logseq/libs/development-notes/AGENTS.md

AGENTS.md - Logseq Plugin Development Guide

Overview

This document provides guidance for AI agents (Copilot, coding assistants, etc.) to help develop Logseq plugins using the @logseq/libs SDK.

Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source knowledge management and note-taking application built on top of local plain-text Markdown and Org-mode files. The plugin system extends Logseq's functionality through a JavaScript/TypeScript SDK.

Repository Structure

Core SDK (logseq/logseq - libs/ folder)

The official SDK source code is located in the libs/ directory of the main Logseq repository:

libs/
├── src/
│   ├── LSPlugin.ts           # Main type definitions & interfaces
│   ├── LSPlugin.user.ts      # User-facing plugin API implementation
│   ├── LSPlugin.core.ts      # Core plugin system
│   ├── LSPlugin. caller.ts   # IPC message caller
│   ├── LSPlugin.shadow.ts    # Shadow DOM support
│   ├── helpers.ts            # Utility functions
│   ├── modules/              # Additional modules (Experiments, Storage, Request)
│   └── postmate/             # Cross-frame communication
├── package.json              # NPM package config (@logseq/libs)
├── README.md                 # SDK documentation
└── CHANGELOG.md              # Version history

Plugin Samples (logseq/logseq-plugin-samples)

Official sample plugins demonstrating various SDK features:

Sample	Description	Key APIs
logseq-slash-commands	Basic slash command registration	Editor.registerSlashCommand
logseq-pomodoro-timer	Macro renderer & slot UI	App.onMacroRendererSlotted, provideUI
logseq-a-translator	Selection hooks & float UI	Editor.onInputSelectionEnd, provideUI
logseq-awesome-fonts	Custom styles & settings	provideStyle, useSettingsSchema
logseq-bujo-themes	Custom theme development	provideTheme
logseq-journals-calendar	Calendar integration	App.getCurrentGraph, Editor.getPage
logseq-emoji-picker	UI overlay with 3rd party libs	showMainUI, hideMainUI
logseq-reddit-hot-news	Batch block insertion	Editor.insertBatchBlock, App.registerUIItem
logseq-imdb-top250-importer	DB graph data import	DB-specific APIs

Plugin Architecture

Entry Point Pattern

Every Logseq plugin follows this basic pattern:

import '@logseq/libs'

async function main() {
  // Plugin initialization code
  console.log('Plugin loaded!')
}

// Bootstrap
logseq.ready(main).catch(console.error)

Plugin Modes

Plugins can run in two modes defined in package.json:

• iframe (default): Plugin runs in an isolated iframe sandbox
• shadow (still draft): Plugin runs in a Shadow DOM container (faster, less isolation)

⚠️ Sandbox Environment: All Logseq plugins run in an isolated iframe sandbox. This provides security isolation between plugins and the main application. Communication between the plugin iframe and Logseq happens through a postMessage-based RPC mechanism.

package.json Configuration

Package. json Configuration

Basic Structure

{
  "name": "logseq-my-plugin",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "description": "A brief description of your plugin",
  "author": "Your Name",
  "license": "MIT",
  "main": "dist/index.html",
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "parcel ./index.html --public-url ./",
    "build": "parcel build --public-url .  --no-source-maps index.html"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@logseq/libs": "^0.0.17",
    "parcel": "^2.0.0"
  },
  "logseq": {
    "id": "my-unique-plugin-id",
    "main": "dist/index.html",
    "icon": "./icon.png"
  }
}

Logseq Configuration Block

The logseq field in package.json defines plugin metadata and behavior:

{
  "logseq": {
    "id": "my-unique-plugin-id",
    "main": "dist/index.html",
    "icon": "./icon. png",
    "title": "My Plugin Display Name",
    "effect": true,
    "themes": [
      {
        "name": "My Dark Theme",
        "url": "./css/dark.css",
        "mode": "dark",
        "description": "A beautiful dark theme"
      },
      {
        "name": "My Light Theme",
        "url": "./css/light.css",
        "mode": "light",
        "description": "A clean light theme"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Configuration Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
id	string	Yes	Unique plugin identifier. Must be unique across all plugins. Use lowercase with hyphens.
main	string	Yes	Entry point HTML file path (relative to package.json).
entry	string	No	Alias for main.
icon	string	No	Plugin icon path. Displayed in plugin marketplace and settings.
title	string	No	Display name shown in UI. Falls back to package name if not set.
effect	boolean	No	When true, the plugin runs as a background effect without user interaction. Useful for plugins that only inject styles/themes or run automated tasks. Default: false.
themes	Theme[]	No	Array of theme definitions this plugin provides.
devEntry	string	No	Alternative entry point for development (e.g., with HMR).

Theme Configuration

For theme-only plugins, define themes in the themes array:

{
  "logseq": {
    "id": "my-theme-pack",
    "main": "dist/index.html",
    "effect": true,
    "themes": [
      {
        "name": "Nord Dark",
        "url": "./themes/nord-dark.css",
        "mode": "dark",
        "description": "Nord-inspired dark color scheme"
      },
      {
        "name": "Nord Light",
        "url": "./themes/nord-light.css",
        "mode": "light",
        "description": "Nord-inspired light color scheme"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Theme Object Fields:

Field	Type	Required	Description
name	string	Yes	Theme display name shown in theme selector.
url	string	Yes	Path to the CSS file (relative to package.json).
mode	light	dark	Yes
description	string	No	Brief description of the theme.

Core API Namespaces

The SDK exposes the following primary namespaces through the global logseq object:

logseq. App - Application APIs

Application-level operations and hooks:

// Get app/user information
await logseq.App.getInfo()
await logseq.App.getUserConfigs()
await logseq.App.getCurrentGraph()

// Graph operations
await logseq.App.getCurrentGraphFavorites()
await logseq.App.getCurrentGraphRecent()

// Navigation
logseq.App.pushState('page', { name: 'my-page' })

// UI Registration
logseq.App.registerUIItem('toolbar', {
  key: 'my-button',
  template: `<a data-on-click="myHandler">Click</a>`
})

// Command Registration
logseq.App.registerCommandPalette({
  key: 'my-command',
  label: 'My Command',
  keybinding: { binding: 'mod+shift+m' }
}, () => { /* action */ })

// Event Hooks
logseq.App.onCurrentGraphChanged(() => {})
logseq.App.onThemeModeChanged(({ mode }) => {})
logseq.App.onRouteChanged(({ path }) => {})
logseq.App.onMacroRendererSlotted(({ slot, payload }) => {})

logseq.Editor - Editor APIs

Block and page manipulation:

// Slash Commands
logseq.Editor.registerSlashCommand('My Command', async ({ uuid }) => {
  await logseq.Editor.insertAtEditingCursor('Hello!')
})

// Block Context Menu
logseq.Editor.registerBlockContextMenuItem('My Action', async ({ uuid }) => {
  const block = await logseq.Editor.getBlock(uuid)
})

// Block Operations
await logseq.Editor.getBlock(uuid)
await logseq.Editor.insertBlock(uuid, 'content', { sibling: true })
await logseq.Editor.updateBlock(uuid, 'new content')
await logseq.Editor.removeBlock(uuid)
await logseq.Editor.insertBatchBlock(uuid, [
  { content: 'Block 1', children: [{ content: 'Child' }] }
])

// Page Operations
await logseq.Editor.getPage('page-name')
await logseq.Editor.createPage('new-page', { prop: 'value' })
await logseq.Editor.deletePage('page-name')
await logseq.Editor.getCurrentPageBlocksTree()

// Cursor & Selection
await logseq.Editor.checkEditing()
await logseq.Editor.getEditingCursorPosition()
await logseq.Editor.insertAtEditingCursor('text')
await logseq.Editor.exitEditingMode()

// Properties (DB graphs)
await logseq.Editor.upsertBlockProperty(uuid, 'key', 'value')
await logseq.Editor.getBlockProperties(uuid)

logseq.DB - Database APIs

Query and data operations:

// DSL Query (Logseq query language)
const results = await logseq.DB.q('[[my-page]]')

// Datascript Query
const results1 = await logseq.DB.datascriptQuery(`
  [: find (pull ?b [*])
   :where [?b :block/marker "TODO"]]
`)

// Watch for changes
logseq.DB.onChanged(({ blocks, txData }) => {
  console.log('Database changed:', blocks)
})

// Watch specific block
logseq.DB.onBlockChanged(uuid, (block, txData) => {
  console.log('Block changed:', block)
})

// File operations
await logseq.DB.getFileContent('logseq/custom.css')
await logseq.DB.setFileContent('logseq/custom.js', 'console.log("hi")')

logseq.UI - UI Utilities

// Toast messages
await logseq.UI.showMsg('Success! ', 'success')
await logseq.UI.showMsg('Warning!', 'warning', { timeout: 5000 })
logseq.UI.closeMsg(key)

// DOM queries
const rect = await logseq.UI.queryElementRect('.my-selector')
const exists = await logseq.UI.queryElementById('my-id')

logseq.Git - Git Operations

Only supported in file-based graphs for desktop Logseq.

const result = await logseq.Git.execCommand(['status'])
const ignoreContent = await logseq.Git.loadIgnoreFile()
await logseq.Git.saveIgnoreFile('. DS_Store\nnode_modules')

logseq.Assets - Asset Management

const files = await logseq.Assets.listFilesOfCurrentGraph(['png', 'jpg'])
const storage = logseq.Assets.makeSandboxStorage()
const url = await logseq.Assets.makeUrl('path/to/file')
await logseq.Assets.builtInOpen('path/to/asset. pdf')

UI Injection Patterns

provideUI - Inject Custom UI

logseq.provideUI({
  key: 'my-ui',
  path: '#my-target',  // or use `slot` for macro renderers
  template: `<div data-on-click="myHandler">Click me</div>`,
  style: { backgroundColor: 'white', padding: '10px' },
  attrs: { title: 'My UI' },
  close: 'outside',  // close when clicking outside
})

provideStyle - Inject CSS

logseq.provideStyle(`
  .my-class {
    color: var(--ls-primary-text-color);
    background:  var(--ls-primary-background-color);
  }
`)

// Or with a key for updates
logseq.provideStyle({
  key: 'my-styles',
  style: `.my-class { color: red; }`
})

provideModel - Event Handlers

logseq.provideModel({
  myHandler(e) {
    console.log('Clicked!', e.dataset)
  },
  async asyncHandler(e) {
    const block = await logseq.Editor.getBlock(e.dataset.blockUuid)
  }
})

Main UI (Full-screen Overlay)

// Show plugin's main UI
logseq.showMainUI({ autoFocus: true })

// Hide it
logseq.hideMainUI({ restoreEditingCursor: true })

// Toggle
logseq.toggleMainUI()

// Style the main UI container
logseq.setMainUIInlineStyle({
  position: 'fixed',
  top: '100px',
  left: '50%',
  zIndex: 11,
})

Settings Schema

Define user-configurable settings:

logseq.useSettingsSchema([
  {
    key: 'apiKey',
    type: 'string',
    default: '',
    title: 'API Key',
    description: 'Enter your API key'
  },
  {
    key: 'enableFeature',
    type: 'boolean',
    default: true,
    title: 'Enable Feature',
    description: 'Toggle this feature on/off'
  },
  {
    key: 'theme',
    type: 'enum',
    enumChoices: ['light', 'dark', 'auto'],
    enumPicker: 'select',
    default: 'auto',
    title: 'Theme',
    description: 'Select theme mode'
  },
  {
    key: 'fontSize',
    type: 'number',
    default: 14,
    title: 'Font Size',
    description: 'Customize font size',
    inputAs: 'range'
  }
])

// Access settings
const apiKey = logseq.settings?.apiKey

// Update settings
logseq.updateSettings({ apiKey: 'new-key' })

// Listen for changes
logseq.onSettingsChanged((newSettings, oldSettings) => {
  console.log('Settings changed:', newSettings)
})

Macro Renderer Pattern

Create custom block renderers using {{renderer : type, arg1, arg2}}:

logseq.App.onMacroRendererSlotted(({ slot, payload }) => {
  const [type, ...args] = payload.arguments

  if (type !== ':my-renderer') return

  logseq.provideUI({
    key: `my-renderer-${payload.uuid}`,
    slot,
    template: `
      <div class="my-renderer">
        <span>${args.join(', ')}</span>
      </div>
    `,
  })
})

// Register slash command to insert the macro
logseq.Editor.registerSlashCommand('Insert My Renderer', async () => {
  await logseq.Editor.insertAtEditingCursor(
    `{{renderer :my-renderer, arg1, arg2}}`
  )
})

Key Types Reference

Block Entity

interface BlockEntity {
  id: number           // Database entity ID
  uuid: string         // Block UUID
  title: string        // Block content
  content?: string     // @deprecated, use title
  format: 'markdown' | 'org'
  parent: { id: number }
  page: { id: number }
  properties?: Record<string, any>
  children?: BlockEntity[]
  'collapsed? ': boolean
  createdAt: number
  updatedAt: number
}

Page Entity

interface PageEntity {
  id: number
  uuid: string
  name: string
  type: 'page' | 'journal' | 'whiteboard' | 'class' | 'property' | 'hidden'
  format: 'markdown' | 'org'
  'journal? ': boolean
  journalDay?: number  // YYYYMMDD format for journals
  properties?: Record<string, any>
  createdAt: number
  updatedAt: number
}

Development Workflow

Setup

# Clone sample repository
git clone https://github.com/logseq/logseq-plugin-samples
cd logseq-plugin-samples/logseq-slash-commands

# Install dependencies
npm install  # or yarn

# Build
npm run build

Loading in Logseq

1. Open Logseq Desktop
2. Enable Developer mode in Settings
3. Press t p to open Plugins dashboard
4. Click Load unpacked plugin
5. Select your plugin directory

Debugging

• Use browser DevTools (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + I)
• Check console for @logseq/libs debug output
• Use logseq.UI.showMsg() for quick debugging

Best Practices

Performance

1. Debounce frequent operations - especially DB queries and UI updates
2. Use onBlockChanged sparingly - it fires on every edit
3. Batch block operations - use insertBatchBlock instead of multiple insertBlock calls

4. Clean up listeners - store and call off-hooks in beforeunload

   const offHooks: (() => void)[] = []
   
   offHooks.push(
   logseq.DB.onChanged(() => { /* ...  */ })
   )
   
   logseq.beforeunload(async () => {
   offHooks.forEach(off => off())
   })
   

Error Handling

try {
  const block = await logseq.Editor.getBlock(uuid)
  if (!block) {
    await logseq.UI.showMsg('Block not found', 'warning')
    return
  }
  // ... proceed
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Plugin error:', error)
  await logseq.UI.showMsg('An error occurred', 'error')
}

CSS Variables

Use Logseq's CSS custom properties for consistent theming:

.my-plugin-ui {
  color: var(--ls-primary-text-color);
  background: var(--ls-primary-background-color);
  border: 1px solid var(--ls-border-color);
}

DB vs File Graphs

Check graph type before using DB-specific features:

const isDbGraph = await logseq.App.checkCurrentIsDbGraph()
if (isDbGraph) {
  // Use DB-specific APIs
  await logseq.Editor.upsertProperty('my-prop', { type: 'string' })
}

Resources

• API Documentation: https://plugins-doc.logseq.com
• Plugin Samples: https://github.com/logseq/logseq-plugin-samples
• SDK Source: https://github.com/logseq/logseq/tree/master/libs
• NPM Package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@logseq/libs
• Discord Community: https://discord.gg/KpN4eHY
• Community Templates:
  • ClojureScript: https://github.com/logseq/cljs-plugin-example
  • TypeScript: https://github.com/YU000jp/logseq-plugin-sample-kit-typescript

Version Compatibility

Always check the minimum Logseq version required for specific APIs. Keep @logseq/libs updated to the latest version for best compatibility and performance.

# Check current version
npm info @logseq/libs version

# Update
npm update @logseq/libs