# How to Configure i-have-adhd for Codex: Step-by-Step Installation and Usage Guide

> Easily configure i-have-adhd for Codex with our step-by-step guide. Install and activate this powerful plugin to enhance your productivity. Learn how now.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-31

---

**You can configure i-have-adhd for Codex by adding the skill from the marketplace with `codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main`, installing it locally with `codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd`, then activating it per-session via `$i-have-adhd` or globally through your `~/.codex/AGENTS.md` file.**

*i-have-adhd* is an **Agent Skills** plugin that reshapes LLM output for readers with ADHD, providing structured, actionable responses without fluff. This guide walks through the complete **configure i-have-adhd for Codex** process, referencing the actual source files and commands from the `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, verify that **Codex CLI** is installed and functional. The plugin uses the Agent Skills specification, and Codex ships with implicit invocation enabled by default—no additional configuration needed for basic skill support.

## Step 1: Add the Skill to the Codex Marketplace

First, register the plugin with Codex's marketplace. The `--ref main` flag ensures you fetch the default branch as specified in [[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md):

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main

```

This command downloads the repository and makes the skill available for local installation.

## Step 2: Install the Skill Locally

Activate the skill in your Codex environment:

```bash
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

**Verification** (optional):

```bash
codex plugin list

```

You should see `i-have-adhd` in the output, confirming successful installation.

## Step 3: Activate the ADHD-Friendly Output Style

### Per-Session Activation

Toggle the style for your current Codex session using the **dollar-sign prefix**:

```bash
$i-have-adhd

```

The skill remains active until you issue either `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode`.

### Always-On Configuration

To **configure i-have-adhd for Codex** permanently across all sessions, add the rule set to your user-wide configuration file at `~/.codex/AGENTS.md` (or any [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md) that Codex scans). Per the [[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) **Always-on (optional)** section:

```markdown

## Output style

The reader has ADHD. Shape every response so it can be acted on:
1. Lead with the answer or next action.
2. Number multi-step work.
3. Break long text into bullets.
4. Use bold for key terms.
5. One idea per paragraph.
6. Skip the backstory.
7. Delete unnecessary words.
8. Use active voice.
9. Offer a single next step.
10. No preamble, no recaps, no closers.

```

Codex automatically loads this on startup, applying the ADHD-friendly rules to every interaction.

## How the Skill Works Under the Hood

| Component | Purpose | Key File |
|-----------|---------|----------|
| **Skill definition** | Declares the 10 ADHD output rules parsed by Codex at startup | [[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) |
| **Plugin metadata** | Version, author, and marketplace information | [[`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) |
| **Installation docs** | User-facing commands and configuration options | [[`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) |
| **Project overview** | Quick-start and high-level description | [[`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) |

The skill file is a plain Markdown/YAML hybrid that Codex discovers automatically—it loads all `*.md` files under the `skills/` directory. Notably, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) contains `disable-model-invocation: true`, which prevents Claude Code from auto-applying the rules; Codex respects this flag and only activates the skill via explicit `$i-have-adhd` invocation or your [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md) configuration.

## Complete Working Example

```bash

# Install from marketplace

codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main

# Add to local environment

codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

# Verify installation

codex plugin list

# Activate for current session

$i-have-adhd

# Example query—output will be ADHD-structured

How do I set environment variables in a Docker Compose file?

# Deactivate when finished

stop adhd mode

```

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Skill not appearing in `codex plugin list` | Re-run `codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd` and check for error messages |
| Rules not applying after `$i-have-adhd` | Confirm you're using Codex (not Claude Code), which handles skill invocation differently |
| Always-on mode not working | Verify `~/.codex/AGENTS.md` exists and Codex is loading from that path |

## Summary

- **Marketplace registration**: `codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main`
- **Local installation**: `codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd`
- **Session toggle**: `$i-have-adhd` to activate, `stop adhd mode` to deactivate
- **Permanent configuration**: Copy the 10 rules into `~/.codex/AGENTS.md`
- **Core file**: [[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) defines the complete rule set

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I use i-have-adhd with Claude Code instead of Codex?

No. The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file explicitly sets `disable-model-invocation: true`, which prevents Claude Code from auto-applying these rules. Codex is the intended runtime for this plugin.

### Where does Codex look for the always-on AGENTS.md file?

Codex scans `~/.codex/AGENTS.md` for user-wide configuration, plus any [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md) in your current working directory or parent directories. Place your permanent ADHD rules in the user file for global effect.

### What happens if I run `$i-have-adhd` twice?

Running the command again has no additional effect—the skill is already active. You must explicitly issue `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode` to clear the rules from your session.

### Do I need to reinstall the skill after updating Codex?

No. Once added via `codex plugin marketplace add`, the skill persists across Codex updates. Run `codex plugin update i-have-adhd` only when you want to pull newer versions from the repository.