Template Stamper

Capability: slash-command · Permissions: read-page, write-page

A minimal plugin that registers a /stamp slash command to instantiate a structural template under the currently focused block.

What it demonstrates

• ctx.template.list() — read available templates from the workspace.
• ctx.template.instantiate(name, blockId) — deep-copy a template’s subtree under a target block.

The code

import { definePlugin, type PluginContext } from "@outl/plugin-sdk";

export default definePlugin({
  activate(ctx: PluginContext) {
    ctx.commands.register("stamp", async () => {
      const templates = await ctx.template.list();
      if (templates.length === 0) {
        ctx.ui.notify("No templates found. Add `template:: name` to a page.");
        return;
      }

      // Pick the first template (a real plugin would show a picker).
      const tpl = templates[0];
      const blocks = await ctx.blocks.query({});
      const target = blocks[0];

      if (!target) {
        ctx.ui.notify("No block to stamp under.");
        return;
      }

      await ctx.template.instantiate(tpl.name, target.id);
      ctx.ui.notify(`Stamped template "${tpl.name}" under block ${target.id}.`);
    });
  },
});

Manifest

{
  "id": "template-stamper",
  "name": "Template Stamper",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "permissions": ["read-page", "write-page"],
  "capabilities": ["slash-command"],
  "contributes": {
    "commands": [{ "id": "stamp", "title": "Stamp a template" }]
  }
}

Try it

outl plugin install ./template-stamper
outl plugin enable template-stamper
# In the TUI, type: /stamp

Adapting it

• Show a picker: iterate ctx.template.list() and let the user choose via ctx.ui.render() (desktop/mobile only).
• Auto-stamp on page create: subscribe to ctx.ops.onOp, watch for Create ops on pages matching a pattern, and call ctx.template.instantiate() automatically.
• Callable templates: combine with ctx.blocks to write a ```call:<name> block and trigger execution.

See Templates for the full template engine guide.