ASTROFOX
Plugins

Install and manage plugins

Add third-party displays and effects to Astrofox from a manifest URL.

Plugins extend Astrofox with displays and effects. A plugin is installed from the URL of an astrofox.plugin.json manifest and appears alongside built-in items in the add menu.

Install a plugin#

1
Copy the manifest URL

Get the direct HTTPS URL to astrofox.plugin.json from the plugin author. Local development URLs may use HTTP on localhost.

2
Open the plugin manager

Select Manage plugins in the action rail, then choose the action to add a plugin from a URL.

3
Review the plugin

Check its name, author, source, runtime, requested host libraries, and permissions. A plugin that requests network access can make outbound connections from its worker.

4
Install and add it

Confirm the installation. The plugin becomes available in the Display or Effect add menu, depending on its manifest type.

Security model#

Astrofox caches installed plugin files locally and pins them with SHA-384 integrity hashes. The source URL is contacted again only when you explicitly update the plugin. Localhost development installs are marked as development plugins and skip integrity pinning so they can be reloaded while you work.

JavaScript plugins run in a dedicated Web Worker with a Content Security Policy. They have no DOM access, cannot import arbitrary remote code, and cannot use the network unless the manifest requests the network permission.

Integrity pinning prevents an installed version from changing silently; it does not make unknown code trustworthy. Review the source and requested permissions before installing a plugin.

Update, reload, or remove#

  • Update fetches the manifest and files again and presents the new version for review.
  • Reload refreshes a development plugin after its local files change.
  • Remove unregisters the plugin from Astrofox. Existing project elements that depend on it cannot render until it is installed again.

Missing project plugins#

Projects store each plugin's namespaced ID, source URL, and version. When a project refers to a missing plugin, Astrofox lists what is required and offers to install it. Reopen the project after installation so its elements are created normally.

Want to build your own? Start with Plugin authoring.