# How Skill Installation Works for OpenClaw and Claude Code in Agent-Reach > Learn how Agent-Reach installs skills for OpenClaw and Claude Code. Discover the process of detecting your locale and copying skill bundles to agent directories. - Repository: [Pnant/Agent-Reach](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach) - Tags: internals - Published: 2026-06-28 --- **Agent-Reach installs its reusable skill into platform-specific directories by detecting your system's locale, selecting the appropriate markdown file, and copying the skill bundle to the first existing agent directory among OpenClaw, Claude Code, or generic `.agents` configurations.** The Agent-Reach repository provides a cross-platform skill registration system that enables seamless integration with multiple AI agent platforms. Understanding how the `agent-reach skill --install` command functions requires examining the implementation in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py), where the private helper `_install_skill()` (lines 342-440) orchestrates the entire installation process. ## Platform-Specific Skill Directories Agent-Reach supports three distinct agent platforms, each expecting skills in a specific location: - **Generic agents** (`.agents`): `~/.agents/skills/agent-reach` - **OpenClaw**: `~/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach` (or `${OPENCLAW_HOME}/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach` if the `OPENCLAW_HOME` environment variable is set) - **Claude Code**: `~/.claude/skills/agent-reach` When `OPENCLAW_HOME` is defined, its path takes precedence and is inserted at the front of the candidate list, ensuring the OpenClaw installation wins over the default location (lines 12-22). ## The Locale-Aware File Selection Process The installation begins by determining which language version of the skill documentation to deploy. The function inspects locale-related environment variables—including `AGENT_REACH_LANG`, `LC_ALL`, `LC_MESSAGES`, and `LANG`—to detect English settings (lines 53-62). If any of these variables indicate an English locale, the installer uses [`SKILL_en.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL_en.md); otherwise, it falls back to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md). This ensures users receive context documentation in their preferred language. ## Loading Skill Resources The system attempts to load skill files using Python's `importlib.resources.files("agent_reach").joinpath("skill")` mechanism. However, when the package runs in **editable mode**, this approach may fail, triggering a fallback to `Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "skill"` (lines 84-90). This dual-path strategy ensures reliable resource loading regardless of installation method. ## Copying the Skill Directory Once resources are located, the `_copy_skill_dir(target)` function executes the actual installation (lines 71-99). This routine: 1. Creates or clears the destination folder 2. Writes the selected [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md) file based on locale detection 3. Copies all reference files from `skill/references/` (including web, video, social, search, dev, and career documentation) ## Installation Priority and Path Resolution The installer builds a prioritized list of candidate skill roots and iterates through them in sequence (lines 28-31). For each existing directory, it invokes `_copy_skill_dir()` and emits a console message indicating which platform received the skill. If none of the known skill roots exist, the function creates the generic-agent path at `~/.agents/skills/agent-reach` and attempts the copy there as a fallback (lines 34-38). ## Uninstalling the Skill The `_uninstall_skill()` function (lines 444-476) handles removal by deleting the entire `agent-reach` directory from each known skill root across all three platforms. This ensures clean removal regardless of where the skill was initially installed. ## Practical Usage Examples Install the skill for whichever platform you have configured: ```bash agent-reach skill --install ``` Force installation for the generic `.agents` platform on a fresh system: ```bash mkdir -p ~/.agents/skills agent-reach skill --install ``` Remove the skill from all platforms: ```bash agent-reach skill --uninstall ``` ## Summary - Agent-Reach supports **three agent platforms**: Generic `.agents`, OpenClaw, and Claude Code, each with distinct installation paths. - The `_install_skill()` function in [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py) handles **locale detection** to choose between [`SKILL_en.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL_en.md) and [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md). - **Resource loading** uses `importlib.resources` with a fallback for editable installations. - The installer follows a **priority sequence** (checking existing directories first) and creates a fallback in `~/.agents` if no platform directories exist. - **Uninstallation** via `_uninstall_skill()` removes the skill from all detected platform directories simultaneously. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How does Agent-Reach decide which language version of the skill to install? The installer checks environment variables `AGENT_REACH_LANG`, `LC_ALL`, `LC_MESSAGES`, and `LANG` in sequence. If any indicate an English locale, it deploys [`SKILL_en.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL_en.md); otherwise, it uses the default [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/SKILL.md). This logic resides in lines 53-62 of [`agent_reach/cli.py`](https://github.com/Panniantong/Agent-Reach/blob/main/agent_reach/cli.py). ### Can I install the skill to a custom OpenClaw directory? Yes. Set the `OPENCLAW_HOME` environment variable to your preferred base path. The installer checks this variable first and constructs the skill path as `${OPENCLAW_HOME}/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach`, overriding the default `~/.openclaw` location. ### What happens if I have multiple agent platforms installed? The installer iterates through all existing platform directories and copies the skill to each one. It prioritizes existing directories over creating new ones, and only falls back to creating the generic `~/.agents/skills/agent-reach` path if no platform directories are found. ### Does the uninstall command remove files from all platforms? Yes. The `_uninstall_skill()` function (lines 444-476) removes the `agent-reach` directory from every known skill root simultaneously, including OpenClaw, Claude Code, and generic `.agents` locations, ensuring complete cleanup across your system.