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

To add i-have-adhd to Zed Agent, install the 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 as a markdown file containing front-matter (name, description, disable-model-invocation) and specific output rules. According to the repository's 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 This differs from older Zed "Rules" files, which have been replaced by the current Agent Skills mechanism.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:

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:

/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:

## 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 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 file located at 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 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, 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, this skill uses the current Agent Skills mechanism, which replaces the older Zed "Rules" files. The SKILL.md format is natively understood by modern Zed versions and requires no conversion from legacy formats.

{
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    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
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}