𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Publishing a package is not the finish line. Developers use AI agents now. Cursor and Claude Code search for skills. They run shell commands before they install your code. You must ship a distribution layer. This is the wiring agents use to find and run your tool.

A distribution layer includes:

Agents do not install packages on instinct. They read manifests. They follow skills. If your project only has a library, you are invisible.

Design your CLI for agents. Use predictable flags. Use JSON output. Write errors to tell the agent how to fix the problem.

Use skill files for operational knowledge. Tell the agent when to use your tool. Tell the agent when to avoid it. This stops the agent from writing wrong code.

Do not use MCP for everything. MCP is trendy. Use a CLI and skill file for tools with clear input and output. Use MCP only for stateful sessions. Use MCP if you need to keep a browser session alive.

Marketplace manifests are how agents index you. Cursor reads .cursor-plugin/marketplace.json. Claude Code reads .claude-plugin/marketplace.json. These files let agents install your tool.

The best tools have excellent wiring. Give the agent a path to your code.

Source: https://dev.to/prithwish_nath/open-source-devs-need-to-ship-distribution-not-just-code-3j6a