How to Update Agent Reach to the Latest Version: A Complete Guide

To update Agent Reach to the latest version, run agent-reach check-update to detect your current version, upgrade the core package via pip or pipx, refresh upstream platform CLIs using the provided shell script, and verify the installation with agent-reach doctor.

Agent Reach is a Python CLI and library that routes AI agents to 13 internet platforms. Keeping the package current ensures access to the latest platform integrations and backend improvements. This guide walks through the official update process as documented in the Panniantong/Agent-Reach repository.

Check Your Current Version

Before upgrading, determine whether you need an update by checking the installed version against the latest GitHub release.

The version string is defined in agent_reach/__init__.py where __version__ is declared (e.g., __version__ = "1.5.0"). The CLI provides a built-in command to compare this against the repository's latest tag:

agent-reach check-update

This command, implemented in agent_reach/cli.py, queries the GitHub API and reports whether your installation matches the current release.

Upgrade the Core Package

Once you have confirmed an update is available, upgrade the core Python package. The recommended method pulls the latest ZIP archive directly from the main branch to ensure all new dependencies are installed without affecting your system-wide Python environment.

Using pip:

pip install --upgrade https://github.com/Panniantong/agent-reach/archive/main.zip

Using pipx (if installed in an isolated environment):

pipx install --force https://github.com/Panniantong/agent-reach/archive/main.zip

If you manage the tool within a virtual environment, activate it first before running the pip command. This step corresponds to the upgrade instructions found in docs/update.md (lines 37-41).

Refresh Upstream Platform Tools

Agent Reach delegates platform-specific operations to external CLI tools. After updating the core package, refresh these upstream dependencies to ensure compatibility with the latest platform APIs.

The update script checks for existing tools and upgrades only those already present on your system, leaving untouched any tools you never installed. Run the following shell snippet adapted from docs/update.md (lines 48-67):

which twitter >/dev/null 2>&1 && { pipx upgrade twitter-cli 2>/dev/null || uv tool upgrade twitter-cli 2>/dev/null; }
which bili    >/dev/null 2>&1 && { pipx upgrade bilibili-cli 2>/dev/null || uv tool upgrade bilibili-cli 2>/dev/null; }
which xhs     >/dev/null 2>&1 && { pipx upgrade xiaohongshu-cli 2>/dev/null || uv tool upgrade xiaohongshu-cli 2>/dev/null; }
which yt-dlp  >/dev/null 2>&1 && { pipx upgrade yt-dlp 2>/dev/null || uv tool upgrade yt-dlp 2>/dev/null || pip install -U yt-dlp 2>/dev/null; }
which rdt >/dev/null 2>&1 && pipx install --force 'git+https://github.com/public-clis/rdt-cli.git@5e4fb3720d5c174e976cd425ccc3b879d52cac66' 2>/dev/null
which mcporter >/dev/null 2>&1 && npm update -g mcporter 2>/dev/null
which opencli  >/dev/null 2>&1 && npm update -g @jackwener/opencli 2>/dev/null

This script handles tools installed via pipx, uv, or npm, ensuring each component (Twitter, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, YouTube, Reddit, and OpenCLI) is current.

Configure the OpenCLI Backend (Optional)

On desktop machines, Agent Reach now defaults to the OpenCLI backend for platforms like 小红书 (Xiaohongshu), Reddit, and Bilibili. This backend reuses your existing Chrome browser session, eliminating the need for separate authentication tokens.

The installer cannot automatically add the Chrome extension due to browser security restrictions, but it can guide you through the process. To enable this backend after updating, run:

agent-reach install --channels opencli

This command, handled by agent_reach/backends/opencli.py, provides a one-click guide to installing the Chrome extension from the Web Store. The OpenCLI integration is documented in docs/update.md (lines 69-76).

Verify the Installation

After completing the update, verify that all components function correctly. The built-in diagnostics check every platform channel and sync the skill bundle to your agent directories.

Check the version:

agent-reach version

Run health diagnostics:

agent-reach doctor

For automated workflows or CI pipelines, output the report as JSON:

agent-reach doctor --json

The doctor command, implemented in agent_reach/doctor.py, performs health checks for each of the 13 supported platforms. It also synchronizes the skill bundle (SKILL.md and reference files from agent_reach/skill/) into any detected agent skill directories, ensuring your AI agents have access to the latest documentation.

Summary

• Detect updates using agent-reach check-update, which compares your installed version from agent_reach/__init__.py against the latest GitHub tag.
• Upgrade the core package via pip or pipx using the main branch ZIP archive to avoid dependency conflicts.
• Refresh upstream CLIs (twitter-cli, bilibili-cli, yt-dlp, etc.) using the conditional shell script from docs/update.md.
• Enable OpenCLI on desktop systems to leverage your Chrome browser session for supported platforms.
• Verify with agent-reach doctor to confirm all 13 platform channels are functional and the skill bundle is synchronized.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if Agent Reach needs an update?

Run the built-in agent-reach check-update command. This CLI function reads the current version from agent_reach/__init__.py and compares it against the latest release tag on GitHub, reporting whether an upgrade is available.

Can I update Agent Reach using pipx instead of pip?

Yes. If you originally installed Agent Reach in an isolated environment using pipx, use pipx install --force https://github.com/Panniantong/agent-reach/archive/main.zip to force-upgrade to the latest main branch. This ensures the tool and its dependencies are updated without affecting your global Python packages.

What should I do if upstream tools fail to upgrade?

The update script in docs/update.md uses conditional logic (which checks) to only upgrade tools already present on your system. If a specific CLI like twitter-cli or rdt-cli fails to upgrade, verify that it was originally installed via pipx, uv, or npm, then manually run the appropriate upgrade command for that package manager as shown in the shell snippet.

How do I verify that the update succeeded?

After upgrading, run agent-reach version to confirm the new version number matches the latest release. Then execute agent-reach doctor to perform comprehensive health checks on all 13 platform integrations. The doctor command also syncs the latest skill bundle from agent_reach/skill/ to your agent directories, ensuring complete system readiness.

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