How to Install and Configure i-have-adhd for Cursor IDE with the Skills System

Install the i-have-adhd skill for Cursor IDE by running npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y, which copies the rule set into ~/.cursor/skills/, then verify with npx skills list and optionally add the rules to Cursor's User Rules for automatic application across all sessions.

The i-have-adhd skill from the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository reshapes AI output for readers with ADHD by enforcing concise, actionable formatting. Installing and configuring i-have-adhd for Cursor IDE requires placing the skill files in Cursor's skills directory and optionally enabling persistent rules for automatic activation. The implementation relies on a simple markdown-based skill system where Cursor scans for SKILL.md files containing specific frontmatter directives.

Understanding the i-have-adhd Skill Architecture

The skill is a plain-text description stored in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md that tells any agent-skills-compatible harness how to reshape its output. When you add the skill to Cursor, the IDE scans the folder ~/.cursor/skills/ for a sub-directory whose frontmatter.name matches the folder name (i-have-adhd). The skill's rules are then loaded at session start and remain active until you type "stop adhd mode".

According to the repository source code, a CI workflow in .github/workflows/cursor-skill-sync.yml ensures the on-disk copy under .cursor/skills/ stays synchronized with the canonical source. This guarantees that Cursor always loads the latest version of the formatting rules.

Installation Methods

Method 1: Using the Skills CLI (Recommended)

The skills CLI is the fastest way to install the skill into Cursor's default skills path. This copies the necessary files into ~/.cursor/skills/ and makes the skill immediately discoverable by Cursor's agent runtime.

# Install the skill for the current user (default Cursor path)

npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y

Method 2: Manual Installation

For offline environments or air-gapped systems, manually clone the repository and copy the skill files into Cursor's skills directory.

git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd
mkdir -p ~/.cursor/skills
cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.cursor/skills/

Verifying the Installation

After installation, confirm that Cursor recognizes the skill by listing all available skills. The output should display i-have-adhd among the active skills.

npx skills list

If the skill appears in the list, Cursor will load the rules from ~/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ (or the project-local .cursor/skills/ directory) at the start of each session.

Configuring Activation Behavior

Session-Based Activation

By default, the skill loads when explicitly invoked and stays active until you type "stop adhd mode". This allows you to toggle the formatting style mid-conversation without changing global settings.

Always-On Configuration

To apply the i-have-adhd formatting rules to every Cursor session automatically, add the rule set to Cursor's persistent rules file. Navigate to Settings → Rules → User Rules (or create .cursor/rules/ in your project root) and paste the following snippet:

##

## 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.

##

## Exceptions: explain fully when asked to explain. Confirm before destructive actions.

This eliminates the need to type /i-have-adhd at the start of each conversation.

Key Files in the Repository

Understanding the source layout helps when troubleshooting or contributing to the skill:

• skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md — The core rule set that defines the ADHD-friendly output format.
• INSTALL.md — The human-readable installation guide containing Cursor-specific commands.
• .cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ — The on-disk copy that Cursor actually loads; kept in sync with the source via CI.
• .github/workflows/cursor-skill-sync.yml — The CI job that fails if the copy under .cursor/skills/ drifts from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md.

Summary

• Install the skill using npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a cursor -y or manually copy files to ~/.cursor/skills/.
• Verify installation with npx skills list to ensure Cursor detects the i-have-adhd skill.
• Configure always-on mode by adding the rules snippet to Cursor's User Rules in Settings.
• Disable temporarily by typing "stop adhd mode" in the chat.
• Update automatically via the CI-synchronized copy in .cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Cursor look for the i-have-adhd skill files?

Cursor scans the ~/.cursor/skills/ directory (or project-local .cursor/skills/) for subdirectories containing a SKILL.md file. The frontmatter.name field inside SKILL.md must match the folder name (i-have-adhd) for the skill to load correctly.

Can I install the skill for a single project instead of globally?

Yes. Place the skill files in a .cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ directory at your project root instead of ~/.cursor/skills/. Cursor prioritizes project-local skills over global ones, allowing different projects to use different formatting rules.

How do I temporarily disable the skill during a session?

Type "stop adhd mode" in the chat. This deactivates the skill rules until you restart the session or explicitly re-enable them. For permanent deactivation, remove the skill from the User Rules or delete it from the skills directory.

Will the skill automatically update when the repository changes?

The repository includes a CI workflow at .github/workflows/cursor-skill-sync.yml that ensures the .cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ directory stays synchronized with the main SKILL.md source. If you installed via the CLI, rerun npx skills add periodically to pull updates; for manual installations, pull the latest changes from the repository.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
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}