# How to Add i-have-adhd to Zed Agent: Complete Installation Guide

> Learn how to add i-have-adhd to Zed Agent with our complete installation guide. Integrate ADHD-friendly output rules and the /i-have-adhd command easily.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-06

---

**To add i-have-adhd to Zed Agent, install the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file from the repository into Zed's Skills manager, which registers the `/i-have-adhd` slash command and applies ADHD-friendly output rules to your coding sessions.**

The `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository provides an Agent Skill that optimizes Zed's AI responses for users with ADHD, featuring concise formatting and actionable step-by-step instructions. This guide explains how to add i-have-adhd to Zed Agent using the native Skills manager, referencing the exact file paths and configuration options defined in the source code.

## Understanding the i-have-adhd Skill Format

The skill is defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) as a markdown file containing front-matter (`name`, `description`, `disable-model-invocation`) and specific output rules. According to the repository's [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), Zed's Agent natively consumes this format without conversion, automatically registering the `/i-have-adhd` slash command when the skill is loaded. This differs from older Zed "Rules" files, which have been replaced by the current Agent Skills mechanism.

## Installation Methods

You can install the skill via URL (recommended for quick setup) or filesystem (useful for offline work or version-controlled environments).

### Install from URL

This method pulls the skill definition directly from the GitHub repository:

1. Open **Zed's Agent Panel**
2. Navigate to **Skills manager → Create skill from URL**
3. Paste: `https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`
4. Save in **User scope** (global) or **Project scope** (local)

### Install via Filesystem

For offline work or when you need to version-control the skill alongside your dotfiles:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd
cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.config/zed/skills/

```

## Verification and Usage

Verify the skill loaded correctly by opening the **Skills manager** in the Agent Panel and confirming "i-have-adhd" appears in the list. Alternatively, type `/` in the panel and check for the command in the autocomplete list.

To activate ADHD-friendly mode in any session:

```text
/i-have-adhd

```

The skill remains active until you type **"stop adhd mode"** or **"normal mode"**.

## Enable Always-On Mode

To apply ADHD-friendly formatting to every session without typing the command each time, add the skill's rule block to your personal configuration file at `~/.config/zed/AGENTS.md`:

```markdown

## Output style

The reader has ADHD. Shape every response so it can be acted on:

1. Lead with the answer or next action: command, path, or snippet first.
2. Number multi-step work; one bounded action per step.
3. End with one next action doable in under two minutes.
4. Finish the current issue before raising a new one.
5. Restate progress each turn ("step 3 of 5 done").
6. Give time estimates in concrete units, never "a bit".
7. After a change, show what now works.
8. Errors: state location, cause, and fix. No drama.
9. Cap lists at 5 items.
10. No preamble, no recaps, no closers.

```

## Summary

- The i-have-adhd skill is defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and consumed natively by Zed's Agent Skills manager
- **Install via URL** through the Skills manager interface or **copy to filesystem** at `~/.config/zed/skills/`
- Activate on-demand with the `/i-have-adhd` slash command or enable permanently by adding rules to `~/.config/zed/AGENTS.md`
- The skill formats output with actionable steps, concrete time estimates, progress restatement, and no preamble/recaps until deactivated with "stop adhd mode"

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What file does Zed read to load the i-have-adhd skill?

Zed reads the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file located at [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) in the repository. This markdown file contains the skill definition, front-matter metadata, and the specific ADHD-friendly output rules that Zed applies to responses when the skill is active.

### Can I use i-have-adhd without installing it as a skill?

Yes. While the recommended approach is installing the skill for the `/i-have-adhd` command, you can manually copy the rule block from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) into your `~/.config/zed/AGENTS.md` file to make the formatting permanent across all sessions without installing the skill separately.

### How do I turn off ADHD mode once activated?

Type **"stop adhd mode"** or **"normal mode"** in the Zed Agent Panel to deactivate the skill for the current session. If you added the rules to [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md), you must remove or comment out that section to disable the formatting permanently.

### Does the i-have-adhd skill work with older Zed Rules files?

No. According to the repository's installation documentation in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), this skill uses the current Agent Skills mechanism, which replaces the older Zed "Rules" files. The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) format is natively understood by modern Zed versions and requires no conversion from legacy formats.