Installation Method for Ponytail with Claude Code: Complete Setup Guide

You can install Ponytail for Claude Code by executing two /plugin commands—first adding the marketplace source with /plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail, then installing the plugin with /plugin install ponytail@ponytail—which immediately activates the ruleset and all six slash commands without requiring manual configuration file edits.

Ponytail is a Claude Code plugin distributed by DietrichGebert that enforces a "lazy senior dev" coding philosophy through automatic ruleset injection. Understanding the correct installation method for Ponytail with Claude Code ensures the plugin properly loads its lifecycle hooks and slash commands directly from the repository source.

Two-Command Installation Process

The complete installation requires only two interactions with Claude Code's plugin system. No additional dependencies or build steps are necessary.

Register the Marketplace Source

First, add the GitHub repository as a marketplace source so Claude Code can locate the plugin manifest:

/plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail

This command registers the repository and allows Claude Code to read the package.json file, which declares the plugin name @dietrichgebert/ponytail and identifies the hooks/ and skills/ directories to load.

Install and Activate the Plugin

Next, install the plugin itself to activate the ruleset and commands:

/plugin install ponytail@ponytail

After execution, Claude Code immediately loads hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json, which registers the lifecycle hooks required to inject Ponytail's ruleset on every user turn. The plugin becomes part of every subsequent Claude Code session you start.

Plugin Architecture and Auto-Loading

Once installed, the plugin operates through four core components that require zero manual configuration:

• package.json (root): Declares the plugin identity as @dietrichgebert/ponytail and points Claude Code to the hooks/ and skills/ directories.
• hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json: Contains the lifecycle hooks that tell Claude Code when to inject the ruleset—specifically on every user turn—and registers the slash commands.
• AGENTS.md: The human-readable rule file that drives Ponytail's "lazy senior dev" behavior; loaded automatically by the plugin.
• skills/ directory: Houses implementation files such as skills/ponytail.mjs that provide the six /ponytail slash commands.

Available Slash Commands

After installation, the following commands are immediately available in any Claude Code session:

• /ponytail: Reports the current intensity mode (defaults to full).
• /ponytail ultra: Switches to the most aggressive code reduction mode.
• /ponytail off: Disables Ponytail rules for the current session.
• /ponytail-review: Analyzes the current diff and lists deletable lines.

Optional Configuration

While no configuration is required to run Ponytail, you can set a default intensity mode by creating a configuration file at ~/.config/ponytail/config.json. Valid intensity values include lite, full, ultra, or off. Without this file, the plugin defaults to full intensity.

Key Source Files Reference

For developers auditing or extending the plugin, these files control the installation behavior:

• hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json: Registers the plugin's lifecycle hooks that Claude Code uses to inject rules on every turn.
• AGENTS.md: Defines the rule set that minimizes code generation while prioritizing safety.
• package.json: Root manifest declaring @dietrichgebert/ponytail and directory mappings.
• skills/ponytail.mjs: Implements the slash command suite including /ponytail and /ponytail-review.

Summary

• Two commands complete the installation: /plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail followed by /plugin install ponytail@ponytail.
• Auto-loading occurs via hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json, which injects rules on every user turn without manual intervention.
• Six slash commands become available immediately, including /ponytail for mode control and /ponytail-review for diff analysis.
• Optional defaults can be set in ~/.config/ponytail/config.json to specify lite, full, ultra, or off intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact installation method for Ponytail with Claude Code?

Execute two commands in Claude Code: first /plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail to register the source, then /plugin install ponytail@ponytail to activate the plugin. This process loads the hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json lifecycle hooks and makes all slash commands available instantly without restarting the agent.

Where does Ponytail store its configuration settings?

Optional user defaults reside in ~/.config/ponytail/config.json. You can set a default intensity level (lite, full, ultra, or off) in this file. If omitted, the plugin defaults to full intensity and operates without any user configuration.

Does the plugin require manual setup after installation?

No. After running the two /plugin commands, Ponytail automatically loads its ruleset from AGENTS.md and registers slash commands via the hooks system. The plugin injects its "lazy senior dev" rules on every turn automatically, requiring no additional intervention from the user.

How does Claude Code know to load Ponytail in every session?

The hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json file defines lifecycle hooks that instruct Claude Code to inject the ruleset on every user turn. Once installed, this hook registration persists across all future Claude Code sessions until the plugin is explicitly uninstalled.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}