How to install plugins ?
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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.log0 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 -
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_neat21. Installation in the CLI
Run
app/data/data# npm i ep_author_neat2(notice:datainsidedatadirectory)added 1 package, and audited 3 packages in 10s 2 packages are looking for funding run `npm fund` for details found 0 vulnerabilities2. Add plugin info
The plugin info is
{"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"}and has to be added toapp/data/data/installed_plugins.json3. Restart the app
- 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.jsonand 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 } }LogsDec 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 -
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 ?
-
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_neat21. Installation in the CLI
Run
app/data/data# npm i ep_author_neat2(notice:datainsidedatadirectory)added 1 package, and audited 3 packages in 10s 2 packages are looking for funding run `npm fund` for details found 0 vulnerabilities2. Add plugin info
The plugin info is
{"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"}and has to be added toapp/data/data/installed_plugins.json3. Restart the app
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M mononym marked this topic as a question on
-
M mononym has marked this topic as solved on
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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_neat21. Installation in the CLI
Run
app/data/data# npm i ep_author_neat2(notice:datainsidedatadirectory)added 1 package, and audited 3 packages in 10s 2 packages are looking for funding run `npm fund` for details found 0 vulnerabilities2. Add plugin info
The plugin info is
{"name":"ep_author_neat2","version":"2.0.11"}and has to be added toapp/data/data/installed_plugins.json3. Restart the app
- 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.jsonand 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 } }LogsDec 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 -
M mononym has marked this topic as solved on
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