Summary

openclaw plugins install <package-name> fails with "npm pack produced no archive" for any npm package, making npm spec installation completely broken.

Steps to reproduce

1. Run: openclaw plugins install openclaw-mcp-client
2. Observe error: "npm pack produced no archive"
3. Repeat with any other npm package (e.g. @m1heng-clawd/feishu) — same error

Expected behavior

Plugin is downloaded from the npm registry and installed successfully.

Actual behavior

Error: "npm pack produced no archive" — no package is downloaded or installed.

OpenClaw version

2026.2.17

Operating system

Ubuntu 24.04

Install method

npm global

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

Reproduced with multiple packages:

$ openclaw plugins install openclaw-mcp-client
npm pack produced no archive

$ openclaw plugins install @m1heng-clawd/feishu
npm pack produced no archive

Workaround that works:
$ npm pack openclaw-mcp-client
$ openclaw plugins install ./openclaw-mcp-client-*.tgz

Impact and severity

Affected: All users trying to install any community plugin via npm spec
Severity: High (blocks plugin installation entirely)
Frequency: 100% repro — affects every npm package name
Consequence: Users cannot install plugins from npm; must use manual workaround

Additional information

The feature is documented at https://docs.openclaw.ai/cli/plugins as supported.
Workaround: npm pack && openclaw plugins install ./-*.tgz
Tested with: openclaw-mcp-client and @m1heng-clawd/feishu — both fail identically.