diff --git a/configuration/mqtt.py b/configuration/mqtt.py
index fd3460c..db91af6 100644
--- a/configuration/mqtt.py
+++ b/configuration/mqtt.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
   "topic_path":      "$me",
 # "topic_subscribe": [ "$me/in", "$me/exec", upgrade_topic ],
 # "topic_subscribe": [ "$me/in", "$me/exec", upgrade_topic, "$all/log" ],
-  "topic_subscribe": [ "$me/in", "$me/exec", lca_schedule_topic, upgrade_topic ],
+  "topic_subscribe": [ "$me/in", "$me/exec", lca_schedule_topic, upgrade_topic, 'public/+/0/out' ],
   "lca_schedule_topic": lca_schedule_topic,
   "upgrade_topic":   upgrade_topic,
 
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index db7c1c9..ae69cc3 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -45,4 +45,7 @@
   application = __import__(application_name)
   application.initialise()
 
+import plugins
+plugins.initialise()
+
 aiko.event.loop_thread()
diff --git a/plugins/README.md b/plugins/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69dd75c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Plugins
+
+## What's a plugin?
+
+**Plugins aren't the same as applications.** In particular: we only want
+to be running one application at a time. To get a little RFC2119, the
+application MAY assume it has sole control of what's shown on the OLED
+displays, and MAY assume any touch sensor or push buttons are for it to
+handle. Eventually, their `initialise` function might get a matching
+`uninitialise`, or we might get _very_ clever and remove their handlers
+automatically.
+
+Plugins, on the other hand, MUST co-operate with each other, MUST NOT
+assume they control the displays or inputs, and SHOULD work together.
+We'll eventually run into conflicts we can't resolve without being
+able to disable specific plugins, but let's see how long we can last.
+
+## How do I enable and disable plugins?
+
+Set the parameter `plugin_xxx_disabled` to stop your badge automatically
+calling `plugins.xxx.initialise()` at startup. You can set that in
+`configuration/main.py`, and check it with the code:
+
+```python
+import configuration
+configuration.main.parameter("plugins_enabled")
+```
+
+## How do I add plugins?
+
+Add Python modules to the `plugins` directory. They MUST contain an
+`initialise` function. They MUST NOT be named `initialise`, as that
+would conflict with the plugin system's initialisation code.
+
+You'll be able to see your plugins at the REPL:
+
+```plain
+MicroPython v1.13 on 2020-09-02; ESP32 module with ESP32
+Type "help()" for more information.
+>>> import plugins
+>>> dir(plugins)
+['__class__', '__name__', '__file__', '__path__', 'initialise', 'auto_shake', 'test2']
+>>> plugins.auto_shake.messages
+[('public/esp32_10521c5de548/0/out', '(boot v05 swagbadge)')]
+>>> plugins.test2.tested
+True
+```
diff --git a/plugins/__init__.py b/plugins/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aeebf5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+def initialise():
+  from aiko.common import log
+  from configuration.main import parameter
+  import os, sys
+
+  for basename in os.listdir(__path__):
+    pathname = "/".join([__path__, basename])
+    if pathname == __file__:
+      continue
+    s_ifmt = os.stat(pathname)[0] & 61440
+    if basename[-3:] == ".py" and s_ifmt == 32768:
+      submodule = basename[:-3]
+    elif s_ifmt == 16384:
+      submodule = basename
+    assert submodule not in locals()
+    if parameter("plugin_{}_disabled".format(submodule)):
+      continue
+    try:
+      module = ".".join([__name__, submodule])
+      __import__(module, globals(), locals(), [module]).initialise()
+      log("plugin: {}".format(submodule))
+    except Exception as err:
+      sys.print_exception(err, sys.stderr)
diff --git a/plugins/auto_shake.py b/plugins/auto_shake.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c167e0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/auto_shake.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Automatically shakes newly woken badges using @enderboi's protocol
+
+import aiko, binascii, machine, sys, time
+
+my_shake_source = binascii.hexlify(machine.unique_id()).decode('ascii')
+my_reply_topic = aiko.mqtt.get_topic_path("public") + "/in"
+messages = []
+
+def on_message(topic, payload_in):
+  messages.append((topic, payload_in))
+  if len(messages) > 5:
+    messages.pop(0)
+  if payload_in.startswith("(boot ") and payload_in.endswith(" swagbadge)"):
+    # TODO use aiko.event instead
+    time.sleep_ms(500)
+    hostname = topic.split('/')[1]
+    reply_topic = "/".join(["public", hostname, "0", "in"])
+    if reply_topic != my_reply_topic:
+      aiko.mqtt.client.publish(reply_topic, "(shake 230 {})".format(my_shake_source))
+      aiko.mqtt.client.publish(my_reply_topic, "(oled:log shook {})".format(hostname))
+  return False
+
+def initialise():
+  # TODO broadcast message to indicate badge can be shook
+  # TODO shake only badges that broadcast that message
+  aiko.mqtt.add_message_handler(on_message, "$all/out")
diff --git a/plugins/flash_leds_on_boot.py b/plugins/flash_leds_on_boot.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72258f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/flash_leds_on_boot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# Flash configured LEDs on boot.
+# Tested with 235X pixels on SAO_1, data to IO19, and configuration.led.settings =
+# {'zigzag': False, 'dimension': (235,), 'apa106': False, 'neopixel_pin': 19}
+
+import aiko.led
+from binascii import unhexlify, b2a_base64
+from gc import collect
+from time import sleep_us, ticks_us, ticks_diff
+
+DURATION_MS = 250
+COLOURS = ["000000", "e40303", "ff8c00", "ffed00", "008026", "004dff", "750787", "000000"]
+COMPENSATION_MEASUREMENTS = 5
+
+def h2c(hex):
+  return tuple(v for v in unhexlify(hex))
+
+def measure_write_time_us(write):
+  collect()
+  before_us = ticks_us()
+  for _ in range(0, COMPENSATION_MEASUREMENTS): write()
+  return ticks_diff(ticks_us(), before_us) // COMPENSATION_MEASUREMENTS
+
+def noop(): pass
+
+def swipe(buf, cbuf, step, callback=noop):
+  lcbuf = len(cbuf)
+  lbuf = len(buf)
+  for head in range(0 - lcbuf, lbuf, step):
+    lt = 0 - min(0, head)
+    rt = min(0, lbuf - (head + lcbuf))
+    w = lcbuf - lt + rt
+    buf[head + lt : head + lt + w] = cbuf[lt : lcbuf + rt]
+    callback()
+
+def make_cbuf(hex_colours, colour_width=1):
+  ncolours = len(hex_colours)
+  colours = [aiko.led.apply_dim(h2c(hex)) for hex in hex_colours]
+  cbuf = bytearray(3 * ncolours * colour_width)
+  for c in range(ncolours):
+    colour = bytearray(colours[c])
+    for s in range(colour_width):
+      offset = (c * colour_width + s) * 3
+      cbuf[offset:offset+3] = colour
+  return memoryview(cbuf)
+
+def initialise():
+  ncolours = len(COLOURS)
+  pixel = aiko.led.np
+  write = aiko.led.np.write
+  write_time_us = measure_write_time_us(write)
+  colour_width = 1
+  while write_time_us * (ncolours * colour_width + pixel.n) // colour_width > DURATION_MS * 1000:
+    colour_width += 1
+  cbuf = make_cbuf(COLOURS, colour_width)
+  expected_steps = (len(cbuf) + len(pixel.buf) + 3) // (colour_width * 3)
+  delay_us = max(0, DURATION_MS * 1000 // expected_steps - write_time_us)
+  def callback():
+    write()
+    sleep_us(delay_us)
+  collect()
+  swipe(pixel.buf, cbuf, colour_width * 3, callback)
diff --git a/plugins/test2/__init__.py b/plugins/test2/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44c7e80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/test2/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+tested = False
+def initialise():
+  print("testing 2")
+  global tested
+  tested = True
diff --git a/scripts/aiko.mpf b/scripts/aiko.mpf
index d8dd4df..7761273 100644
--- a/scripts/aiko.mpf
+++ b/scripts/aiko.mpf
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ md examples
 md lib
 md lib/aiko
 # md lib/umqtt
+md plugins
+# md plugins/test2
 
 exec print("### Copy applications/*.py ###")
 # put applications/nodebots.py
@@ -17,6 +19,12 @@ put applications/default.py
 put applications/schedule/schedule.py
 put applications/swagbadge.py
 
+exec print("### Copy plugins/*.py ###")
+put plugins/__init__.py
+# put plugins/auto_shake.py
+# put plugins/flash_leds_on_boot.py
+# put plugins/test2/__init__.py
+
 exec print("### Copy configuration/*.py ###")
 put configuration/keys.db
 put configuration/led.py
diff --git a/scripts/release.sh b/scripts/release.sh
index 46442c9..ed111bc 100755
--- a/scripts/release.sh
+++ b/scripts/release.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ mkdir $RELEASE_PATHNAME/configuration
 mkdir $RELEASE_PATHNAME/examples
 mkdir $RELEASE_PATHNAME/lib
 mkdir $RELEASE_PATHNAME/lib/aiko
+mkdir $RELEASE_PATHNAME/plugins
 
 cp applications/default.py     $RELEASE_PATHNAME/applications
 cp applications/schedule/schedule.py  $RELEASE_PATHNAME/applications/schedule
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ cp lib/shutil.py               $RELEASE_PATHNAME/lib
 cp lib/ssd1306.py              $RELEASE_PATHNAME/lib
 cp lib/threading.py            $RELEASE_PATHNAME/lib
 
+cp plugins/__init__.py         $RELEASE_PATHNAME/plugins
+
 cp main.py                     $RELEASE_PATHNAME
 
 find $RELEASE_PATHNAME -type f \( -exec md5sum {} \; -exec wc -c {} \; \) | paste - - | column -t | tr -s "[:blank:]" | cut -d" " -f1,3,4 | sort -k 3 >$MANIFEST