How to install plugins ?

[mononym]

Hello. Does one install plugins in the admin panel or the command line ?

• In the admin panel, the available plugins never show up; just keeps Loading...

• In the CLI, when running app/code# npm i ep_cursortrace, I get:

npm error Cannot read properties of null (reading 'package')
npm notice
npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.9.3 -> 11.7.0
npm notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.7.0
npm notice To update run: npm install -g npm@11.7.0
npm notice
npm error A complete log of this run can be found in: /root/.npm/_logs/2025-12-22T15_08_42_684Z-debug-0.log

0 verbose cli /usr/local/node-22.20.0/bin/node /usr/local/node-22.20.0/bin/npm
1 info using npm@10.9.3
2 info using node@v22.20.0
3 silly config load:file:/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/npmrc
4 silly config load:file:/app/code/.npmrc
5 silly config load:file:/root/.npmrc
6 silly config load:file:/usr/local/node-22.20.0/etc/npmrc
7 verbose title npm i ep_cursortrace
8 verbose argv "i" "ep_cursortrace"
9 verbose logfile logs-max:10 dir:/root/.npm/_logs/2025-12-22T15_08_42_684Z-
10 verbose logfile /root/.npm/_logs/2025-12-22T15_08_42_684Z-debug-0.log
11 silly logfile done cleaning log files
12 silly packumentCache heap:415236096 maxSize:103809024 maxEntrySize:51904512
13 http fetch GET 200 https://registry.npmjs.org/npm 221ms
14 verbose stack TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'package')
14 verbose stack     at set root (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:748:35)
14 verbose stack     at set root (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:814:20)
14 verbose stack     at set root (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:814:20)
14 verbose stack     at set root (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:822:19)
14 verbose stack     at set parent (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:1257:15)
14 verbose stack     at Node.replace (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/node.js:1172:20)
14 verbose stack     at #transplant (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js:239:10)
14 verbose stack     at #loadActual (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/arborist/load-actual.js:209:21)
14 verbose stack     at async /usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js:299:11
14 verbose stack     at async Arborist.buildIdealTree (/usr/local/node-22.20.0/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/@npmcli/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js:178:7)
15 error Cannot read properties of null (reading 'package')
16 silly unfinished npm timer reify 1766416124310
17 silly unfinished npm timer reify:loadTrees 1766416124315
18 silly unfinished npm timer idealTree:init 1766416124316
19 verbose cwd /app/code
20 verbose os Linux 6.8.0-90-generic
21 verbose node v22.20.0
22 verbose npm  v10.9.3
23 notice
23 notice New major version of npm available! 10.9.3 -> 11.7.0
23 notice Changelog: https://github.com/npm/cli/releases/tag/v11.7.0
23 notice To update run: npm install -g npm@11.7.0
23 notice  { force: true, [Symbol(proc-log.meta)]: true }
24 verbose exit 1
25 verbose code 1
26 error A complete log of this run can be found in: /root/.npm/_logs/2025-12-22T15_08_42_684Z-debug-0.log

[mononym]

2. Add plugin info

The plugin info is {"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"} and has to be added to app/data/data/installed_plugins.json

I think that the above step is the only one needed to install plugins. Simply add the wanted plugins into /data/data/installed_plugins.json and a restart will install them.

Tested with the demo server: I installed Etherpad and modified the following files:

/data/data/installed_plugins.json

{"plugins":[
    {"name":"ep_button_link","version":"1.0.11"},
    {"name":"ep_delete_empty_pads","version":"0.0.11"},
    {"name":"ep_author_hover","version":"1.0.12"},
    {"name":"ep_spellcheck","version":"0.0.65"},
    {"name":"ep_disable_reset_authorship_colours","version":"0.0.27"},
    {"name":"ep_image_upload","version":"1.0.105"},
    {"name":"ep_disable_delete_button","version":"0.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_prompt_for_name","version":"1.0.25"},
    {"name":"ep_table_of_contents","version":"0.3.89"},
    {"name":"ep_prefer_color_scheme","version":"0.0.10"},
    {"name":"ep_countable","version":"0.0.15"},
    {"name":"ep_default_colors_off","version":"0.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_align","version":"10.0.2"},
    {"name":"ep_comments_page","version":"10.0.4"},
    {"name":"ep_embedded_hyperlinks2","version":"1.2.4"},
    {"name":"ep_font_color","version":"0.0.89"},
    {"name":"ep_headings2","version":"0.2.68"},
    {"name":"ep_markdown","version":"10.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_openid_connect","version":"3.0.13"},
    {"name":"ep_user_displayname","version":"1.0.7"},
    {"name":"ep_stable_authorid","version":"1.0.5"},
    {"name":"ep_guest","version":"1.0.37"},
    {"name":"ep_etherpad-lite","version":"2.5.3"}
    ]
}

data/settings.json

{
  "requireAuthentication": false,
  "ep_spellcheck": { 
    "disabledByDefault" : false 
  },
  "ep_toc": {
    "disable_by_default": false,
    "show_button": true
  },
  "ep_button_link": {
    "link": "https://www.cloudron.io/",
    "text": "Cloudron",
    "after": "[data-key='home']"
  },
  "ep_author_hover": {
    "disabledByDefault": false
  }
}

Logs

Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.576] [INFO] server - Starting Etherpad...
Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.605] [INFO] plugins - pnpm --version: 10.20.0
Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.619] [INFO] plugins - check installed plugins for migration
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_button_link...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_delete_empty_pads...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_author_hover...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_spellcheck...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_disable_reset_authorship_colours...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_image_upload...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_disable_delete_button...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_prompt_for_name...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_table_of_contents...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_prefer_color_scheme...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_countable...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_default_colors_off...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_align...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_comments_page...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_embedded_hyperlinks2...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_font_color...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_headings2...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_markdown...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_openid_connect...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_user_displayname...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_stable_authorid...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_guest...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_etherpad-lite...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.068] [INFO] plugins - Loaded 23 plugins

https://pad.demo.cloudron.io

[james]

Hello @mononym
It should work from the admin ui as documented here:
https://docs.cloudron.io/packages/etherpad/#installing-plugins

[mononym]

Thanks. It is the last line from the docs which made me doubt.

Plugins which did not cause the problem can be reinstalled again with:

npm i <pluginname>

It seems there's some issue because the available plugins never show up. Even searching for a specific one:

Only log: Dec 22 17:17:00 [2025-12-22T16:17:00.732] [INFO] adminPlugins - Plugin search: ep_cursortrace'

Could the app point to a wrong URL instead of the plugins' repository ?

[robi]

The new plugins are not local, so the search is of some GitHub repo with the available plugins.

Feel free to test it with the Cloudron demo server.

[mononym]

This post is deleted!

[mononym]

I found a way, maybe double check what it means in case of updates @james

N.B.: The plugin in the example is ep_author_neat2

1. Installation in the CLI

Run app/data/data# npm i ep_author_neat2 (notice: data inside data directory)

added 1 package, and audited 3 packages in 10s

2 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

found 0 vulnerabilities

2. Add plugin info

The plugin info is {"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"} and has to be added to app/data/data/installed_plugins.json

3. Restart the app

[mononym]

2. Add plugin info

The plugin info is {"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"} and has to be added to app/data/data/installed_plugins.json

I think that the above step is the only one needed to install plugins. Simply add the wanted plugins into /data/data/installed_plugins.json and a restart will install them.

Tested with the demo server: I installed Etherpad and modified the following files:

/data/data/installed_plugins.json

{"plugins":[
    {"name":"ep_button_link","version":"1.0.11"},
    {"name":"ep_delete_empty_pads","version":"0.0.11"},
    {"name":"ep_author_hover","version":"1.0.12"},
    {"name":"ep_spellcheck","version":"0.0.65"},
    {"name":"ep_disable_reset_authorship_colours","version":"0.0.27"},
    {"name":"ep_image_upload","version":"1.0.105"},
    {"name":"ep_disable_delete_button","version":"0.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_prompt_for_name","version":"1.0.25"},
    {"name":"ep_table_of_contents","version":"0.3.89"},
    {"name":"ep_prefer_color_scheme","version":"0.0.10"},
    {"name":"ep_countable","version":"0.0.15"},
    {"name":"ep_default_colors_off","version":"0.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_align","version":"10.0.2"},
    {"name":"ep_comments_page","version":"10.0.4"},
    {"name":"ep_embedded_hyperlinks2","version":"1.2.4"},
    {"name":"ep_font_color","version":"0.0.89"},
    {"name":"ep_headings2","version":"0.2.68"},
    {"name":"ep_markdown","version":"10.0.1"},
    {"name":"ep_openid_connect","version":"3.0.13"},
    {"name":"ep_user_displayname","version":"1.0.7"},
    {"name":"ep_stable_authorid","version":"1.0.5"},
    {"name":"ep_guest","version":"1.0.37"},
    {"name":"ep_etherpad-lite","version":"2.5.3"}
    ]
}

data/settings.json

{
  "requireAuthentication": false,
  "ep_spellcheck": { 
    "disabledByDefault" : false 
  },
  "ep_toc": {
    "disable_by_default": false,
    "show_button": true
  },
  "ep_button_link": {
    "link": "https://www.cloudron.io/",
    "text": "Cloudron",
    "after": "[data-key='home']"
  },
  "ep_author_hover": {
    "disabledByDefault": false
  }
}

Logs

Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.576] [INFO] server - Starting Etherpad...
Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.605] [INFO] plugins - pnpm --version: 10.20.0
Dec 27 10:17:58 [2025-12-27T09:17:58.619] [INFO] plugins - check installed plugins for migration
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_button_link...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_delete_empty_pads...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.059] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_author_hover...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_spellcheck...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_disable_reset_authorship_colours...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_image_upload...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_disable_delete_button...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_prompt_for_name...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_table_of_contents...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_prefer_color_scheme...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_countable...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_default_colors_off...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.060] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_align...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_comments_page...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_embedded_hyperlinks2...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_font_color...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_headings2...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_markdown...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_openid_connect...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_user_displayname...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_stable_authorid...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_guest...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.061] [INFO] plugins - Loading plugin ep_etherpad-lite...
Dec 27 10:17:59 [2025-12-27T09:17:59.068] [INFO] plugins - Loaded 23 plugins

https://pad.demo.cloudron.io