How to Install alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill: Complete Setup Guide

You can install the zhangxuefeng-skill package using the one-line command npx skills add alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill or manually clone the repository into your AI runtime's skills directory according to the installation instructions in README.md.

The zhangxuefeng-skill is an Agent Skills package designed for AI runtimes including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, and Hermes. This repository provides a self-contained knowledge base that enables AI agents to respond using Zhang Xuefeng's decision-making frameworks. Whether you choose the automated installer or manual setup, installing alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill requires placing the skill files where your runtime can discover and load them.

Understanding the Project Architecture

Before installing, it helps to understand the three core components defined in the source code:

• SKILL.md – The skill manifest located at the repository root contains YAML front-matter that tells any Skills-compatible AI runtime how to load the skill, what prompts to expose, and provides the self-contained knowledge base.
• README.md – The human-readable documentation containing installation instructions and quick-start guides, specifically at lines 80-89 where the manual installation steps are documented.
• Supporting Assets – Research files in references/research/*.md, example conversations in examples/demo-conversation.md, and visual branding in assets/hero.gif that package the distilled mental models.

The skill manifest structure follows this format:

{
  "name": "zhangxuefeng-skill",
  "description": "张雪峰的认知操作系统",
  "runtime": ["claude-code","codex","cursor","openclaw","hermes"]
}

Installation Methods

You have three primary ways to install alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill depending on your runtime environment and whether you need to customize the installation path.

Method 1: One-Line Installer (Recommended)

The fastest way to install zhangxuefeng-skill uses the cross-runtime skills CLI installer. This method auto-detects your current runtime and places the skill in the correct directory automatically.

npx skills add alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill

This command works on any runtime that supports the Skills CLI, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, and Hermes. The installer handles path detection and file placement without manual intervention.

Method 2: Manual Clone Installation

For custom locations or when you need to inspect the source before loading, manually clone the repository into your runtime's specific skills directory. Refer to the table in README.md to locate the exact path for your runtime.

For Claude Code:

git clone https://github.com/alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill ~/.claude/skills/zhangxuefeng-skill/

For Cursor:

git clone https://github.com/alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill ~/.cursor/skills/zhangxuefeng-skill/

This method gives you full control over the installation location and allows you to review the references/research/ files and SKILL.md manifest before activation.

Method 3: Reference-Only Setup

If your runtime cannot import Skills automatically, copy the content of SKILL.md into your own prompt file. This approach treats the skill as plain markdown/YAML data while preserving access to the Zhang Xuefeng mental models defined in the knowledge base.

Project Structure and Key Files

Understanding these files helps troubleshoot installation issues and verify the skill loaded correctly:

• SKILL.md – Located at the repository root, this is the core manifest that defines the skill's runtime compatibility and contains the self-contained knowledge base.
• README.md – Lines 80-89 contain the specific installation commands and runtime-specific directory paths.
• references/research/05-decisions.md – Source of the distilled decision heuristics and mental models that power the skill's responses.
• examples/demo-conversation.md – Real-world usage examples demonstrating how the agent behaves when the skill is active.

Using the Skill After Installation

Once installed, invoke the skill by prompting your agent with Zhang Xuefeng-specific queries. The agent will reference the mental models—such as the social-sieve and employment-backward frameworks stored in references/research/05-decisions.md—to generate responses.

> 用张雪峰的视角帮我分析这个专业选择
> 张雪峰会怎么看这个职业方向？
> 切换到张雪峰，我孩子要填志愿了

Summary

• One-line installation via npx skills add alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill is the recommended method for all supported runtimes including Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor
• Manual cloning requires placing the repository in runtime-specific directories like ~/.claude/skills/ or ~/.cursor/skills/ as documented in README.md lines 80-89
• The SKILL.md file serves as the core manifest with YAML front-matter that defines how AI runtimes load and execute the skill
• Reference-only mode allows using the skill content without runtime support by copying the SKILL.md content directly into your prompts
• Supporting assets in references/research/ and examples/ provide the knowledge base and usage patterns for Zhang Xuefeng's decision-making frameworks

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AI runtimes support zhangxuefeng-skill?

According to the SKILL.md manifest, the skill supports Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, and Hermes. The one-line installer auto-detects your current runtime and installs to the appropriate directory based on this compatibility list.

Can I install zhangxuefeng-skill without using the skills CLI?

Yes. You can manually clone the repository using git clone https://github.com/alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill into your runtime's skills directory, or use the reference-only method by copying the content of SKILL.md into your prompts if your runtime lacks Skills support.

Where is the skill manifest located?

The core skill manifest is located at SKILL.md in the repository root. This file contains the YAML front-matter that defines the skill's name, description, compatible runtimes, and the self-contained knowledge base required for operation.

How do I update the skill after installation?

For manual installations, navigate to the cloned directory (e.g., ~/.claude/skills/zhangxuefeng-skill/) and run git pull to fetch the latest changes. If using the skills CLI, reinstall using npx skills add alchaincyf/zhangxuefeng-skill to ensure you have the latest version of the manifest and research files.

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