# Prerequisites for Running Hallmark: Complete Setup Guide

> Discover the essential prerequisites for running Hallmark. Learn what you need including Node.js npm internet access Python 3 and Git for a smooth setup.

- Repository: [Hassan El Mghari/hallmark](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-07-28

---

**To run Hallmark, you need Node.js (≥14) with npm for package installation, internet access to fetch dependencies from npm and GitHub, and optionally Python 3 for local preview servers and Git for manual installation.**

Hallmark is a design-skill package that runs inside AI-coding assistants like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex to generate AI-resistant UI designs. Since the tool is distributed as an npm package and is installed with `npx`, understanding the prerequisites for running Hallmark ensures a smooth setup across different environments.

## Core Prerequisites for Running Hallmark

### Node.js and npm (Required)

Hallmark is distributed as an npm package and relies on the `npx` command for installation. You need **Node.js (≥14)** with npm installed to execute `npx skills add nutlope/hallmark`.

Verify your installation by running:

```bash
node -v
npm -v

```

### Internet Connectivity

The installation process fetches the package from the npm registry (`registry.npmjs.org`) and retrieves reference files hosted on GitHub (`github.com`). Ensure your machine can reach these domains before attempting installation.

### Python 3 (Optional for Local Preview)

If you want to view generated HTML locally, the repository includes a tiny HTTP server accessible via `npm run serve`. According to the [`package.json`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/package.json) file, this script uses **Python 3** and its built-in `http.server` module to serve content on `http://localhost:4173`.

Most systems already have Python 3 installed. Verify with:

```bash
python3 -V

```

### Git (Optional for Manual Installation)

While `npx` is the recommended installation method, you can optionally clone the repository manually. This requires **Git** to fetch the source code from GitHub.

## Compatible AI Coding Assistants

Hallmark is designed specifically for AI-coding assistants including **Claude Code**, **Cursor**, and **Codex**. As implemented in Nutlope/hallmark, the skill files are placed in assistant-specific directories such as `~/.claude/skills/hallmark/`.

Check your assistant's documentation for the exact path to add custom skills.

## Installation and Verification

Install Hallmark using the following command:

```bash
npx skills add nutlope/hallmark

```

Verify the installation by checking that skill files were copied to your assistant's directory:

```bash
ls ~/.claude/skills/hallmark/

```

Expected output includes [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/SKILL.md) and `references/`.

To preview designs locally, run the development server:

```bash
npm run serve

```

This launches Python's `http.server` on port 4173.

## Key Repository Files

Understanding the codebase structure helps when customizing the skill:

- **[`package.json`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/package.json)** — Declares the package metadata, entry points, and the `serve` script that launches the local preview server.
- **[`skills/hallmark/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/skills/hallmark/SKILL.md)** — Contains the core skill definition consumed by Claude, Cursor, and Codex.
- **[`docs/recipes.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/docs/recipes.md)** — Provides worked-example recipes demonstrating how to invoke the skill effectively.
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/README.md)** — Contains the high-level overview, installation snippets, and usage instructions.

## Summary

- **Node.js (≥14) and npm** are required to install Hallmark via `npx`.
- **Internet access** is necessary to fetch packages from npm and reference files from GitHub.
- **Python 3** is only needed if you want to run the local preview server on `localhost:4173`.
- **Git** is optional for manual installation instead of using `npx`.
- Skill files are installed to assistant-specific paths like `~/.claude/skills/hallmark/`.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need Python to use Hallmark?

No. Python 3 is only required if you want to run the local preview server using `npm run serve`. The core skill functionality works entirely through Node.js and your AI coding assistant without Python.

### Which AI assistants support Hallmark?

Hallmark supports **Claude Code**, **Cursor**, and **Codex**. As implemented in Nutlope/hallmark, the skill files are placed in assistant-specific directories, such as `~/.claude/skills/hallmark/` for Claude Code installations.

### Can I install Hallmark without npm?

While npm via `npx` is the recommended method, you can manually install Hallmark by cloning the Git repository. This requires Git installed on your system and knowledge of where your AI assistant stores custom skills.

### Where does Hallmark store its skill files?

After installation, Hallmark places its files in assistant-specific directories. For Claude Code, this is typically `~/.claude/skills/hallmark/`, containing [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Nutlope/hallmark/blob/main/SKILL.md) and a `references/` folder.