Today we are releasing the SWIRL plugin for Claude Code - free, open source, Apache 2.0. It gives Claude guided, expert workflows for the entire SWIRL lifecycle, so the fastest way to evaluate SWIRL is now to ask Claude to do it for you.
What it does
Install the plugin and Claude Code gains eight commands: /swirl:start routes you; /swirl:install stands up SWIRL via Docker or a local install and verifies it with a live search; /swirl:provider walks through connecting a source with SWIRL's built-in connectors; /swirl:connector helps you build a custom one; /swirl:rag connects an LLM and stands up grounded, cited answers; /swirl:migrate handles Community-to-Enterprise moves and version upgrades; /swirl:mcp wires SWIRL's MCP server into Claude; and /swirl:troubleshoot diagnoses problems from the logs instead of guessing.
Why an hour is realistic
SWIRL is federated: your data stays in the systems that already hold it, and nothing is copied, ingested, or indexed. That means there is no ingestion project standing between "installed" and "searching your own content." Claude installs the stack, connects two or three of your sources, and you are looking at ranked, cited answers from your own data - in about an hour, inside your own environment.
The full circle with MCP
SWIRL 5 ships a first-class MCP server, and the plugin closes the loop: Claude installs SWIRL, then connects to it over MCP - so the same assistant that stood up your knowledge layer can search it, with your permissions enforced on every query. Your agents get governed enterprise reach; your data never moves.
Get started
With the Claude Code CLI installed:
claude plugin marketplace add swirlai/swirl-claude-plugin
claude plugin install swirl@swirl --scope userThen start a new Claude Code session and type /swirl:start. The plugin works with both SWIRL Community and SWIRL Enterprise. Want an Enterprise license to evaluate with? Enter a work email and we will send you one. There is also a documentation page and a one-page PDF - no registration required for either.