How to Install Agent Reach Agent Skill Files

Agent Reach provides a built-in CLI command that detects your agent framework (OpenClaw, Claude Code, or generic .agents) and installs the appropriate SKILL.md bundle to ~/.agents/skills/agent-reach (or equivalent) by running agent-reach skill --install.

The Panniantong/Agent-Reach repository ships with a self-contained skill installation system. When you need to install Agent Reach agent skill files, the tool handles locale detection, package resource resolution, and framework-specific directory selection without requiring network access or API keys.

Installing Skills via the CLI

The fastest way to deploy the skill bundle is through the command-line interface. The entry point agent-reach skill --install invokes the private _install_skill() helper defined in agent_reach/cli.py.

Basic Installation Command

Run the following from your terminal after installing the package:

agent-reach skill --install

Alternatively, if you are running from source without the entry point script:

python -m agent_reach.cli skill --install

Full Installation with Diagnostics

If you prefer the automatic flow that runs diagnostics first, use the global install command. This executes health checks before calling the skill installer:

python -m agent_reach.cli install

How the Skill Installer Works Under the Hood

The installation logic in agent_reach/cli.py follows a deterministic six-step process to locate, select, and copy the skill files.

Step 1: Locale Detection for Skill Selection

The installer checks environment variables in this order: AGENT_REACH_LANG, LC_ALL, LC_MESSAGES, and LANG. If any value starts with "en" or "english", the installer selects SKILL_en.md; otherwise it falls back to the default SKILL.md.

Step 2: Package Resource Resolution

To locate the source files, the code first attempts to use importlib.resources.files("agent_reach").joinpath("skill"). If this fails—common during editable installs—it resolves the path relative to the source tree as a fallback.

Step 3: Target Directory Selection

The function scans for the first writable skill directory using this priority order:

1. $OPENCLAW_HOME/.openclaw/skills (only if the OPENCLAW_HOME environment variable is set)
2. ~/.agents/skills (generic agents directory)
3. ~/.openclaw/skills (OpenClaw)
4. ~/.claude/skills (Claude Code)

If none of these directories exist, the installer creates ~/.agents/skills/agent-reach as the fallback location.

Step 4: Atomic Copy and Replacement

Before writing new files, the installer removes any existing installation at the target path. It unlinks symlinks if present and uses shutil.rmtree() to delete existing directories. It then copies the selected SKILL.md file and the entire references/ directory to agent-reach/ within the chosen skill folder.

Step 5: Framework-Specific Feedback

Upon completion, the CLI prints a success message identifying the detected platform (Agent, OpenClaw, or Claude Code) and the absolute installation path. If the process fails, it emits a warning with diagnostic details.

Verifying Your Installation

Confirm that the static markdown files are in place by listing the skill directory:

ls -R ~/.agents/skills/agent-reach

You should see the following structure:

~/.agents/skills/agent-reach/
├── SKILL.md
└── references/
    ├── search.md
    ├── social.md
    └── ... (other reference files)

The references/ directory contains detailed documentation for each category (search, social, video, etc.) linked from the main SKILL.md file.

Uninstalling Agent Skills

To remove the skill files from all detected agent directories, run:

agent-reach skill --uninstall

This command reverses the installation by removing the agent-reach/ directory from each discovered skills folder.

Summary

• Run agent-reach skill --install to deploy the static markdown skill bundle to your agent framework.
• The installer selects SKILL_en.md when English locale variables are detected; otherwise it defaults to SKILL.md.
• Target directories are checked in priority order: ~/.agents/skills, ~/.openclaw/skills, and ~/.claude/skills, with OPENCLAW_HOME taking precedence if set.
• The process requires no network access or authentication; it copies files directly from agent_reach/skill/ package resources.
• The implementation lives in agent_reach/cli.py within the _install_skill() function, with test coverage in tests/test_skill_command.py.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Agent Reach install the skill files by default?

By default, Agent Reach installs to ~/.agents/skills/agent-reach/. If that directory does not exist, it checks for ~/.openclaw/skills/ or ~/.claude/skills/ in sequence. If the OPENCLAW_HOME environment variable is configured, that location is prepended to the search list and takes highest priority.

Does installing the skill files require an internet connection or API keys?

No. According to the agent_reach/cli.py source code, the installation is entirely offline. The _install_skill() function copies static markdown files from the package resources to your local agent configuration directory without network access, external dependencies, or secrets.

How does Agent Reach choose between SKILL.md and SKILL_en.md?

The installer checks the environment variables AGENT_REACH_LANG, LC_ALL, LC_MESSAGES, and LANG in that order. If any value starts with "en" or "english" (case-insensitive), it selects SKILL_en.md; otherwise it defaults to SKILL.md. This ensures English-speaking users receive optimized instructions when available.

What happens if I already have skill files installed?

The installer performs an atomic replacement. Before copying new files, it removes any existing agent-reach/ directory at the target location using shutil.rmtree(), and unlinks any symlinks if present. This guarantees a clean installation without conflicts between old and new skill definitions.

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