Add Plaster demos (XML + JSON) and fix three source-run path bugs

.claude/settings.local.json

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "permissions": {
+    "allow": [
+      "Bash(ls -1 /c/scripts/Plaster-1/Plaster/Private/*.ps1)",
+      "Bash(pwsh:*)",
+      "WebFetch(domain:pester.dev)",
+      "Bash(xargs head:*)",
+      "Bash(hugo server:*)",
+      "Bash(hugo --printPathWarnings)"
+    ]
+  }
+}

Plaster/Plaster.psd1

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
     CompanyName = 'PowerShell.org'
 
     # Copyright statement for this module
-    Copyright = '(c) PowerShell.org 2016-2025. All rights reserved.'
+    Copyright = '(c) PowerShell.org 2016-2026. All rights reserved.'
 
     # Description of the functionality provided by this module
     Description = 'Plaster is a template-based file and project generator written in PowerShell. Create consistent PowerShell projects with customizable templates supporting both XML and JSON formats.'
@@ -73,10 +73,15 @@
     # Functions to export from this module - explicitly list each function that should be
     # exported.  This improves performance of PowerShell when discovering the commands in
     # module.
-    FunctionsToExport = '*'
+    FunctionsToExport = @(
+        'Get-PlasterTemplate',
+        'Invoke-Plaster',
+        'New-PlasterManifest',
+        'Test-PlasterManifest'
+    )
 
     # Cmdlets to export from this module, for best performance, do not use wildcards and do not delete the entry, use an empty array if there are no cmdlets to export.
-    CmdletsToExport = '*'
+    CmdletsToExport = @()
 
     # Variables to export from this module
     VariablesToExport = @()

Plaster/Plaster.psm1

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ data LocalizedData {
     ManifestNotValid_F1=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not valid.
     ManifestNotValidVerbose_F1=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not valid. Specify -Verbose to see the specific schema errors.
     ManifestNotWellFormedXml_F2=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not a well-formed XML file. {1}
-    ManifestWrongFilename_F1=The Plaster manifest filename '{0}' is not valid. The value of the Path argument must refer to a file named 'plasterManifest.xml' or 'plasterManifest_<culture>.xml'. Change the Plaster manifest filename and then try again.
+    ManifestWrongFilename_F1=The Plaster manifest filename '{0}' is not valid. The value of the Path argument must refer to a file named 'plasterManifest.xml', 'plasterManifest.json', or a culture-specific variant (e.g., 'plasterManifest_en-US.xml'). Change the Plaster manifest filename and then try again.
     MissingParameterPrompt_F1=<Missing prompt value for parameter '{0}'>
     NewModManifest_CreatingDir_F1=Creating destination directory for module manifest: {0}
     OpConflict=Conflict
@@ -139,6 +139,22 @@ if (-not $script:XmlSchemaValidationSupported) {
 # Module logging configuration
 $script:LogLevel = if ($env:PLASTER_LOG_LEVEL) { $env:PLASTER_LOG_LEVEL } else { 'Information' }
 
+# Dot-source functions when running from source (not compiled build)
+# The build system (PowerShellBuild) compiles all functions into this PSM1.
+# When running from source, we need to dot-source them from Private/ and Public/.
+$privatePath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Private'
+$publicPath = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Public'
+if (Test-Path $privatePath) {
+    foreach ($file in (Get-ChildItem -Path $privatePath -Filter '*.ps1' -Recurse)) {
+        . $file.FullName
+    }
+}
+if (Test-Path $publicPath) {
+    foreach ($file in (Get-ChildItem -Path $publicPath -Filter '*.ps1' -Recurse)) {
+        . $file.FullName
+    }
+}
+
 # Global variables and constants for Plaster 2.0
 
 # Enhanced $TargetNamespace definition with proper scoping

Plaster/Private/Get-PlasterManifestPathForCulture.ps1

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ function Get-PlasterManifestPathForCulture {
         return $plasterManifestPath
     }
 
-    # If no manifest is found, return $null.
-    # TODO: Should we throw an error instead?
+    # If no manifest is found, return $null. Callers (Invoke-Plaster, etc.)
+    # handle the missing manifest case and may fall back to JSON format.
     return $null
 }

Plaster/Private/New-TemplateObjectFromManifest.ps1

@@ -35,7 +35,17 @@ function New-TemplateObjectFromManifest {
     )
 
     try{
-        $manifestXml = Test-PlasterManifest -Path $ManifestPath
+        $manifestResult = Test-PlasterManifest -Path $ManifestPath
+        # Test-PlasterManifest may return an array if extra output leaks through;
+        # extract the XmlDocument from the result.
+        $manifestXml = if ($manifestResult -is [System.Xml.XmlDocument]) {
+            $manifestResult
+        } else {
+            $manifestResult | Where-Object { $_ -is [System.Xml.XmlDocument] } | Select-Object -First 1
+        }
+        if ($null -eq $manifestXml) {
+            throw "Failed to load manifest from '$ManifestPath'"
+        }
         $metadata = $manifestXml["plasterManifest"]["metadata"]
 
         $manifestObj = [PSCustomObject]@{

Plaster/Private/Test-JsonManifest.ps1

@@ -65,14 +65,11 @@ function Test-JsonManifest {
                 throw "Invalid template name: $($metadata.name). Must start with letter and contain only letters, numbers, underscore, or hyphen"
             }
 
-            # Parameters validation
             # Parameters validation
             if ($jsonObject.PSObject.Properties['parameters'] -and $jsonObject.parameters -and $jsonObject.parameters.Count -gt 0) {
                 Test-JsonManifestParameters -Parameters $jsonObject.parameters
             }
 
-            # Content validation
-            # Content validation
             # Content validation
             if ($jsonObject.content -and $jsonObject.content.Count -gt 0) {
                 Test-JsonManifestContent -Content $jsonObject.content

Plaster/Private/Write-PlasterLog.ps1

@@ -78,14 +78,4 @@ function Write-PlasterLog {
             Write-Debug $logMessage
         }
     }
-
-    # Also write to host for immediate feedback during interactive sessions
-    if ($Level -in @('Error', 'Warning') -and $Host.Name -ne 'ServerRemoteHost') {
-        $color = switch ($Level) {
-            'Error' { 'Red' }
-            'Warning' { 'Yellow' }
-            default { 'White' }
-        }
-        Write-Host $logMessage -ForegroundColor $color
-    }
 }

Plaster/Public/Get-PlasterTemplate.ps1

@@ -80,9 +80,16 @@ function Get-PlasterTemplate {
                 Get-ManifestsUnderPath @getManifestsUnderPathSplat
             }
         } else {
-            # Return all templates included with Plaster
+            # Return all templates included with Plaster.
+            # When running from source this function is dot-sourced from Public/, so
+            # $PSScriptRoot points at Public/ and Templates/ lives one level up. The
+            # compiled build flattens everything to the module root, where the first path is correct.
+            $templatesRoot = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'Templates'
+            if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $templatesRoot)) {
+                $templatesRoot = Join-Path (Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent) 'Templates'
+            }
             $getManifestsUnderPathSplat = @{
-                RootPath = "$PSScriptRoot\Templates"
+                RootPath = $templatesRoot
                 Recurse = $true
                 Name = $Name
                 Tag = $Tag

Plaster/Public/Test-PlasterManifest.ps1

@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@
     begin {
         $schemaPath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine($PSScriptRoot, "Schema", "PlasterManifest-v1.xsd")
 
+        # When running from source, this function is dot-sourced from Public/, so
+        # $PSScriptRoot points at Public/ and Schema/ lives one level up. The compiled
+        # build flattens everything to the module root, where the first path is correct.
+        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $schemaPath)) {
+            $schemaPath = [System.IO.Path]::Combine((Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent), "Schema", "PlasterManifest-v1.xsd")
+        }
+
         # Schema validation is not available on .NET Core - at the moment.
         if ('System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchemaSet' -as [type]) {
             $xmlSchemaSet = New-Object System.Xml.Schema.XmlSchemaSet
@@ -151,7 +158,7 @@
                 if ($xmlReader) { $xmlReader.Dispose() }
             }
 
             # Validate default values for choice/multichoice parameters containing 1 or more ints
             $xpath = "//tns:parameter[@type='choice'] | //tns:parameter[@type='multichoice']"
             $choiceParameters = Select-Xml -Xml $manifest -XPath $xpath  -Namespace @{tns = $TargetNamespace }
             foreach ($choiceParameterXmlInfo in $choiceParameters) {

Plaster/en-US/Plaster.Resources.psd1

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Localized PlasterResources.psd1
 
 ConvertFrom-StringData @'
 ###PSLOC
 DestPath_F1=Destination path: {0}
 ErrorFailedToLoadStoreFile_F1=Failed to load the default value store file: '{0}'.
 ErrorProcessingDynamicParams_F1=Failed to create dynamic parameters from the template's manifest file.  Template-based dynamic parameters will not be available until the error is corrected.  The error was: {0}
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 ManifestNotValid_F1=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not valid.
 ManifestNotValidVerbose_F1=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not valid. Specify -Verbose to see the specific schema errors.
 ManifestNotWellFormedXml_F2=The Plaster manifest '{0}' is not a well-formed XML file. {1}
-ManifestWrongFilename_F1=The Plaster manifest filename '{0}' is not valid. The value of the Path argument must refer to a file named 'plasterManifest.xml' or 'plasterManifest_<culture>.xml'. Change the Plaster manifest filename and then try again.
+ManifestWrongFilename_F1=The Plaster manifest filename '{0}' is not valid. The value of the Path argument must refer to a file named 'plasterManifest.xml', 'plasterManifest.json', or a culture-specific variant (e.g., 'plasterManifest_en-US.xml'). Change the Plaster manifest filename and then try again.
 MissingParameterPrompt_F1=<Missing prompt value for parameter '{0}'>
 NewModManifest_CreatingDir_F1=Creating destination directory for module manifest: {0}
 OpConflict=Conflict
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@
 UnrecognizedParametersElement_F1=Unrecognized manifest parameters child element: {0}.
 UnrecognizedParameterType_F2=Unrecognized parameter type '{0}' on parameter name '{1}'.
 UnrecognizedContentElement_F1=Unrecognized manifest content child element: {0}.
 ###PSLOC
 '@

README.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 [![PowerShell Gallery Version](https://img.shields.io/powershellgallery/v/Plaster.svg)](https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Plaster)
 [![PowerShell Gallery Downloads](https://img.shields.io/powershellgallery/dt/Plaster.svg)](https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Plaster)
-[![Build Status](https://github.com/PowerShell/Plaster/workflows/CI/badge.svg)](https://github.com/PowerShell/Plaster/actions)
+[![Build Status](https://github.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster/actions/workflows/PesterReports.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster/actions)
 
 Plaster is a template-based file and project generator written in PowerShell. Its purpose is to streamline the creation of PowerShell module projects, Pester tests, DSC configurations, and more. File generation is performed using crafted templates which allow the user to fill in details and choose from options to get their desired output.
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Install-Module -Name Plaster -Scope CurrentUser
 
 ### From Source
 ```powershell
-git clone https://github.com/PowerShell/Plaster.git
+git clone https://github.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster.git
 Import-Module .\Plaster\Plaster\Plaster.psd1
 ```
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ code plasterManifest.xml
 ### JSON Manifest Example
 ```json
 {
-  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PowerShell/Plaster/v2/schema/plaster-manifest-v2.json",
+  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster/v2/schema/plaster-manifest-v2.json",
   "schemaVersion": "2.0",
   "metadata": {
     "name": "MyTemplate",
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ We welcome contributions! Please see [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guid
 
 ### Development Setup
 ```powershell
-git clone https://github.com/PowerShell/Plaster.git
+git clone https://github.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster.git
 cd Plaster
 Import-Module .\Plaster\Plaster.psd1
 Invoke-Pester # Run tests
@@ -278,4 +278,4 @@ This project is licensed under the MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) for deta
 
 ---
 
-**Plaster 2.0** - Modern template scaffolding for PowerShell with JSON support, better tooling, and enhanced developer experience. 🚀
+**Plaster 2.0** - Modern template scaffolding for PowerShell with JSON support, cross-platform compatibility, and enhanced developer experience.

ReleaseNotes.md

@@ -1,7 +1,32 @@
-## What is New in Plaster 1.0.0
-December 16, 2016
+## What is New in Plaster 2.0.0
+April 2026
 
-- First official release shipped to the PowerShell Gallery!
+### Breaking Changes
+- Minimum PowerShell version updated to 5.1 (was 3.0)
+- Test framework updated to Pester 5.x
+- Default file encoding changed to UTF8-NoBOM
+
+### New Features
+- **JSON Manifest Support**: Create templates using JSON (`plasterManifest.json`) with full JSON Schema validation and VS Code IntelliSense
+- **Cross-Platform**: Full support for Windows, Linux, and macOS on PowerShell 7.x
+- **Simplified Variables**: JSON manifests use `${ParameterName}` instead of `${PLASTER_PARAM_ParameterName}`
+- **Native Arrays**: Multichoice defaults use JSON arrays `[0, 1, 2]` instead of comma-separated strings
+- **Format Auto-Detection**: Plaster automatically detects and processes both XML and JSON manifests
+- **Enhanced Logging**: Configurable logging via `$env:PLASTER_LOG_LEVEL`
+
+### Improvements
+- Better error messages with actionable guidance
+- Improved constrained runspace compatibility with PowerShell 7.x
+- Platform-specific parameter store paths (XDG on Linux, standard paths on macOS/Windows)
+- Optimized module loading and template processing
+- Comprehensive Pester 5.x test suite
+
+### Bug Fixes
+- Fixed .NET Core XML schema validation issues
+- Resolved path handling on non-Windows platforms
+- Fixed constrained runspace compatibility with PowerShell 7.x
+- Corrected parameter default value storage on non-Windows platforms
+- Fixed variable substitution edge cases
 
 ### Feedback
-Please send your feedback to http://github.com/PowerShell/Plaster/issues
+Please send your feedback to https://github.com/PowerShellOrg/Plaster/issues

demos/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Generated by Run-Demos.ps1 / Demo4-Discovery-Authoring.ps1
+output/

demos/Demo4-Discovery-Authoring.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+    Demo 4 - Template discovery and live manifest authoring.
+.DESCRIPTION
+    Shows the three "meta" cmdlets that surround Invoke-Plaster:
+      * Get-PlasterTemplate  - discover templates (bundled + your own folders)
+      * New-PlasterManifest  - author a brand-new JSON manifest from a folder of files
+      * Test-PlasterManifest - validate a manifest before you ship it
+
+    Ends by scaffolding from the template it just authored, proving the round-trip.
+#>
+[CmdletBinding()]
+param()
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+$root      = Split-Path $PSScriptRoot -Parent
+$templates = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'templates'
+$outputDir = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'output'
+
+Import-Module (Join-Path $root 'Plaster\Plaster.psd1') -Force
+
+function Write-Header($Text) {
+    Write-Host ''
+    Write-Host ('=' * 70) -ForegroundColor DarkBlue
+    Write-Host "  $Text" -ForegroundColor Yellow
+    Write-Host ('=' * 70) -ForegroundColor DarkBlue
+}
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Write-Header 'DEMO 4a  -  Discover templates with Get-PlasterTemplate'
+
+Write-Host "`n   Templates that ship with Plaster:" -ForegroundColor Green
+Get-PlasterTemplate | Format-Table Name, Version, Title -AutoSize
+
+Write-Host "   Your own templates (any folder, -Recurse):" -ForegroundColor Green
+Get-PlasterTemplate -Path $templates -Recurse | Format-Table Name, Version, Title, Tags -AutoSize
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Write-Header 'DEMO 4b  -  Author a new manifest with New-PlasterManifest'
+
+# Start from a folder that already has some files we want to template.
+$scratch = Join-Path $outputDir 'authored-template'
+if (Test-Path $scratch) { Remove-Item $scratch -Recurse -Force }
+New-Item $scratch -ItemType Directory | Out-Null
+'Write-Host "Hello from <%= $PLASTER_PARAM_Thing %>"' | Set-Content (Join-Path $scratch 'thing.ps1')
+'# Notes about <%= $PLASTER_PARAM_Thing %>'          | Set-Content (Join-Path $scratch 'NOTES.md')
+
+Write-Host "`n   Generating plasterManifest.json (-AddContent scans the folder)..." -ForegroundColor Green
+New-PlasterManifest -Path (Join-Path $scratch 'plasterManifest.json') `
+    -TemplateName 'MyTinyTemplate' -TemplateType Item `
+    -Title 'My Tiny Template' -Description 'Authored live on stage' `
+    -Author 'Grace Hopper' -Tags Demo, Authoring -AddContent
+
+Write-Host "   --- authored plasterManifest.json ---" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+Get-Content (Join-Path $scratch 'plasterManifest.json') | ForEach-Object { "   $_" }
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Write-Header 'DEMO 4c  -  Validate it with Test-PlasterManifest'
+
+$manifest = Test-PlasterManifest -Path (Join-Path $scratch 'plasterManifest.json') 3>$null
+if ($manifest) {
+    Write-Host "`n   Valid. name='$($manifest.plasterManifest.metadata.name)' type='$($manifest.plasterManifest.templateType)'" -ForegroundColor Green
+}
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Write-Header 'DEMO 4d  -  Use the template we just authored'
+
+# Two quick edits to make the round-trip meaningful:
+#  1. Add a 'Thing' parameter so there is a $PLASTER_PARAM_Thing to substitute.
+#  2. New-PlasterManifest -AddContent emits 'file' actions (verbatim copy). Switch
+#     them to 'templateFile' so the <%= ... %> placeholders actually expand.
+$json = Get-Content (Join-Path $scratch 'plasterManifest.json') -Raw | ConvertFrom-Json
+$json.parameters = @(
+    [pscustomobject]@{ name = 'Thing'; type = 'text'; prompt = 'Name the thing'; default = 'Sproket' }
+)
+foreach ($action in $json.content) { $action.type = 'templateFile' }
+$json | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 10 | Set-Content (Join-Path $scratch 'plasterManifest.json')
+
+$dst = Join-Path $outputDir '04-authored-output'
+if (Test-Path $dst) { Remove-Item $dst -Recurse -Force }
+Invoke-Plaster -TemplatePath $scratch -DestinationPath $dst -NoLogo -Thing 'Sproket'
+
+Write-Host "`n   --- thing.ps1 (generated from our authored template) ---" -ForegroundColor DarkGray
+Get-Content (Join-Path $dst 'thing.ps1') | ForEach-Object { "   $_" }
+
+Write-Host "`nDemo 4 complete.`n" -ForegroundColor Cyan