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+# Plugin Hooks Must Be In Separate File - NOT Inline
+
+**Date:** 2026-01-25
+**Impact:** Plugin installation fails with "invalid input" errors
+**Severity:** CRITICAL - blocks plugin usage entirely
+
+## The Rule
+
+**NEVER put hooks in plugin.json. ALWAYS use separate hooks/hooks.json file.**
+
+## Wrong (causes validation error)
+
+In `.claude-plugin/plugin.json`:
+```json
+"hooks": "hooks/hooks.json"
+```
+```json
+"hooks": { "SessionStart": [...] }
+```
+
+BOTH ARE WRONG. Any `hooks` field in plugin.json = invalid manifest.
+
+## Correct
+
+1. Remove ALL hooks from plugin.json
+2. Create `hooks/hooks.json` with this structure:
+
+```json
+{
+  "hooks": {
+    "SessionStart": [
+      {
+        "type": "command",
+        "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/hooks/startup-check.sh"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+The file is AUTO-DISCOVERED. No reference needed in plugin.json.
+
+## Working Examples
+
+- projman: `hooks/hooks.json` exists, NO hooks in plugin.json
+- pr-review: `hooks/hooks.json` exists, NO hooks in plugin.json  
+- claude-config-maintainer: `hooks/hooks.json` exists, NO hooks in plugin.json
+
+## Agents
+
+Same rule: Do NOT add `"agents": [...]` to plugin.json. Agent .md files in `agents/` directory are auto-discovered.
+
+## Checklist Before Commit
+
+1. plugin.json has NO `hooks` field
+2. plugin.json has NO `agents` field
+3. hooks/hooks.json exists if you need hooks
+4. Run `./scripts/validate-marketplace.sh`
+5. ACTUALLY INSTALL AND TEST before merging
+
+
+---
+**Tags:** plugin-development, hooks, manifest, critical, validation-error
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