a ProgressWindow notification when clicked.

Frequently Asked Questions about zotero-plugin

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I create a Zotero plugin from scratch?▼

Choose between the classic bootstrapped stack (bootstrap.js, plain JS, manifest.json, no build step) or the TypeScript toolkit stack (zotero-plugin-scaffold with hot reload and typed prefs). Then implement the startup lifecycle, inject UI per window, and package an XPI with an updates.json for auto-updates.

Classic bootstrap vs zotero-plugin-scaffold: which should I use?▼

Use classic bootstrap for small plugins with one feature and no build step. Use the toolkit stack when the plugin exceeds roughly 500 lines, needs typed preferences via zotero-types, Fluent localization, or a dev server with hot reload.

Why is my Zotero plugin not loading or updating?▼

Zotero silently ignores plugins whose manifest.json lacks an update_url, and installed plugins never update without an updates.json entry pointing to the GitHub release download URL. Also verify the plugin ID is in email format and strict_max_version covers your Zotero version.

Why does my injected UI disappear from the Zotero tab bar?▼

The tab bar is React-rendered, so re-renders strip injected elements. Use a MutationObserver that watches for removal, debounces, disconnects before re-injecting, and reconnects after—otherwise re-injection triggers the observer again in an infinite loop.

Does Zotero.setTimeout exist for scheduling plugin tasks?▼

No, Zotero.setTimeout does not exist and calling it fails silently, leaving timers that never fire. Use the plain window setTimeout and clearTimeout functions instead.

How do I add a preference pane to a Zotero plugin?▼

Register an XHTML pane at startup with Zotero.PreferencePanes.register, passing pluginID, src, label, and icon. Wire checkbox listeners in a load handler that read and write via Zotero.Prefs with the extensions branch scoped by the trailing true argument.

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