The ctx API: Your Plugin's First Steps

ctx: the plugin's toolkit

The ctx object is everything your plugin needs to register capabilities. It's the single interface between your code and the dsh runtime.

Available registration methods

• ctx.commands.register(name, spec) — user-triggered commands
• ctx.tools.register(spec) — model-called tools
• ctx.ui.registerPanel(id, spec) — UI panels
• ctx.ui.registerSkin(name) — theme registration
• ctx.log(msg) — structured logging

The ctx object is isolated

Each profile gets its own ctx instance. This means plugins don't leak state between profiles — a critical security property.

Best practices

1. Register everything in apply(), not lazily
2. Use descriptive names that match user expectations
3. Provide clear descriptions — the model reads them to decide whether to call your tool
4. Return structured results, not prose