Composable Multi-Mechanism Extensibility (Principle)
- Entity ID:
ent-20260423-c003d1000009 - Type:
decision - Scope:
private - Status:
active
Description
Design principle #9. Answers 'One unified extension API, or layered mechanisms at different context costs?' Claude Code splits extension across four mechanisms at distinct context costs: hooks (~0 cost), skills (low), plugins (medium), MCP (high). Serves Capability and Adaptability.
Key claims
- Four extensibility mechanisms sit at distinct context-cost tiers
- Claude Code's architecture embeds four framework-level absences
Relations
- Capability Amplification (Value) --[motivates]--> Composable Multi-Mechanism Extensibility (Principle)
- Contextual Adaptability (Value) --[motivates]--> Composable Multi-Mechanism Extensibility (Principle)
- Extensibility Decision --[answered_by]--> Composable Multi-Mechanism Extensibility (Principle)