# How the Understand-Anything Plugin Integrates with Kiro CLI and Vibe CLI

> Discover how the Understand-Anything plugin seamlessly integrates with Kiro CLI and Vibe CLI using an automated install script for effortless access to shared skill definitions.

- Repository: [Egonex/Understand-Anything](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-06-18

---

**The Understand-Anything plugin integrates with Kiro CLI and Vibe CLI through an automated [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script that generates a Kiro agent configuration file and creates a symbolic link in Vibe's plugin directory, enabling both tools to access the same skill definitions without manual setup.**

The **Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything** repository provides a unified plugin architecture that works seamlessly across multiple CLI environments. By running simple installation commands, developers can activate the codebase analysis capabilities in either Kiro or Vibe, with both integrations sharing the underlying skill files located in `understand-anything-plugin/skills/understand/`.

## Kiro CLI Integration

The **Kiro CLI integration** is handled by the [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script when invoked with the `kiro` argument. This process creates a complete agent definition that Kiro can discover and load at runtime.

### Agent Configuration and Resource Registration

When you execute `./install.sh kiro`, the script performs four critical operations defined in the bash source:

1. **Creates the Kiro agents directory** at `~/.kiro/agents/` if it does not exist
2. **Dynamically scans** the `understand-anything-plugin/agents/` directory for all `*.md` files
3. **Generates a JSON resource list** using `file://` URLs pointing to each agent markdown file
4. **Writes the [`understand.json`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/understand.json) configuration** that defines the agent's capabilities

The generated `~/.kiro/agents/understand.json` file contains:

```json
{
  "name": "understand",
  "description": "Analyze codebase into interactive knowledge graph — Understand Anything",
  "prompt": "file:///path/to/understand-anything-plugin/skills/understand/SKILL.md",
  "tools": ["read", "write", "shell", "grep", "glob", "code", "subagent"],
  "resources": [
    "file:///path/to/understand-anything-plugin/agents/project-scanner.md",
    "file:///path/to/understand-anything-plugin/agents/graph-reviewer.md"
  ]
}

```

The `resources` array is built dynamically using a `while` loop that finds all markdown files in the agents directory, ensuring new agents are automatically registered without manual updates. The `prompt` field points to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/SKILL.md), which serves as the primary instruction set for the Kiro agent.

After installation, start the agent with:

```bash
kiro-cli chat --agent understand "Analyze this project"

```

## Vibe CLI Integration

The **Vibe CLI integration** follows a simpler symlink-based approach that leverages Vibe's universal plugin discovery mechanism.

### Universal Plugin Discovery

When running `./install.sh vibe`, the script calls the `link_plugin_root` function to create a symbolic link from Vibe's plugin directory to the repository's plugin root:

```bash

# The install.sh creates this symlink structure:

~/.vibe/plugins/understand-anything -> /path/to/repo/understand-anything-plugin

```

Vibe scans the `~/.vibe/plugins/` directory at startup and automatically loads any valid plugin directories it finds. By linking the entire `understand-anything-plugin` folder, Vibe gains immediate access to the skill definitions without requiring individual file registration or JSON configuration.

Execute the plugin through Vibe with:

```bash
vibe-cli run understand --path /path/to/your/project

```

## Installation and Usage Examples

### Installing for Kiro CLI

Run the installer from the repository root to set up the Kiro agent:

```bash
./install.sh kiro

```

This command outputs confirmation showing the created configuration file:

```

→ Creating Kiro agent configuration
  ✓ /home/user/.kiro/agents/understand.json

```

### Installing for Vibe CLI

Run the Vibe-specific installation:

```bash
./install.sh vibe

```

The script links the plugin root and confirms:

```

→ Linking universal plugin root

```

### Running Code Analysis

Once installed, both CLIs can analyze codebases using the same underlying skill:

**Kiro approach:**

```bash
kiro-cli chat --agent understand "Show me a diagram of the code architecture"

```

**Vibe approach:**

```bash
vibe-cli run understand --path ./my-project

```

Both commands invoke the `read`, `write`, `shell`, `grep`, `glob`, `code`, and `subagent` tools defined in the configuration, accessing the agent markdown resources from `understand-anything-plugin/agents/`.

## Key Integration Files

The following files enable the dual-CLI integration:

- **[`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh)** – The main installer located at the repository root that handles both Kiro JSON generation and Vibe symlink creation
- **[`understand-anything-plugin/skills/understand/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/understand-anything-plugin/skills/understand/SKILL.md)** – The primary skill definition referenced by both CLI configurations as the agent prompt
- **`understand-anything-plugin/agents/*.md`** – Individual agent documentation files that are dynamically registered as resources in Kiro and accessible as static files in Vibe
- **`~/.kiro/agents/understand.json`** – The generated Kiro agent configuration (created during installation)
- **`~/.vibe/plugins/understand-anything`** – The symbolic link pointing to the plugin directory (created during installation)

## Summary

- **The [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script** automates integration for both CLI tools through specific subcommands (`./install.sh kiro` and `./install.sh vibe`)
- **Kiro integration** uses a JSON agent definition that dynamically registers all `*.md` files from the `agents/` directory as resources, with [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/SKILL.md) serving as the prompt
- **Vibe integration** relies on a symbolic link to the plugin root, enabling universal plugin discovery without additional configuration files
- **Both CLIs share** the same skill source in `understand-anything-plugin/skills/understand/`, ensuring consistent behavior across environments
- **Runtime invocation** differs by CLI: Kiro uses `kiro-cli chat --agent understand` while Vibe uses `vibe-cli run understand --path`

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I install the Understand-Anything plugin for both Kiro and Vibe simultaneously?

Run each installation command separately from the repository root. Execute `./install.sh kiro` to generate the Kiro agent configuration, then run `./install.sh vibe` to create the Vibe symlink. Both commands can be run safely on the same system without conflicts, as they write to different configuration directories (`~/.kiro/` and `~/.vibe/`).

### What is the difference between how Kiro and Vibe load the plugin resources?

Kiro loads resources explicitly through the `resources` array in [`understand.json`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/understand.json), which contains `file://` URLs pointing to each markdown file in the `agents/` directory. Vibe accesses the same files through the filesystem via the symbolic link, reading the plugin structure directly from the linked directory without requiring an explicit manifest of individual files.

### Where does the [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script place the Kiro agent configuration?

The script creates the file at `$HOME/.kiro/agents/understand.json`. It first ensures the `~/.kiro/agents/` directory exists, then generates the JSON configuration with the correct absolute paths to the skill files and agent resources based on your repository location.

### Can I use the Understand-Anything plugin with Vibe without running the install script?

Yes, though manual setup is required. You would need to create a symbolic link manually from `~/.vibe/plugins/understand-anything` to the `understand-anything-plugin` directory in your repository clone. The [`install.sh`](https://github.com/Egonex-AI/Understand-Anything/blob/main/install.sh) script automates this link creation to prevent path errors and ensure Vibe can discover the plugin at startup.