Agent Reach Uninstall Command and --keep-config Option Explained

The uninstall command removes all Agent Reach artefacts, while the --keep-config flag preserves the ~/.agent-reach directory containing your config.yaml, API keys, and authentication tokens.

The Agent-Reach CLI provides utilities for managing AI agent configurations and skill installations. When you need to remove the software from your system, understanding the uninstall command and --keep-config option ensures you can either perform a total cleanup or retain your credentials for future reinstallation. These features are implemented in agent_reach/cli.py to give users precise control over data persistence.

Core Implementation in agent_reach/cli.py

The uninstall logic is contained within the _cmd_uninstall function in agent_reach/cli.py (lines 94-110). This handler coordinates the deletion of configuration files, skill directories, and mcporter registry entries.

Argument Parsing

The command-line interface uses Python’s argparse module to detect the optional flag. The argument definition appears at lines 98-102, where --keep-config is registered as a boolean flag. When the user invokes the command, the parsed value is stored in the keep_config variable:

keep_config = args.keep_config

Conditional Directory Removal

The critical logic that respects the --keep-config option appears at lines 102-105. The code first checks if not keep_config: before attempting deletion:

• Without the flag (keep_config is False): The function removes the configuration directory using shutil.rmtree.
• With the flag (keep_config is True): The function skips the deletion and prints a confirmation message:

Skipping config directory (--keep-config): /home/username/.agent-reach

Complete Removal vs. Config Preservation

The uninstall command performs several cleanup actions, but their execution depends on the flag:

Actions always performed:

• Remove OpenClaw, Claude Code, and Agent skill directories
• Delete mcporter entries (e.g., exa, xiaohongshu)

Actions conditional on --keep-config:

• Deletion of the ~/.agent-reach directory containing config.yaml, stored tokens, cookies, and API keys

If you omit the flag, the entire configuration directory is destroyed, requiring you to re-enter all credentials upon reinstallation. If you include the flag, your settings remain intact while the executable components and skills are purged.

Practical Usage Examples

To perform a complete uninstall that deletes everything including your configuration:

agent-reach uninstall

To remove the software while keeping your configuration and credentials:

agent-reach uninstall --keep-config

Running the second command produces output similar to the following:

Agent Reach Uninstaller
========================================
  Skipping config directory (--keep-config): /home/username/.agent-reach
  Removed OpenClaw skill: /home/username/.openclaw/skills/agent-reach
  Removed Claude Code skill: /home/username/.claude/skills/agent-reach
  Removed Agent skill: /home/username/.agents/skills/agent-reach
  Removed mcporter entry: exa
  Removed mcporter entry: xiaohongshu

Supporting Components

• agent_reach/config.py: Manages reading and writing of the configuration data stored under ~/.agent-reach that the --keep-config option protects.
• tests/test_cli.py: Contains test coverage verifying that the _cmd_uninstall function correctly interprets the --keep-config flag and conditionally preserves the configuration directory.

Summary

• The _cmd_uninstall function in agent_reach/cli.py (lines 94-110) implements the removal logic.
• The --keep-config option parses at lines 98-102 and executes conditional logic at lines 102-105.
• Without the flag, shutil.rmtree deletes ~/.agent-reach and its credentials.
• With the flag, the configuration directory is preserved while skills and mcporter entries are still removed.
• Use --keep-config when reinstalling later to avoid re-authenticating with API providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Agent Reach uninstall command remove by default?

By default, the command deletes the ~/.agent-reach directory (including config.yaml and all stored tokens), removes skill installations from OpenClaw, Claude Code, and Agent directories, and clears all mcporter registry entries such as exa and xiaohongshu.

When should I use the --keep-config option?

Use --keep-config when you plan to reinstall Agent Reach later and want to retain your API keys, authentication cookies, and settings, or when you need to preserve sensitive credentials while removing the software’s executable components and skills.

Where is the uninstall logic implemented in the source code?

The logic resides in the _cmd_uninstall function within agent_reach/cli.py between lines 94-110, with argument parsing defined at lines 98-102 and the conditional directory removal check at lines 102-105.

Does --keep-config prevent removal of installed skills?

No. The --keep-config flag only protects the configuration directory and its contents. Skill directories and mcporter entries are always removed during the uninstallation process regardless of whether this option is present.

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