Deprecate Collections in favour of Plugins

Replace Collections with Plugins as first-class citizens in the repo.
With the Copilot CLI v0.409 release making plugins an on-by-default
marketplace, collections are redundant overhead.

## What changed

### Plugin Infrastructure
- Created eng/validate-plugins.mjs (replaces validate-collections.mjs)
- Created eng/create-plugin.mjs (replaces create-collection.mjs)
- Enhanced all 42 plugin.json files with tags, featured, display, and
  items metadata from their corresponding collection.yml files

### Build & Website
- Updated eng/update-readme.mjs to generate plugin docs
- Updated eng/generate-website-data.mjs to emit plugins.json with full
  items array for modal rendering
- Renamed website collections page to plugins (/plugins/)
- Fixed plugin modal to use <div> instead of <pre> for proper styling
- Updated README.md featured section from Collections to Plugins

### Documentation & CI
- Updated CONTRIBUTING.md, AGENTS.md, copilot-instructions.md, PR template
- Updated CI workflows to validate plugins instead of collections
- Replaced docs/README.collections.md with docs/README.plugins.md

### Cleanup
- Removed eng/validate-collections.mjs, eng/create-collection.mjs,
  eng/collection-to-plugin.mjs
- Removed entire collections/ directory (41 .collection.yml + .md files)
- Removed parseCollectionYaml from yaml-parser.mjs
- Removed COLLECTIONS_DIR from constants.mjs

Closes #711

website/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro

@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ try {
               class:list={[{ active: activeNav === "hooks" }]}>Hooks</a
             >
             <a
-              href={`${base}collections/`}
-              class:list={[{ active: activeNav === "collections" }]}
-              >Collections</a
+              href={`${base}plugins/`}
+              class:list={[{ active: activeNav === "plugins" }]}
+              >Plugins</a
             >
             <a
               href={`${base}tools/`}

website/src/pages/index.astro

@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ const base = import.meta.env.BASE_URL;
             </div>
             <div class="card-count" data-count="hooks" aria-label="Hook count">-</div>
           </a>
-          <a href={`${base}collections/`} class="card card-with-count" id="card-collections">
-            <div class="card-icon" aria-hidden="true">📦</div>
+          <a href={`${base}plugins/`} class="card card-with-count" id="card-plugins">
+            <div class="card-icon" aria-hidden="true">🔌</div>
             <div class="card-content">
-              <h3>Collections</h3>
-              <p>Curated collections organized by themes</p>
+              <h3>Plugins</h3>
+              <p>Curated plugins organized by themes</p>
             </div>
-            <div class="card-count" data-count="collections" aria-label="Collection count">-</div>
+            <div class="card-count" data-count="plugins" aria-label="Plugin count">-</div>
           </a>
           <a href={`${base}tools/`} class="card card-with-count" id="card-tools">
             <div class="card-icon" aria-hidden="true">🔧</div>
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ const base = import.meta.env.BASE_URL;
       </div>
     </section>
 
-    <!-- Featured Collections -->
+    <!-- Featured Plugins -->
     <section class="featured" aria-labelledby="featured-heading">
       <div class="container">
-        <h2 id="featured-heading">Featured Collections</h2>
-        <div id="featured-collections" class="cards-grid" aria-live="polite">
+        <h2 id="featured-heading">Featured Plugins</h2>
+        <div id="featured-plugins" class="cards-grid" aria-live="polite">
           <!-- Populated by JS -->
         </div>
       </div>

website/src/pages/plugins.astro

@@ -3,20 +3,20 @@ import BaseLayout from '../layouts/BaseLayout.astro';
 import Modal from '../components/Modal.astro';
 ---
 
-<BaseLayout title="Collections" description="Curated collections of prompts, instructions, and agents for specific workflows" activeNav="collections">
+<BaseLayout title="Plugins" description="Curated plugins of prompts, agents, and skills for specific workflows" activeNav="plugins">
   <main id="main-content">
     <div class="page-header">
       <div class="container">
-        <h1>📦 Collections</h1>
-        <p>Curated collections of prompts, instructions, and agents for specific workflows</p>
+        <h1>🔌 Plugins</h1>
+        <p>Curated plugins of prompts, agents, and skills for specific workflows</p>
       </div>
     </div>
 
     <div class="page-content">
       <div class="container">
         <div class="search-bar">
-          <label for="search-input" class="sr-only">Search collections</label>
-          <input type="text" id="search-input" placeholder="Search collections..." autocomplete="off">
+          <label for="search-input" class="sr-only">Search plugins</label>
+          <input type="text" id="search-input" placeholder="Search plugins..." autocomplete="off">
         </div>
         
         <div class="filters-bar" id="filters-bar">
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import Modal from '../components/Modal.astro';
         
         <div class="results-count" id="results-count" aria-live="polite"></div>
         <div class="resource-list" id="resource-list" role="list">
-          <div class="loading" aria-live="polite">Loading collections...</div>
+          <div class="loading" aria-live="polite">Loading plugins...</div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -44,6 +44,6 @@ import Modal from '../components/Modal.astro';
   <Modal />
 
   <script>
-    import '../scripts/pages/collections';
+    import '../scripts/pages/plugins';
   </script>
 </BaseLayout>

website/src/scripts/modal.ts

@@ -21,27 +21,27 @@ let currentFileContent: string | null = null;
 let currentFileType: string | null = null;
 let triggerElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
 
-// Collection data cache
-interface CollectionItem {
+// Plugin data cache
+interface PluginItem {
   path: string;
   kind: string;
   usage?: string | null;
 }
 
-interface Collection {
+interface Plugin {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   description?: string;
   path: string;
-  items: CollectionItem[];
+  items: PluginItem[];
   tags?: string[];
 }
 
-interface CollectionsData {
-  items: Collection[];
+interface PluginsData {
+  items: Plugin[];
 }
 
-let collectionsCache: CollectionsData | null = null;
+let pluginsCache: PluginsData | null = null;
 
 /**
  * Get all focusable elements within a container
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ export async function openFileModal(
 ): Promise<void> {
   const modal = document.getElementById("file-modal");
   const title = document.getElementById("modal-title");
-  const modalContent = document.getElementById("modal-content");
+  let modalContent = document.getElementById("modal-content");
   const contentEl = modalContent?.querySelector("code");
   const installDropdown = document.getElementById("install-dropdown");
   const installBtnMain = document.getElementById(
@@ -337,9 +337,9 @@ export async function openFileModal(
     closeBtn?.focus();
   }, 0);
 
-  // Handle collections differently - show as item list
-  if (type === "collection") {
-    await openCollectionModal(
+  // Handle plugins differently - show as item list
+  if (type === "plugin") {
+    await openPluginModal(
       filePath,
       title,
       modalContent,
@@ -359,9 +359,16 @@ export async function openFileModal(
   if (copyBtn) copyBtn.style.display = "inline-flex";
   if (downloadBtn) downloadBtn.style.display = "inline-flex";
 
-  // Restore pre/code structure if it was replaced by collection view
-  if (!modalContent.querySelector("pre")) {
-    modalContent.innerHTML = '<pre id="modal-content"><code></code></pre>';
+  // Restore pre/code structure if it was replaced by plugin view
+  if (modalContent.tagName !== 'PRE') {
+    const modalBody = modalContent.parentElement;
+    if (modalBody) {
+      const pre = document.createElement("pre");
+      pre.id = "modal-content";
+      pre.innerHTML = "<code></code>";
+      modalBody.replaceChild(pre, modalContent);
+      modalContent = pre;
+    }
   }
   const codeEl = modalContent.querySelector("code");
 
@@ -392,9 +399,9 @@ export async function openFileModal(
 }
 
 /**
- * Open collection modal with item list
+ * Open plugin modal with item list
  */
-async function openCollectionModal(
+async function openPluginModal(
   filePath: string,
   title: HTMLElement,
   modalContent: HTMLElement,
@@ -402,48 +409,56 @@ async function openCollectionModal(
   copyBtn: HTMLElement | null,
   downloadBtn: HTMLElement | null
 ): Promise<void> {
-  // Hide install dropdown and copy/download for collections
+  // Hide install dropdown and copy/download for plugins
   if (installDropdown) installDropdown.style.display = "none";
   if (copyBtn) copyBtn.style.display = "none";
   if (downloadBtn) downloadBtn.style.display = "none";
 
-  // Show loading
-  modalContent.innerHTML =
-    '<div class="collection-loading">Loading collection...</div>';
-
-  // Load collections data if not cached
-  if (!collectionsCache) {
-    collectionsCache = await fetchData<CollectionsData>("collections.json");
+  // Replace <pre> with a <div> so plugin content isn't styled as preformatted text
+  const modalBody = modalContent.parentElement;
+  if (modalBody) {
+    const div = document.createElement("div");
+    div.id = "modal-content";
+    div.innerHTML = '<div class="collection-loading">Loading plugin...</div>';
+    modalBody.replaceChild(div, modalContent);
+    modalContent = div;
+  } else {
+    modalContent.innerHTML = '<div class="collection-loading">Loading plugin...</div>';
   }
 
-  if (!collectionsCache) {
+  // Load plugins data if not cached
+  if (!pluginsCache) {
+    pluginsCache = await fetchData<PluginsData>("plugins.json");
+  }
+
+  if (!pluginsCache) {
     modalContent.innerHTML =
-      '<div class="collection-error">Failed to load collection data.</div>';
+      '<div class="collection-error">Failed to load plugin data.</div>';
     return;
   }
 
-  // Find the collection
-  const collection = collectionsCache.items.find((c) => c.path === filePath);
-  if (!collection) {
+  // Find the plugin
+  const plugin = pluginsCache.items.find((c) => c.path === filePath);
+  if (!plugin) {
     modalContent.innerHTML =
-      '<div class="collection-error">Collection not found.</div>';
+      '<div class="collection-error">Plugin not found.</div>';
     return;
   }
 
   // Update title
-  title.textContent = collection.name;
+  title.textContent = plugin.name;
 
-  // Render collection view
+  // Render plugin view
   modalContent.innerHTML = `
     <div class="collection-view">
       <div class="collection-description">${escapeHtml(
-        collection.description || ""
+        plugin.description || ""
       )}</div>
       ${
-        collection.tags && collection.tags.length > 0
+        plugin.tags && plugin.tags.length > 0
           ? `
         <div class="collection-tags">
-          ${collection.tags
+          ${plugin.tags
             .map((t) => `<span class="resource-tag">${escapeHtml(t)}</span>`)
             .join("")}
         </div>
@@ -451,10 +466,10 @@ async function openCollectionModal(
           : ""
       }
       <div class="collection-items-header">
-        <strong>${collection.items.length} items in this collection</strong>
+        <strong>${plugin.items.length} items in this plugin</strong>
       </div>
       <div class="collection-items-list">
-        ${collection.items
+        ${plugin.items
           .map(
             (item) => `
           <div class="collection-item" data-path="${escapeHtml(
@@ -484,7 +499,7 @@ async function openCollectionModal(
     </div>
   `;
 
-  // Add click handlers to collection items
+  // Add click handlers to plugin items
   modalContent.querySelectorAll(".collection-item").forEach((el) => {
     el.addEventListener("click", () => {
       const path = (el as HTMLElement).dataset.path;

website/src/scripts/pages/index.ts

@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ interface Manifest {
     instructions: number;
     skills: number;
     hooks: number;
-    collections: number;
+    plugins: number;
     tools: number;
   };
 }
 
-interface Collection {
+interface Plugin {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   description?: string;
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ interface Collection {
   itemCount: number;
 }
 
-interface CollectionsData {
-  items: Collection[];
+interface PluginsData {
+  items: Plugin[];
 }
 
 export async function initHomepage(): Promise<void> {
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export async function initHomepage(): Promise<void> {
   const manifest = await fetchData<Manifest>('manifest.json');
   if (manifest && manifest.counts) {
     // Populate counts in cards
-    const countKeys = ['agents', 'prompts', 'instructions', 'skills', 'hooks', 'collections', 'tools'] as const;
+    const countKeys = ['agents', 'prompts', 'instructions', 'skills', 'hooks', 'plugins', 'tools'] as const;
     countKeys.forEach(key => {
       const countEl = document.querySelector(`.card-count[data-count="${key}"]`);
       if (countEl && manifest.counts[key] !== undefined) {
@@ -97,11 +97,11 @@ export async function initHomepage(): Promise<void> {
     }
   }
 
-  // Load featured collections
-  const collectionsData = await fetchData<CollectionsData>('collections.json');
-  if (collectionsData && collectionsData.items) {
-    const featured = collectionsData.items.filter(c => c.featured).slice(0, 6);
-    const featuredEl = document.getElementById('featured-collections');
+  // Load featured plugins
+  const pluginsData = await fetchData<PluginsData>('plugins.json');
+  if (pluginsData && pluginsData.items) {
+    const featured = pluginsData.items.filter(c => c.featured).slice(0, 6);
+    const featuredEl = document.getElementById('featured-plugins');
     if (featuredEl) {
       if (featured.length > 0) {
         featuredEl.innerHTML = featured.map(c => `
@@ -119,11 +119,11 @@ export async function initHomepage(): Promise<void> {
         featuredEl.querySelectorAll('.card').forEach(el => {
           el.addEventListener('click', () => {
             const path = (el as HTMLElement).dataset.path;
-            if (path) openFileModal(path, 'collection');
+            if (path) openFileModal(path, 'plugin');
           });
         });
       } else {
-        featuredEl.innerHTML = '<p style="text-align: center; color: var(--color-text-muted);">No featured collections yet</p>';
+        featuredEl.innerHTML = '<p style="text-align: center; color: var(--color-text-muted);">No featured plugins yet</p>';
       }
     }
   }

website/src/scripts/pages/plugins.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 /**
- * Collections page functionality
+ * Plugins page functionality
  */
 import { createChoices, getChoicesValues, type Choices } from '../choices';
 import { FuzzySearch, SearchItem } from '../search';
 import { fetchData, debounce, escapeHtml, getGitHubUrl } from '../utils';
 import { setupModal, openFileModal } from '../modal';
 
-interface Collection extends SearchItem {
+interface Plugin extends SearchItem {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   path: string;
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@ interface Collection extends SearchItem {
   itemCount: number;
 }
 
-interface CollectionsData {
-  items: Collection[];
+interface PluginsData {
+  items: Plugin[];
   filters: {
     tags: string[];
   };
 }
 
-const resourceType = 'collection';
-let allItems: Collection[] = [];
-let search = new FuzzySearch<Collection>();
+const resourceType = 'plugin';
+let allItems: Plugin[] = [];
+let search = new FuzzySearch<Plugin>();
 let tagSelect: Choices;
 let currentFilters = {
   tags: [] as string[],
@@ -49,19 +49,19 @@ function applyFiltersAndRender(): void {
   const activeFilters: string[] = [];
   if (currentFilters.tags.length > 0) activeFilters.push(`${currentFilters.tags.length} tag${currentFilters.tags.length > 1 ? 's' : ''}`);
   if (currentFilters.featured) activeFilters.push('featured');
-  let countText = `${results.length} of ${allItems.length} collections`;
+  let countText = `${results.length} of ${allItems.length} plugins`;
   if (activeFilters.length > 0) {
     countText += ` (filtered by ${activeFilters.join(', ')})`;
   }
   if (countEl) countEl.textContent = countText;
 }
 
-function renderItems(items: Collection[], query = ''): void {
+function renderItems(items: Plugin[], query = ''): void {
   const list = document.getElementById('resource-list');
   if (!list) return;
 
   if (items.length === 0) {
-    list.innerHTML = '<div class="empty-state"><h3>No collections found</h3><p>Try a different search term or adjust filters</p></div>';
+    list.innerHTML = '<div class="empty-state"><h3>No plugins found</h3><p>Try a different search term or adjust filters</p></div>';
     return;
   }
 
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ function renderItems(items: Collection[], query = ''): void {
   });
 }
 
-export async function initCollectionsPage(): Promise<void> {
+export async function initPluginsPage(): Promise<void> {
   const list = document.getElementById('resource-list');
   const searchInput = document.getElementById('search-input') as HTMLInputElement;
   const featuredCheckbox = document.getElementById('filter-featured') as HTMLInputElement;
   const clearFiltersBtn = document.getElementById('clear-filters');
 
-  const data = await fetchData<CollectionsData>('collections.json');
+  const data = await fetchData<PluginsData>('plugins.json');
   if (!data || !data.items) {
     if (list) list.innerHTML = '<div class="empty-state"><h3>Failed to load data</h3></div>';
     return;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ export async function initCollectionsPage(): Promise<void> {
 
   allItems = data.items;
 
-  // Map collection items to search items
+  // Map plugin items to search items
   const searchItems = allItems.map(item => ({
     ...item,
     title: item.name,
@@ -140,4 +140,4 @@ export async function initCollectionsPage(): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 // Auto-initialize when DOM is ready
-document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', initCollectionsPage);
+document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', initPluginsPage);

website/src/scripts/utils.ts

@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ export function getResourceType(filePath: string): string {
     return "skill";
   if (/(^|\/)hooks\//.test(filePath) && filePath.endsWith("README.md"))
     return "hook";
-  if (filePath.endsWith(".collection.yml")) return "collection";
+  if (filePath.endsWith(".collection.yml")) return "plugin";
   return "unknown";
 }
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ export function formatResourceType(type: string): string {
     instruction: "📋 Instruction",
     skill: "⚡ Skill",
     hook: "🪝 Hook",
-    collection: "📦 Collection",
+    plugin: "🔌 Plugin",
   };
   return labels[type] || type;
 }
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ export function getResourceIcon(type: string): string {
     instruction: "📋",
     skill: "⚡",
     hook: "🪝",
-    collection: "📦",
+    plugin: "🔌",
   };
   return icons[type] || "📄";
 }