# How to Customize i‑have‑adhd Rules by Forking the Repository

> Customize i-have-adhd rules by forking the repository. Edit SKILL.md and point your agent to your copy to replace default rules with your own custom settings.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-02

---

**Fork the repository, edit [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), and point your agent to your forked copy to instantly replace the ten output‑style rules with your own.**

The *i‑have‑adhd* skill is a declarative, stateless system: all behavior is defined in a single markdown file. This architecture makes customization straightforward—no compiled code, no hidden configuration, just plain text you can version‑control and share.

## Understanding the Architecture

The skill uses a minimal three‑layer design:

| Component | Purpose | Key Path |
|-----------|---------|----------|
| **Rule Definition** | Contains the ten actionable output rules | [[`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) |
| **Skill Manifest** | Declares name and metadata for agent discovery | [[`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json) |
| **Agent Bindings** | Tells each agent how to load the skill | [[`agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/openai.yaml)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/openai.yaml), [[`agents/gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/gemini.toml)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml) |

When an agent initializes, it parses **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md)** and extracts the numbered rules. The [[`hooks/always-on.sh`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/hooks/always-on.sh)](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/hooks/always-on.sh) SessionStart hook can auto‑inject these rules, but the source of truth remains the markdown file. This means **any edit to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) propagates immediately** on the next skill reload.

## Step‑by‑Step: Fork and Customize i‑have‑adhd Rules

### 1. Fork the Repository

Create your own copy via GitHub's web UI, then clone it locally:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/i-have-adhd.git
cd i-have-adhd

```

### 2. Edit the Rule File

Open [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and modify any of the ten rules. For example, change the time‑estimate granularity from minutes to seconds:

```bash
sed -i 's/Specific time estimates (minutes, not "a bit")/Specific time estimates (seconds, not "a bit")/' \
    skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md

```

Or edit manually with your preferred editor—the file is standard markdown with numbered rules.

### 3. Commit and Push

```bash
git add skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md
git commit -m "Adjust time-estimate granularity to seconds"
git push origin main

```

### 4. Install Your Forked Version

Remove the upstream skill and register your fork with your agent:

**Claude Code**

```bash
claude plugin uninstall i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace add <your-username>/i-have-adhd
claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

**Codex**

```bash
codex plugin marketplace remove ayghri/i-have-adhd
codex plugin marketplace add <your-username>/i-have-adhd
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

**Gemini CLI**

```bash
gemini extensions uninstall i-have-adhd
gemini extensions install https://github.com/<your-username>/i-have-adhd

```

**VS Code Copilot**

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills
cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.copilot/skills/

```

**Antigravity (`agy`)**

```bash
agy plugin uninstall i-have-adhd
agy plugin install https://github.com/<your-username>/i-have-adhd

```

**Cursor / OpenCode**

```bash
npx skills remove i-have-adhd
npx skills add <your-username>/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y

```

### 5. Reload and Verify

Restart your agent or invoke `/i-have-adhd` to trigger the skill reload. Your customized rules now drive every response.

## Key Files Reference

Keep these paths handy when customizing:

- **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** — The only file you need to edit for rule changes
- **[`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md)** — Contains the official "Tune it" fork instructions
- **[`plugin.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/plugin.json)** — Manifest used for agent registry discovery
- **`agents/`** — Contains per‑agent configuration files ([`openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/openai.yaml), [`gemini.toml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/gemini.toml), etc.)

## Advanced Customization Patterns

**Adding New Rules**

Append additional numbered items to [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md). The harness parses any markdown list following the established pattern—no schema validation limits rule count.

**Conditional Rules Per Agent**

Create agent‑specific [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) variants in subdirectories, then modify the corresponding binding file (e.g., [`agents/openai.yaml`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/agents/openai.yaml)) to point to your custom path:

```yaml

# agents/openai.yaml example

skill_path: "skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL-openai-custom.md"

```

**Version Pinning**

Tag releases in your fork to lock agent installations to specific rule versions:

```bash
git tag -a v1.1.0 -m "Added distraction‑blocking rule"
git push origin v1.1.0

```

Then install with version specifier if your agent supports it.

## Summary

- **The entire rule set lives in** [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) — a single markdown file with no compiled dependencies
- **Fork → edit → reinstall** is the complete customization workflow
- **All supported agents** (Claude, Codex, Gemini, Copilot, Antigravity, Cursor, OpenCode) load from the same source file
- **Changes take effect immediately** on skill reload—no rebuild step required

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What happens if I break the markdown syntax in SKILL.md?

The harness is forgiving—numbered lists with standard markdown formatting (`1.`, `2.`) parse reliably. Avoid deeply nested structures or HTML tags. If parsing fails, the agent typically falls back to default behavior; check your agent's logs for specific error messages.

### Can I maintain multiple rule variants for different projects?

Yes. Create branches or separate markdown files in your fork (e.g., [`SKILL-deep-work.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL-deep-work.md), [`SKILL-pair-programming.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL-pair-programming.md)). Switch variants by checking out the appropriate branch or updating the agent's skill path configuration before installation.

### Do my custom rules persist across agent updates?

Rules persist as long as your fork remains installed. If the agent wipes its plugin cache during a major update, simply reinstall from your fork URL. Pin to a specific git tag or commit hash in your installation command for reproducible deployments.

### Is there a way to share my customized rules with teammates?

Your fork is a standard GitHub repository—teammates can install directly from it using the same `plugin marketplace add <your-username>/i-have-adhd` pattern. For enterprise distribution, mirror your fork to a private registry and update the installation URLs accordingly.