diff --git a/quartz/bootstrap-cli.mjs b/quartz/bootstrap-cli.mjs
index 8b0b9268f..e24ca1c81 100755
--- a/quartz/bootstrap-cli.mjs
+++ b/quartz/bootstrap-cli.mjs
@@ -8,7 +8,21 @@ import {
   handleRestore,
   handleSync,
 } from "./cli/handlers.js"
-import { CommonArgv, BuildArgv, CreateArgv, SyncArgv } from "./cli/args.js"
+import {
+  handlePluginInstall,
+  handlePluginList,
+  handlePluginSearch,
+  handlePluginUninstall,
+} from "./cli/plugin-handlers.js"
+import {
+  CommonArgv,
+  BuildArgv,
+  CreateArgv,
+  SyncArgv,
+  PluginInstallArgv,
+  PluginUninstallArgv,
+  PluginSearchArgv,
+} from "./cli/args.js"
 import { version } from "./cli/constants.js"
 
 yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
@@ -35,6 +49,44 @@ yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
   .command("build", "Build Quartz into a bundle of static HTML files", BuildArgv, async (argv) => {
     await handleBuild(argv)
   })
+  .command(
+    "plugin <subcommand>",
+    "Manage Quartz plugins",
+    (yargs) => {
+      return yargs
+        .command(
+          "install <packages..>",
+          "Install Quartz plugins from npm",
+          PluginInstallArgv,
+          async (argv) => {
+            await handlePluginInstall(argv.packages)
+          },
+        )
+        .command(
+          "uninstall <packages..>",
+          "Uninstall Quartz plugins",
+          PluginUninstallArgv,
+          async (argv) => {
+            await handlePluginUninstall(argv.packages)
+          },
+        )
+        .command("list", "List installed Quartz plugins", CommonArgv, async () => {
+          await handlePluginList()
+        })
+        .command(
+          "search [query]",
+          "Search for Quartz plugins on npm",
+          PluginSearchArgv,
+          async (argv) => {
+            await handlePluginSearch(argv.query)
+          },
+        )
+        .demandCommand(1, "Please specify a plugin subcommand")
+    },
+    async () => {
+      // This handler is called when no subcommand is provided
+    },
+  )
   .showHelpOnFail(false)
   .help()
   .strict()
diff --git a/quartz/cfg.ts b/quartz/cfg.ts
index c97d613bb..e7de5b244 100644
--- a/quartz/cfg.ts
+++ b/quartz/cfg.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { ValidDateType } from "./components/Date"
 import { QuartzComponent } from "./components/types"
 import { ValidLocale } from "./i18n"
+import { PluginSpecifier } from "./plugins/loader/types"
 import { PluginTypes } from "./plugins/types"
 import { Theme } from "./util/theme"
 
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ export interface GlobalConfiguration {
 export interface QuartzConfig {
   configuration: GlobalConfiguration
   plugins: PluginTypes
+  externalPlugins?: PluginSpecifier[]
 }
 
 export interface FullPageLayout {
diff --git a/quartz/cli/args.js b/quartz/cli/args.js
index d2408e94b..f590bb3a5 100644
--- a/quartz/cli/args.js
+++ b/quartz/cli/args.js
@@ -106,3 +106,30 @@ export const BuildArgv = {
     describe: "how many threads to use to parse notes",
   },
 }
+
+export const PluginInstallArgv = {
+  ...CommonArgv,
+  _: {
+    type: "string",
+    demandOption: true,
+    describe: "package names to install",
+  },
+}
+
+export const PluginUninstallArgv = {
+  ...CommonArgv,
+  _: {
+    type: "string",
+    demandOption: true,
+    describe: "package names to uninstall",
+  },
+}
+
+export const PluginSearchArgv = {
+  ...CommonArgv,
+  query: {
+    string: true,
+    alias: ["q"],
+    describe: "search query for plugins",
+  },
+}
diff --git a/quartz/cli/plugin-handlers.js b/quartz/cli/plugin-handlers.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7c13e3b00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/cli/plugin-handlers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+import { styleText } from "util"
+import { execSync, spawnSync } from "child_process"
+import fs from "fs"
+import path from "path"
+
+export async function handlePluginInstall(packageNames) {
+  console.log(`\n${styleText(["bgGreen", "black"], " Quartz Plugin Manager ")}\n`)
+
+  if (packageNames.length === 0) {
+    console.log(styleText("red", "Error: No package names provided"))
+    console.log("Usage: npx quartz plugin install <package-name> [package-name...]")
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Installing ${packageNames.length} plugin(s)...`)
+
+  const npmArgs = ["install", ...packageNames]
+  const result = spawnSync("npm", npmArgs, { stdio: "inherit" })
+
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    console.log(styleText("red", "Failed to install plugins"))
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+
+  console.log(styleText("green", "✓ Plugins installed successfully"))
+  console.log("\nAdd them to your quartz.config.ts:")
+
+  for (const pkg of packageNames) {
+    console.log(`  import { Plugin } from "${pkg}"`)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function handlePluginList() {
+  console.log(`\n${styleText(["bgGreen", "black"], " Quartz Plugin Manager ")}\n`)
+
+  const packageJsonPath = path.join(process.cwd(), "package.json")
+
+  if (!fs.existsSync(packageJsonPath)) {
+    console.log(styleText("red", "No package.json found"))
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+
+  const packageJson = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(packageJsonPath, "utf-8"))
+  const allDeps = {
+    ...packageJson.dependencies,
+    ...packageJson.devDependencies,
+  }
+
+  const quartzPlugins = Object.entries(allDeps).filter(([name]) => {
+    return (
+      name.startsWith("@quartz/") ||
+      name.startsWith("quartz-") ||
+      name.startsWith("@quartz-community/")
+    )
+  })
+
+  if (quartzPlugins.length === 0) {
+    console.log("No Quartz plugins found in this project.")
+    console.log("Install plugins with: npx quartz plugin install <package-name>")
+    return
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Found ${quartzPlugins.length} Quartz plugin(s):\n`)
+
+  for (const [name, version] of quartzPlugins) {
+    console.log(`  ${styleText("cyan", name)}@${version}`)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function handlePluginSearch(query) {
+  console.log(`\n${styleText(["bgGreen", "black"], " Quartz Plugin Manager ")}\n`)
+
+  const searchQuery = query || "quartz-plugin"
+
+  console.log(`Searching npm for packages matching "${searchQuery}"...`)
+  console.log(styleText("grey", "(This may take a moment)\n"))
+
+  try {
+    const result = execSync(`npm search ${searchQuery} --json`, { encoding: "utf-8" })
+    const packages = JSON.parse(result)
+
+    const quartzPlugins = packages.filter(
+      (pkg) =>
+        pkg.name.startsWith("@quartz/") ||
+        pkg.name.startsWith("quartz-") ||
+        pkg.name.startsWith("@quartz-community/"),
+    )
+
+    if (quartzPlugins.length === 0) {
+      console.log("No Quartz plugins found matching your query.")
+      return
+    }
+
+    console.log(`Found ${quartzPlugins.length} Quartz plugin(s):\n`)
+
+    for (const pkg of quartzPlugins.slice(0, 20)) {
+      console.log(`  ${styleText("cyan", pkg.name)}@${pkg.version}`)
+      if (pkg.description) {
+        console.log(`    ${styleText("grey", pkg.description)}`)
+      }
+      console.log()
+    }
+  } catch {
+    console.log(styleText("yellow", "Could not search npm. Try visiting:"))
+    console.log("  https://www.npmjs.com/search?q=quartz-plugin")
+  }
+}
+
+export async function handlePluginUninstall(packageNames) {
+  console.log(`\n${styleText(["bgGreen", "black"], " Quartz Plugin Manager ")}\n`)
+
+  if (packageNames.length === 0) {
+    console.log(styleText("red", "Error: No package names provided"))
+    console.log("Usage: npx quartz plugin uninstall <package-name> [package-name...]")
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Uninstalling ${packageNames.length} plugin(s)...`)
+
+  const npmArgs = ["uninstall", ...packageNames]
+  const result = spawnSync("npm", npmArgs, { stdio: "inherit" })
+
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    console.log(styleText("red", "Failed to uninstall plugins"))
+    process.exit(1)
+  }
+
+  console.log(styleText("green", "✓ Plugins uninstalled successfully"))
+  console.log(styleText("yellow", "Don't forget to remove them from your quartz.config.ts!"))
+}
diff --git a/quartz/components/external.ts b/quartz/components/external.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0113445a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/components/external.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { componentRegistry } from "./registry"
+import { QuartzComponent, QuartzComponentConstructor } from "./types"
+
+export function External<Options extends object | undefined>(
+  name: string,
+  options?: Options,
+): QuartzComponent {
+  const registered = componentRegistry.get(name)
+  if (!registered) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `External component "${name}" not found. ` +
+        `Make sure the plugin is installed and components are loaded before layouts are evaluated.`,
+    )
+  }
+
+  const { component } = registered
+
+  if (typeof component === "function") {
+    return (component as QuartzComponentConstructor<Options>)(options as Options)
+  }
+
+  return component as QuartzComponent
+}
diff --git a/quartz/components/index.ts b/quartz/components/index.ts
index cece8e614..91ab4afc9 100644
--- a/quartz/components/index.ts
+++ b/quartz/components/index.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ import Comments from "./Comments"
 import Flex from "./Flex"
 import ConditionalRender from "./ConditionalRender"
 
+export { componentRegistry, defineComponent } from "./registry"
+export { External } from "./external"
+export type { ComponentManifest, RegisteredComponent } from "./registry"
+export type { QuartzComponent, QuartzComponentConstructor, QuartzComponentProps } from "./types"
+
 export {
   ArticleTitle,
   Content,
diff --git a/quartz/components/registry.ts b/quartz/components/registry.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1fd5ab484
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/components/registry.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { QuartzComponent, QuartzComponentConstructor } from "./types"
+
+export interface ComponentManifest {
+  name: string
+  displayName: string
+  description: string
+  version: string
+  quartzVersion?: string
+  author?: string
+  homepage?: string
+}
+
+export interface RegisteredComponent {
+  component: QuartzComponent | QuartzComponentConstructor
+  source: string
+  manifest?: ComponentManifest
+}
+
+class ComponentRegistry {
+  private components = new Map<string, RegisteredComponent>()
+
+  register(
+    name: string,
+    component: QuartzComponent | QuartzComponentConstructor,
+    source: string,
+    manifest?: ComponentManifest,
+  ): void {
+    if (this.components.has(name)) {
+      console.warn(`Component "${name}" is being overwritten by ${source}`)
+    }
+    this.components.set(name, { component, source, manifest })
+  }
+
+  get(name: string): RegisteredComponent | undefined {
+    return this.components.get(name)
+  }
+
+  getAll(): Map<string, RegisteredComponent> {
+    return new Map(this.components)
+  }
+
+  getAllComponents(): QuartzComponent[] {
+    return Array.from(this.components.values()).map((r) => {
+      if (typeof r.component === "function") {
+        return (r.component as QuartzComponentConstructor)(undefined)
+      }
+      return r.component as QuartzComponent
+    })
+  }
+}
+
+export const componentRegistry = new ComponentRegistry()
+
+export function defineComponent<Options extends object | undefined = undefined>(
+  factory: QuartzComponentConstructor<Options>,
+  manifest: ComponentManifest,
+): QuartzComponentConstructor<Options> {
+  ;(factory as any).__quartzComponent = { manifest }
+  return factory
+}
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/config.ts b/quartz/plugins/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6b1890a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/plugins/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import {
+  QuartzTransformerPluginInstance,
+  QuartzFilterPluginInstance,
+  QuartzEmitterPluginInstance,
+} from "./types"
+import { LoadedPlugin } from "./loader/types"
+
+export interface PluginConfiguration {
+  transformers: (QuartzTransformerPluginInstance | LoadedPlugin)[]
+  filters: (QuartzFilterPluginInstance | LoadedPlugin)[]
+  emitters: (QuartzEmitterPluginInstance | LoadedPlugin)[]
+}
+
+export function isLoadedPlugin(plugin: unknown): plugin is LoadedPlugin {
+  return (
+    typeof plugin === "object" &&
+    plugin !== null &&
+    "plugin" in plugin &&
+    "manifest" in plugin &&
+    "type" in plugin &&
+    typeof (plugin as LoadedPlugin).plugin === "function"
+  )
+}
+
+export function getPluginInstance<T extends object | undefined>(
+  plugin:
+    | QuartzTransformerPluginInstance
+    | QuartzFilterPluginInstance
+    | QuartzEmitterPluginInstance
+    | LoadedPlugin,
+  options?: T,
+): QuartzTransformerPluginInstance | QuartzFilterPluginInstance | QuartzEmitterPluginInstance {
+  if (isLoadedPlugin(plugin)) {
+    const factory = plugin.plugin as (
+      opts?: T,
+    ) => QuartzTransformerPluginInstance | QuartzFilterPluginInstance | QuartzEmitterPluginInstance
+    return factory(options)
+  }
+  return plugin
+}
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/emitters/componentResources.ts b/quartz/plugins/emitters/componentResources.ts
index 9c5ee186f..8ceaa046e 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/emitters/componentResources.ts
+++ b/quartz/plugins/emitters/componentResources.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import styles from "../../styles/custom.scss"
 import popoverStyle from "../../components/styles/popover.scss"
 import { BuildCtx } from "../../util/ctx"
 import { QuartzComponent } from "../../components/types"
+import { componentRegistry } from "../../components/registry"
 import {
   googleFontHref,
   googleFontSubsetHref,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ type ComponentResources = {
 
 function getComponentResources(ctx: BuildCtx): ComponentResources {
   const allComponents: Set<QuartzComponent> = new Set()
+
   for (const emitter of ctx.cfg.plugins.emitters) {
     const components = emitter.getQuartzComponents?.(ctx) ?? []
     for (const component of components) {
@@ -34,6 +36,10 @@ function getComponentResources(ctx: BuildCtx): ComponentResources {
     }
   }
 
+  for (const component of componentRegistry.getAllComponents()) {
+    allComponents.add(component)
+  }
+
   const componentResources = {
     css: new Set<string>(),
     beforeDOMLoaded: new Set<string>(),
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/index.ts b/quartz/plugins/index.ts
index c41157c2b..041015054 100644
--- a/quartz/plugins/index.ts
+++ b/quartz/plugins/index.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ export function getStaticResourcesFromPlugins(ctx: BuildCtx) {
 export * from "./transformers"
 export * from "./filters"
 export * from "./emitters"
+export * from "./types"
+export * from "./config"
+export * as PluginLoader from "./loader"
 
 declare module "vfile" {
   // inserted in processors.ts
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/componentLoader.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/componentLoader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0abe4c901
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/componentLoader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import { componentRegistry } from "../../components/registry"
+import { ComponentManifest, PluginManifest } from "./types"
+import { QuartzComponentConstructor } from "../../components/types"
+
+export async function loadComponentsFromPackage(
+  packageName: string,
+  manifest: PluginManifest | null,
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!manifest?.components) return
+
+  try {
+    const componentsModule = await import(`${packageName}/components`)
+
+    for (const [exportName, componentManifest] of Object.entries(manifest.components)) {
+      const component = componentsModule[exportName]
+      if (!component) {
+        console.warn(
+          `Component "${exportName}" declared in manifest but not found in ${packageName}/components`,
+        )
+        continue
+      }
+
+      const fullName = `${packageName}/${exportName}`
+      componentRegistry.register(
+        fullName,
+        component as QuartzComponentConstructor,
+        packageName,
+        componentManifest as ComponentManifest,
+      )
+    }
+  } catch {
+    // Components module doesn't exist, that's okay for plugins without components
+    if (manifest.components && Object.keys(manifest.components).length > 0) {
+      console.warn(
+        `Plugin ${packageName} declares components but failed to load them from ${packageName}/components`,
+      )
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1993cf436
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+import { styleText } from "util"
+import {
+  PluginManifest,
+  LoadedPlugin,
+  PluginResolution,
+  PluginResolutionError,
+  PluginResolutionOptions,
+  PluginSpecifier,
+} from "./types"
+import { QuartzTransformerPlugin, QuartzFilterPlugin, QuartzEmitterPlugin } from "../types"
+
+const MINIMUM_QUARTZ_VERSION = "4.5.0"
+
+function satisfiesVersion(required: string | undefined, current: string): boolean {
+  if (!required) return true
+
+  const parseVersion = (v: string) => {
+    const parts = v.replace(/^v/, "").split(".")
+    return {
+      major: parseInt(parts[0]) || 0,
+      minor: parseInt(parts[1]) || 0,
+      patch: parseInt(parts[2]) || 0,
+    }
+  }
+
+  const req = parseVersion(required)
+  const cur = parseVersion(current)
+
+  if (cur.major > req.major) return true
+  if (cur.major < req.major) return false
+  if (cur.minor > req.minor) return true
+  if (cur.minor < req.minor) return false
+  return cur.patch >= req.patch
+}
+
+async function tryImportPlugin(packageName: string): Promise<{
+  module: unknown
+  manifest: PluginManifest | null
+}> {
+  try {
+    const module = await import(packageName)
+
+    const manifest: PluginManifest | null = module.manifest ?? null
+
+    return { module, manifest }
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Failed to import package: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+function detectPluginType(module: unknown): "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter" | null {
+  if (!module || typeof module !== "object") return null
+
+  const mod = module as Record<string, unknown>
+
+  if (typeof mod.default === "function") {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const hasTransformerProps = ["textTransform", "markdownPlugins", "htmlPlugins"].some(
+    (key) => key in mod && (typeof mod[key] === "function" || mod[key] === undefined),
+  )
+
+  const hasFilterProps = ["shouldPublish"].some(
+    (key) => key in mod && typeof mod[key] === "function",
+  )
+
+  const hasEmitterProps = ["emit"].some((key) => key in mod && typeof mod[key] === "function")
+
+  if (hasEmitterProps) return "emitter"
+  if (hasFilterProps) return "filter"
+  if (hasTransformerProps) return "transformer"
+
+  return null
+}
+
+function extractPluginFactory(
+  module: unknown,
+  type: "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter",
+): QuartzTransformerPlugin | QuartzFilterPlugin | QuartzEmitterPlugin | null {
+  if (!module || typeof module !== "object") return null
+
+  const mod = module as Record<string, unknown>
+
+  const factory = mod.default ?? mod[type] ?? mod.plugin ?? null
+
+  if (typeof factory === "function") {
+    return factory as QuartzTransformerPlugin | QuartzFilterPlugin | QuartzEmitterPlugin
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
+
+async function resolveSinglePlugin(
+  specifier: PluginSpecifier,
+  options: PluginResolutionOptions,
+): Promise<{ plugin: LoadedPlugin | null; error: PluginResolutionError | null }> {
+  let packageName: string
+  let manifest: Partial<PluginManifest> = {}
+
+  if (typeof specifier === "string") {
+    packageName = specifier
+  } else if ("name" in specifier) {
+    packageName = specifier.name
+  } else if ("plugin" in specifier) {
+    const type = specifier.manifest?.category ?? "transformer"
+    return {
+      plugin: {
+        plugin: specifier.plugin as QuartzTransformerPlugin,
+        manifest: {
+          name: specifier.manifest?.name ?? "inline-plugin",
+          displayName: specifier.manifest?.displayName ?? "Inline Plugin",
+          description: specifier.manifest?.description ?? "Inline plugin instance",
+          version: specifier.manifest?.version ?? "1.0.0",
+          category: type as "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter",
+          ...specifier.manifest,
+        } as PluginManifest,
+        type: type as "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter",
+        source: "inline",
+      },
+      error: null,
+    }
+  } else {
+    return {
+      plugin: null,
+      error: {
+        plugin: "unknown",
+        message: "Invalid plugin specifier format",
+        type: "invalid-manifest",
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const { module: importedModule, manifest: importedManifest } =
+      await tryImportPlugin(packageName)
+
+    manifest = importedManifest ?? {}
+
+    // Load components if the plugin declares any
+    if (manifest.components && Object.keys(manifest.components).length > 0) {
+      const { loadComponentsFromPackage } = await import("./componentLoader")
+      await loadComponentsFromPackage(packageName, manifest as PluginManifest)
+    }
+
+    const detectedType = manifest.category ?? detectPluginType(importedModule)
+
+    if (!detectedType) {
+      return {
+        plugin: null,
+        error: {
+          plugin: packageName,
+          message: `Could not detect plugin type. Ensure the plugin exports a valid factory function or has a 'category' field in its manifest.`,
+          type: "invalid-manifest",
+        },
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (
+      manifest.quartzVersion &&
+      !satisfiesVersion(manifest.quartzVersion, options.quartzVersion)
+    ) {
+      return {
+        plugin: null,
+        error: {
+          plugin: packageName,
+          message: `Plugin requires Quartz ${manifest.quartzVersion} but current version is ${options.quartzVersion}`,
+          type: "version-mismatch",
+        },
+      }
+    }
+
+    const factory = extractPluginFactory(importedModule, detectedType)
+
+    if (!factory) {
+      return {
+        plugin: null,
+        error: {
+          plugin: packageName,
+          message: `Could not find plugin factory in module. Expected 'export default' or '${detectedType}' export.`,
+          type: "invalid-manifest",
+        },
+      }
+    }
+
+    const fullManifest: PluginManifest = {
+      name: manifest.name ?? packageName,
+      displayName: manifest.displayName ?? packageName,
+      description: manifest.description ?? "No description provided",
+      version: manifest.version ?? "1.0.0",
+      author: manifest.author,
+      homepage: manifest.homepage,
+      keywords: manifest.keywords,
+      category: manifest.category ?? detectedType,
+      quartzVersion: manifest.quartzVersion,
+      configSchema: manifest.configSchema,
+    }
+
+    const loadedPlugin: LoadedPlugin = {
+      plugin: factory,
+      manifest: fullManifest,
+      type: detectedType,
+      source: packageName,
+    }
+
+    if (options.verbose) {
+      console.log(
+        styleText("green", `✓`) +
+          ` Loaded ${detectedType} plugin: ${styleText("cyan", fullManifest.displayName)}@${fullManifest.version}`,
+      )
+    }
+
+    return { plugin: loadedPlugin, error: null }
+  } catch (error) {
+    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)
+
+    if (errorMessage.includes("Cannot find module") || errorMessage.includes("MODULE_NOT_FOUND")) {
+      return {
+        plugin: null,
+        error: {
+          plugin: packageName,
+          message: `Plugin package not found. Run 'npm install ${packageName}' to install it.`,
+          type: "not-found",
+        },
+      }
+    }
+
+    return {
+      plugin: null,
+      error: {
+        plugin: packageName,
+        message: errorMessage,
+        type: "import-error",
+      },
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export async function resolvePlugins(
+  specifiers: PluginSpecifier[],
+  options: PluginResolutionOptions,
+): Promise<PluginResolution> {
+  const plugins: LoadedPlugin[] = []
+  const errors: PluginResolutionError[] = []
+
+  if (options.verbose) {
+    console.log(styleText("cyan", `Resolving ${specifiers.length} external plugin(s)...`))
+  }
+
+  for (const specifier of specifiers) {
+    const { plugin, error } = await resolveSinglePlugin(specifier, options)
+
+    if (plugin) {
+      plugins.push(plugin)
+    } else if (error) {
+      errors.push(error)
+      console.error(
+        styleText("red", `✗`) +
+          ` Failed to load plugin: ${styleText("yellow", error.plugin)}\n` +
+          `  ${error.message}`,
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (options.verbose && plugins.length > 0) {
+    const byType = plugins.reduce(
+      (acc, p) => {
+        acc[p.type] = (acc[p.type] || 0) + 1
+        return acc
+      },
+      {} as Record<string, number>,
+    )
+
+    console.log(
+      styleText("cyan", `External plugins loaded:`) +
+        ` ${byType.transformer ?? 0} transformers, ${byType.filter ?? 0} filters, ${byType.emitter ?? 0} emitters`,
+    )
+  }
+
+  return { plugins, errors }
+}
+
+export function instantiatePlugin<T>(
+  loadedPlugin: LoadedPlugin,
+  options?: T,
+): ReturnType<typeof loadedPlugin.plugin> {
+  const factory = loadedPlugin.plugin as (opts?: T) => ReturnType<typeof loadedPlugin.plugin>
+  return factory(options)
+}
+
+export { satisfiesVersion, MINIMUM_QUARTZ_VERSION }
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/loader.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/loader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..205bcf31c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/loader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+export * from "./types"
+export * from "./index"
diff --git a/quartz/plugins/loader/types.ts b/quartz/plugins/loader/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b01d86e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quartz/plugins/loader/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import { QuartzTransformerPlugin, QuartzFilterPlugin, QuartzEmitterPlugin } from "../types"
+import { BuildCtx } from "../../util/ctx"
+
+/**
+ * Component manifest metadata
+ */
+export interface ComponentManifest {
+  name: string
+  displayName: string
+  description: string
+  version: string
+  quartzVersion?: string
+  author?: string
+  homepage?: string
+}
+
+/**
+ * Plugin manifest metadata for discovery and documentation
+ */
+export interface PluginManifest {
+  name: string
+  displayName: string
+  description: string
+  version: string
+  author?: string
+  homepage?: string
+  keywords?: string[]
+  category?: "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter"
+  quartzVersion?: string
+  configSchema?: object
+  /** Components provided by this plugin */
+  components?: Record<string, ComponentManifest>
+}
+
+/**
+ * Loaded plugin with metadata
+ */
+export interface LoadedPlugin {
+  plugin: QuartzTransformerPlugin | QuartzFilterPlugin | QuartzEmitterPlugin
+  manifest: PluginManifest
+  type: "transformer" | "filter" | "emitter"
+  source: string
+}
+
+/**
+ * Plugin resolution result
+ */
+export interface PluginResolution {
+  /** Successfully loaded plugins */
+  plugins: LoadedPlugin[]
+  /** Errors that occurred during resolution */
+  errors: PluginResolutionError[]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Plugin resolution error
+ */
+export interface PluginResolutionError {
+  /** Plugin name that failed to load */
+  plugin: string
+  /** Error message */
+  message: string
+  /** Error type */
+  type: "not-found" | "invalid-manifest" | "version-mismatch" | "import-error"
+}
+
+/**
+ * Options for plugin resolution
+ */
+export interface PluginResolutionOptions {
+  /** Current Quartz version for compatibility checking */
+  quartzVersion: string
+  /** Build context for logging */
+  ctx: BuildCtx
+  /** Whether to enable verbose logging */
+  verbose?: boolean
+}
+
+/**
+ * Plugin specifier - can be:
+ * - String package name (e.g., "@quartz-community/my-plugin")
+ * - Object with name and options (e.g., { name: "@quartz-community/my-plugin", options: {...} })
+ * - Inline plugin object (already loaded plugin instance)
+ */
+export type PluginSpecifier =
+  | string
+  | { name: string; options?: unknown }
+  | { plugin: LoadedPlugin["plugin"]; manifest?: Partial<PluginManifest> }