---
url: /rules/plugin/plugin-invalid-version.md
description: Plugin version should follow semantic versioning format
---

# plugin-invalid-version

## Rule Details

Claude Code accepts arbitrary version strings. This advisory recommends that the version field in plugin.json conforms to the Semantic Versioning (semver) specification. Valid formats include major.minor.patch (e.g., 1.0.0), optional pre-release identifiers (e.g., 2.1.0-beta.1), and optional build metadata (e.g., 1.0.0+build.42). Proper semver ensures consistent dependency resolution and clear communication about breaking changes.

### Incorrect

Version missing the patch number

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "version": "1.0",
  "description": "A sample plugin"
}
```

Version with a leading v prefix

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "version": "v2.1.0",
  "description": "A sample plugin"
}
```

### Correct

Standard semver version

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "A sample plugin"
}
```

Pre-release version

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "version": "2.1.0-beta.1",
  "description": "A sample plugin"
}
```

## How To Fix

Update the version field to follow the semver format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH. Optionally append a pre-release identifier with a hyphen (e.g., 1.0.0-beta) or build metadata with a plus sign (e.g., 1.0.0+build.1).

## Options

This rule does not have any configuration options.

## Related Rules

* [`plugin-description-required`](/rules/plugin/plugin-description-required)

## Resources

* [Rule Implementation](https://github.com/pdugan20/claudelint/blob/main/src/rules/plugin/plugin-invalid-version.ts)
* [Rule Tests](https://github.com/pdugan20/claudelint/blob/main/tests/rules/plugin/plugin-invalid-version.test.ts)

## Version

Available since: v0.2.0