perf(plugins): lazy-load setup surfaces

src/cli/program/preaction.test.ts

@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ describe("registerPreActionHooks", () => {
     program.command("agents").action(() => {});
     program.command("configure").action(() => {});
     program.command("onboard").action(() => {});
+    const channels = program.command("channels");
+    channels.command("add").action(() => {});
     program
       .command("update")
       .command("status")
@@ -167,6 +169,31 @@ describe("registerPreActionHooks", () => {
     expect(ensurePluginRegistryLoadedMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ scope: "all" });
   });
 
+  it("keeps onboarding and channels add manifest-first", async () => {
+    await runPreAction({
+      parseArgv: ["onboard"],
+      processArgv: ["node", "openclaw", "onboard"],
+    });
+
+    expect(ensureConfigReadyMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      runtime: runtimeMock,
+      commandPath: ["onboard"],
+    });
+    expect(ensurePluginRegistryLoadedMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    await runPreAction({
+      parseArgv: ["channels", "add"],
+      processArgv: ["node", "openclaw", "channels", "add"],
+    });
+
+    expect(ensureConfigReadyMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      runtime: runtimeMock,
+      commandPath: ["channels", "add"],
+    });
+    expect(ensurePluginRegistryLoadedMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("skips help/version preaction and respects banner opt-out", async () => {
     await runPreAction({
       parseArgv: ["status"],

src/cli/program/preaction.ts

@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ const PLUGIN_REQUIRED_COMMANDS = new Set([
   "directory",
   "agents",
   "configure",
-  "onboard",
   "status",
   "health",
 ]);
@@ -72,15 +71,19 @@ function resolvePluginRegistryScope(commandPath: string[]): "channels" | "all" {
 }
 
 function shouldLoadPluginsForCommand(commandPath: string[], argv: string[]): boolean {
-  if (!PLUGIN_REQUIRED_COMMANDS.has(commandPath[0])) {
+  const [primary, secondary] = commandPath;
+  if (!primary || !PLUGIN_REQUIRED_COMMANDS.has(primary)) {
     return false;
   }
-  if ((commandPath[0] === "status" || commandPath[0] === "health") && hasFlag(argv, "--json")) {
+  if ((primary === "status" || primary === "health") && hasFlag(argv, "--json")) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  // Onboarding/setup should stay manifest-first and load selected plugins on demand.
+  if (primary === "onboard" || (primary === "channels" && secondary === "add")) {
     return false;
   }
   return true;
 }
-
 function getRootCommand(command: Command): Command {
   let current = command;
   while (current.parent) {
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ export function registerPreActionHooks(program: Command, programVersion: string)
       ...(suppressDoctorStdout ? { suppressDoctorStdout: true } : {}),
     });
     // Load plugins for commands that need channel access
+    if (shouldLoadPluginsForCommand(commandPath, argv)) {
     if (shouldLoadPluginsForCommand(commandPath, argv)) {
       const { ensurePluginRegistryLoaded } = await loadPluginRegistryModule();
       ensurePluginRegistryLoaded({ scope: resolvePluginRegistryScope(commandPath) });