[BUG] Plugin configuration is OS-specific

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

If I am using devcontainers on a Mac - it is useful to be able to share my Claude configuration inside and outside of the container. I do this by setting up a bind mount - mapping /Users/rahoulb/.claude to /home/vscode/.claude.

I also do this for other configurations - such as neovim and tmux.

For other apps, and Claude skills, this works extremely well.

But for plugins, the ~/.claude/plugins/installed_plugins.json file uses full paths to the plugins folder - which means that Claude cannot use plugins that were installed outside of the container (or if the plugin is installed via the container, it won't work outside of it).

What Should Happen?

The short answer is to not map the entire .claude folder and manage plugins twice - both inside and outside the container (and repeat for each project that uses its own container).

_But_ it would be extremely convenient if the plugin manager could use env-vars - for example $HOME/.claude/plugins so the configuration works regardless of environment.

Error Messages/Logs

User                                                                                                                                                                                         
  ❯ code-simplifier Plugin · claude-plugins-official · ✘ failed to load · 1 error                                                                                                                
    frontend-design Plugin · claude-plugins-official · ✘ failed to load · 1 error                                                                                                                
    impeccable Plugin · impeccable · ✘ failed to load · 1 error                                                                                                                                  
    ruby-lsp Plugin · claude-plugins-official · ✘ failed to load · 1 error                                                                                                                       
    security-guidance Plugin · claude-plugins-official · ✘ failed to load · 1 error                                                                                                              
    typescript-lsp Plugin · claude-plugins-official · ✘ failed to load · 1 error

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start claude on a Mac and install some plugins
2. Create a devcontainer and add a bind mount "mounts": ["source=${localEnv:HOME}/.claude,target=/home/vscode/.claude,type=bind"]
3. Start the devcontainer and within it start Claude
4. View installed plugins - all are marked as "failed to load"

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.81 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

iTerm2

Additional Information

_No response_