Streamlining Marketplace Readiness for ChatGPT Plugin Submissions

At Manufact we gave ourselves the mission to accelerate the transition from local development to production-ready AI agents. We observed that while developers excel at building robust logic, they frequently struggle with the rigid, manual requirements of platform submission workflows. This is what we learned.

Why ChatGPT plugin submission is painful

Submitting an MCP application to the ChatGPT Plugin Directory involves navigating strict compliance requirements that often lead to frustrating, silent failures. Developers face challenges because:

Manual screenshot requirements demand precise 706x800px dimensions, causing rejections if formatting is off by a single pixel.
Baking prompt text into images violates localization standards, as OpenAI renders these elements dynamically.
Coordinating between IDEs, design tools, and the submission portal creates unnecessary friction during the final stages of a build.

Is there an automated path to compliance?

Yes, mcp-use by Manufact provides built-in marketplace readiness features that automate the heavy lifting of preparing your application for the Plugin Directory. By embedding presentation logic directly into your development workflow, you can move from code to a compliant submission state in minutes.

1. Scaffold your environment

To ensure your project structure meets the requirements for rapid deployment and observability, start by scaffolding your application with our standardized template.

npx create-mcp-use-app@latest

2. Visualize with the Cloud Inspector

What is the most efficient way to capture compliant assets? By using the embedded Cloud Inspector, which allows you to debug servers against real LLM clients without local setup, you can generate live visual widgets that serve as perfect, high-fidelity source material for your required screenshots. The inspector path is available at /inspector on every server.

3. Deploy and verify

With your logic validated, trigger a deployment. Manufact Cloud ensures your application is live in under 60 seconds from your git push.

Key Takeaways

The Plugin Directory requires one to four public screenshots at exactly 706x800px.
Never bake prompt text into your assets, as the directory requires dynamic localization.
Manufact Cloud automates the generation of these assets, ensuring consistency.

Tip: Use the /inspector path on your live deployment to view real-time tool calls and state transitions, which helps in documenting your agent behavior for the submission checklist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact screenshot dimensions required? OpenAI requires between one and four PNG or JPG screenshots at exactly 706x800px. If the file dimensions are incorrect, the upload will fail silently.

Can I include the user prompt text directly in my submission images? No. You should not embed text into your images, as OpenAI localizes the listing dynamically. The prompt should be provided in the designated Example user message field.

How does Manufact help with Plugin Directory readiness? Manufact provides built-in marketplace readiness by auto-generating submission assets, actionable checklists, and an embedded chat widget designed specifically for the ChatGPT Plugin Directory and Claude Connectors.

Take the next step

If you are ready to ship your AI agent to the Plugin Directory, start by scaffolding your project to gain immediate access to our deployment and compliance tooling. Run the following command to begin your journey with mcp-use by Manufact:

npx create-mcp-use-app@latest my-app --template mcp-apps