The three plugin shapes you write against the harness extension surface, as illustrative snippets (elided imports and helper stubs — not copy-paste-complete). For the full step-by-step guides see [adding a package](adding-a-package.md), [adding a tool](adding-a-tool.md), and [adding an LLM adapter](adding-an-llm-adapter.md); for the seams these hook into see [docs/architecture.md](../architecture.md).
A tool registers on `ctx.tools`. The annotated `defineTool` example (typed `execute` args, result shaping, the `run_in_background` pattern) lives in [adding-a-tool.md](adding-a-tool.md) — that guide is the source of truth for the tool shape. Raw JSON-Schema `ToolDefinition`s are also accepted by `ctx.tools.register()` directly (that is how MCP-sourced tools arrive); `defineTool` is the typed sugar for first-party tools.
This permission gate is one example of a hook plugin. It returns a typed decision from the `tools/pre-execute` gate to allow or deny a call; sandbox, permission, and plan-mode plugins can use this seam. Hook plugins can intercept other seams and are not inherently permission gates. A "native hook" is an ordinary Cordis plugin on an interception seam; it needs no external protocol.
This waterfall is the reorderable policy layer. Use `ctx.tools.guard()` when an invariant needs a monotonic final denial, `tools/execute` when a plugin must wrap the actual dispatch lifetime (timeouts/retries/metrics; only `exec.signal` is replaceable), `tools/post-execute` for explicit result transformation, and `tools/result` for contained observation of the immutable final outcome. The [adding-a-tool guide](adding-a-tool.md#execution-policy-and-observation) gives the selection rule.
A UI plugin renders from the `session/event` feed (the assistant token stream as `assistant/chunk`, plus turn/step boundaries and tool activity), and drives input back in via `agent.followup()` / `agent.steer()`.
A *protocol driver* adapts a wire peer to `ctx.agents`; it may serve a UI or an automation client. A stdio driver owns stdout, creates or resumes agents through the factory, maps the protocol's requests to `followup()` or `cancel()`, and settles each request exactly once from durable `turn/end`. Tear agents down with `AgentHandle.dispose()` so disposal reaches quiescence.
[`packages/acp/acp`](../../packages/acp/acp) is the automation-only worked example: it exposes fresh text sessions over Agent Client Protocol JSON-RPC stdio, emits committed assistant text, and registers a one-shot machine permission answerer for agents it owns. Its [README](../../packages/acp/acp/README.md) owns the exact method and lifecycle contract.
Runnable leaves load their plugin trees from `examples/*/cordis.yml`; the root `demo:*` scripts and those leaf directories are the authoritative inventory. Interactive leaves use [`@deepseek-ai/dsh-tui-demo`](../../packages/examples/tui-demo), non-interactive leaves use [`@deepseek-ai/dsh-cli-demo`](../../packages/examples/cli-demo), ACP leaves use [`@deepseek-ai/dsh-acp-demo`](../../packages/examples/acp-demo), and the app packages share [`@deepseek-ai/dsh-agent-spine-demo`](../../packages/examples/agent-spine-demo).
Every product feature maps to a listener on a documented extension seam — the microkernel claim made checkable ([microkernel Agent Note](../../.agents/notes/implemented/architecture/2026-06-11-microkernel-event-taxonomy.md)). No row modifies the loop.
`system-prompt/assemble` is an expert cooperative whole-assembly transform: its returned assembly is authoritative, so listener authors own preserving active Code Mode and structured-output protocol contributions. Prefer `ctx.tools.restrict()` for tool filtering that must stay aligned across presentation, lookup, and execution.
| `/goal` | `ctx.goals` owns durable state, `dsh-goal-session` schedules same-session rounds through the public `Agent`, and separate command/tool producers expose human/model control |
| Context compaction (auto + manual) | the `ctx.compact` seam + `dsh-compact-basic`; automatic pressure runs on serial `agent/post-step`, canonical overflow recovery runs on `agent/request-error`, and manual callers use the same compact service ([compaction Agent Note](../../.agents/notes/implemented/feature/2026-06-18-compaction-capability-seam.md) — the model-facing `/compact` consumer tool is deferred) |
| AGENTS.md (root) | a section provider reading the file |
| AGENTS.md (subdir, on-touch) + file-change notices | `agent.inject()` from a watcher / tool-result listener |
| Built-in tools | `ctx.tools.register()`; schemas flow into the assembly automatically — the `dsh-tool-*` families (bash, fs, web, subagent, todo) are the shipped examples |
| ToolSearch / progressive disclosure | replace a scoped `ctx.tools.restrict()` registration as the visible set changes; the registry keeps presentation, lookup, and execution aligned |
| Tool deadline / retry / metrics | wrap core dispatch with `tools/execute`; a wrapper may replace `exec.signal`, delegate, and inspect the normalized result in one lexical lifetime |
| Final tool-result metrics / audit / capture | observe immutable authoritative outcomes with `tools/result`; use `tools/post-execute` instead only when the plugin must transform the result or attach context |
| Monotonic terminal turn policy | return `{ action: 'stop' }` from serial `agent/turn-stop`, after continuation and steering have already been folded |
| Subprocess sandbox (landlock / sandbox-exec) | use a `ctx.sandbox` backend through `dsh-bash-sandbox`; use `tools/pre-execute` for capability-level denial |
| Permission system / AskUserQuestion | return `ask` from `tools/pre-execute` and answer through `ctx.approval`; register a separate model-facing ask tool for ordinary user questions |
| Plan mode | Shipped: [`@deepseek-ai/dsh-plan-mode`](../../packages/plan/plan-mode/README.md) — logged `plan/mode` state, the `plan:policy` guidance section, `/plan [message]` entry, `/plan off` direct exit, and the user-reviewed `exit_plan_mode` exit; enforcement stays on the independent sandbox/approval axes |
| Sub-agent delegation | the `ctx.subagents` provider registry (`dsh-subagent-spawn`/`-fork`/`-acp`) + `dsh-tool-subagent` exposing one configured provider to the model |
| MCP | one plugin per server: discover tools → `ctx.tools.register()` |