# How to Install Ponytail on Various Platforms: A Complete Guide for AI-Augmented Development Environments

> Learn how to install Ponytail on Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and more. Follow our guide for AI-augmented development environments using CLI commands or config edits.

- Repository: [DietrichGebert/ponytail](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-30

---

**To install Ponytail across Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, and 10+ other platforms, use host-specific CLI commands or configuration edits that load the ruleset from [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) and hooks from the `hooks/` directory.**

Installing Ponytail on various platforms involves selecting the appropriate installation path for your specific AI-augmented development environment. The DietrichGebert/ponytail repository distributes the plugin as a modular ruleset that integrates with Claude Code, Codex, Copilot CLI, and numerous other agents. While each platform uses distinct CLI syntax or marketplace commands, every installation ultimately converges on the same core artefacts: the [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) ruleset, the `hooks/` directory lifecycle scripts, and the `skills/` directory utilities.

## Claude Code and Codex Installation

Both Anthropic platforms use a two-step marketplace registration pattern. According to the source code, these commands must be executed separately to properly register and install the plugin.

**Claude Code** uses slash commands within the chat interface:

```text
/plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail
/plugin install ponytail@ponytail

```

**Codex (Claude Codex)** uses the external `codex` CLI:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail
codex plugin add ponytail@ponytail

```

After executing these commands, restart the Codex desktop application to ensure the lifecycle hooks located in [`hooks/ponytail-activate.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/hooks/ponytail-activate.js) are properly loaded.

## GitHub Copilot CLI Installation

The Copilot CLI follows the same marketplace pattern as Codex but uses the `copilot` command prefix:

```bash
copilot plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail
copilot plugin install ponytail@ponytail

```

In interactive Copilot sessions, you may also use the slash equivalents `/plugin marketplace add` and `/plugin install`. Once installed, Copilot automatically injects the ruleset before each LLM turn.

## Pi Agent Harness Installation

The Pi agent harness bypasses marketplace registration in favor of direct repository cloning:

```bash
pi install git:github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail

```

This command clones the GitHub repository directly into the Pi harness, which subsequently auto-discovers and loads the `hooks/` and `skills/` directories without additional configuration.

## OpenCode Installation

OpenCode supports two installation methods: npm-style registry references or local file loading. Edit your project's [`opencode.json`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/opencode.json) to include:

```json
{
  "plugin": ["@dietrichgebert/ponytail"]
}

```

Alternatively, load from a local checkout:

```json
{
  "plugin": ["./.opencode/plugins/ponytail.mjs"]
}

```

The entry point at `.opencode/plugins/ponytail.mjs` registers the `/ponytail` commands and injects the ruleset at the active level, exposing mode switches for *lite*, *full*, *ultra*, and *off*.

## Gemini CLI and Antigravity CLI Installation

**Gemini CLI** installs the repository as a Gemini extension:

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail

```

**Antigravity CLI** (identified as the future Gemini CLI iteration) uses similar syntax but interprets commands as plain chat messages:

```bash
nagy plugin install https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail

```

Both methods reference the [`gemini-extension.json`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/gemini-extension.json) file and load the ruleset each session, exposing `/ponytail` commands in the slash menu or as text prompts (`/ponytail-review`).

## Qoder Installation

Qoder requires manual file placement rather than CLI commands. Copy the ruleset into your project:

```bash
cp .qoder/rules/ponytail.md $PROJECT/.qoder/rules/

```

For full plugin-tier support including lifecycle hooks, add the hooks configuration to your global settings:

```bash
jq '.hooks += {"ponytail": "hooks/qoder-hooks.json"}' $HOME/.qoder/settings.json > tmp && mv tmp $HOME/.qoder/settings.json

```

## Hermes Agent Installation

Hermes uses a single install command with an enable flag:

```bash
hermes plugins install DietrichGebert/ponytail --enable

```

After restarting Hermes, the agent injects the active Ponytail mode before each LLM turn and exposes skills using the `ponytail:<skill>` namespace (e.g., `ponytail:review`).

## Devin CLI Installation

Devin simplifies installation to a single command:

```bash
devin plugins install DietrichGebert/ponytail

```

Post-installation, skills become available as `/ponytail:ponytail`, `/ponytail:ponytail-review`, and other variants defined in [`skills/ponytail/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/skills/ponytail/SKILL.md).

## Grok Build Installation

Grok Build requires explicit trust flags during installation:

```bash
grok plugin install DietrichGebert/ponytail --trust

```

This enables the plugin in `~/.grok/config.toml` under `enabled = ["ponytail"]`. Skills appear as `/ponytail`, `/ponytail-lite`, and other mode variants.

## Alternative Platforms: CodeWhale, Swival, and OpenClaw

**CodeWhale** requires no CLI installation; simply copy [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) into your project root or run `codewhale` from a checkout of the repository.

**Swival** uses a two-stage global-to-local installation:

```bash
swival skills add --global https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail
swival skills add ponytail

```

Swival reads [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) both globally (from `~/.config/swival/library`) and locally, activating skills with a `$` prefix (e.g., `$ponytail-review`).

**OpenClaw** installs from ClawHub:

```bash
clawhub install ponytail

```

This generates skill files under `.openclaw/skills/ponytail/` based on the repository's [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest.

## Core Installation Components

Every installation method—regardless of platform—converges on three critical artefacts from the DietrichGebert/ponytail repository:

- **[`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md)** – The master ruleset containing plain-text instructions that drive Ponytail's always-on behavior.
- **`hooks/` directory** – Contains [`ponytail-activate.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/ponytail-activate.js) and [`ponytail-runtime.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/ponytail-runtime.js), which inject the ruleset at the start of each LLM turn and handle mode switching.
- **`skills/` directory** – Houses the six command-level utilities: `ponytail`, `ponytail-review`, `ponytail-audit`, `ponytail-debt`, `ponytail-gain`, and `ponytail-help`.

Because every host merely loads these files, the installation remains **platform-agnostic**; the only variation lies in the host-specific CLI syntax used to fetch and enable the plugin.

## Practical Configuration Examples

**GitHub Copilot CLI Quick Start:**

```bash
copilot plugin marketplace add DietrichGebert/ponytail
copilot plugin install ponytail@ponytail

```

After installation, invoke `/ponytail ultra` in any Copilot chat to switch to the most aggressive mode.

**OpenCode Local Development Setup:**

```json
{
  "plugin": ["@dietrichgebert/ponytail"]
}

```

Place this in [`opencode.json`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/opencode.json) at your project root. The system automatically injects rules at every turn.

**Qoder Manual Rule Activation:**

```bash
cp .qoder/rules/ponytail.md $PROJECT/.qoder/rules/

```

Optional global hooks configuration ensures lifecycle management across all Qoder sessions.

## Summary

- **Fourteen distinct platforms** support Ponytail installation, including Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot CLI, Pi, OpenCode, Gemini CLI, Qoder, Antigravity, Hermes, CodeWhale, Swival, Devin, OpenClaw, and Grok Build.
- **Two primary patterns** exist: marketplace CLI commands (Claude Code, Copilot, Devin) and file-based configuration (Qoder, OpenCode, CodeWhale).
- **Three core artefacts** power every installation: [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) for rules, `hooks/` for lifecycle management, and `skills/` for command utilities.
- **Restart requirements** apply to Codex and Hermes to properly load [`hooks/ponytail-activate.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/hooks/ponytail-activate.js).
- **Mode switching** is available on all platforms via `/ponytail`, `/ponytail-lite`, `/ponytail-full`, or `/ponytail-ultra` commands.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What files does Ponytail actually install on my system?

Ponytail loads three core components from the DietrichGebert/ponytail repository: the [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) ruleset, JavaScript hooks under `hooks/` (including [`ponytail-activate.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/ponytail-activate.js) and [`ponytail-runtime.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/ponytail-runtime.js)), and skill definitions under `skills/`. Depending on your platform, these may be cached locally, cloned into a plugin directory, or referenced directly from the GitHub repository.

### Can I use Ponytail without a marketplace or CLI plugin manager?

Yes. Platforms like **Qoder** and **CodeWhale** support manual installation by copying [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/AGENTS.md) directly into your project directory. **OpenCode** also allows loading from a local checkout by referencing `./.opencode/plugins/ponytail.mjs` in your [`opencode.json`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/opencode.json) configuration, bypassing npm registries entirely.

### How do I verify that Ponytail is active after installation?

Send the `/ponytail` or `/ponytail-help` command in your agent's chat interface. If installed correctly, the system will respond with available mode switches (lite, full, ultra, off) and skill options. For CLI-based agents like Hermes or Devin, check that `ponytail:<skill>` completions appear in your command suggestions.

### Do I need to restart my IDE or agent after installing Ponytail?

Restart requirements vary by platform. **Codex** and **Hermes** explicitly require a restart to initialize the lifecycle hooks in [`hooks/ponytail-activate.js`](https://github.com/DietrichGebert/ponytail/blob/main/hooks/ponytail-activate.js). Claude Code, Copilot CLI, and Devin typically activate immediately upon installation completion. Check your platform's specific documentation in the repository's README for confirmation.