How to Install i-have-adhd for Claude Code: Step-by-Step Guide

To install i-have-adhd for Claude Code, add the plugin to Claude's marketplace with claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd, then install it with claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd, and activate it using the /i-have-adhd slash command.

The i-have-adhd skill is a Claude Code plugin that restructures LLM responses into concise, action-first output designed for easier reading. It enforces 10 specific formatting rules—like leading with the next action and numbering multi-step tasks—without requiring you to manually clone or manage the repository. This guide covers the complete installation process from the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository, including permanent activation and customization options.

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Prerequisites

Before installing, ensure you have:

• Claude Code installed and configured on your system
• Internet access for downloading the plugin from GitHub
• Shell access to run CLI commands

No local Git clone is required—Claude Code handles repository fetching automatically.

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Installation Steps

Step 1: Add to Claude's Marketplace

Claude Code maintains a personal plugin marketplace indexed by GitHub repository names. Register the skill first:

claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd

This tells Claude Code where to find the skill definition and any future updates.

Step 2: Install the Plugin

Install the skill from the marketplace reference:

claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

The @i-have-adhd suffix points to the default branch. Claude Code downloads the repository behind the scenes, reads skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, and registers the 10 output-formatting rules.

Step 3: Activate the Skill

Trigger the skill manually with:

/i-have-adhd

Claude will immediately switch to ADHD-friendly output: numbered steps, no filler text, and action-first phrasing.

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Permanent Activation

To load i-have-adhd automatically in every Claude Code session, create the sentinel file:

touch ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always

As documented in INSTALL.md, this file presence tells Claude Code to activate the skill at startup without requiring the slash command.

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How the Skill Works

The installation pulls three key components from the skills/i-have-adhd/ directory:

File	Purpose
SKILL.md	Contains 10 enforceable rules (e.g., "lead with the next action", "number multi-step tasks")
agents/openai.yaml	Backend configuration for OpenAI models
agents/gemini.toml	Backend configuration for Gemini models

These files live at .cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/ in the repository. Claude Code parses SKILL.md to modify its response generation pipeline.

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Customizing the Skill

To override default behavior:

1. Clone the repository locally:

   git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd.git

2. Edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md with your preferred rules

3. Reinstall from your modified copy:

   claude plugin install /path/to/local/i-have-adhd

Your custom SKILL.md replaces the official ruleset.

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Verification Commands

After installation, test with these prompts:

Test	Expected Output
"Explain how to bake bread"	Numbered steps starting with immediate action ("1. Mix 3 cups flour...")
"What are the causes of WWI?"	Bulleted causes, no historical preamble
"Debug this Python error"	Error-specific fix first, theory second

If responses remain verbose, re-run /i-have-adhd or check that ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always exists for permanent mode.

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Summary

• Add: claude plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd registers the source
• Install: claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd downloads and activates
• Use: /i-have-adhd triggers ADHD-friendly formatting on demand
• Persist: touch ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always enables auto-load
• Customize: Edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md and reinstall from local path

The skill requires no manual repository management—Claude Code handles updates automatically when the upstream source changes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to clone the repository to install i-have-adhd?

No. Claude Code fetches ayghri/i-have-adhd automatically when you run the marketplace add and install commands. A local clone is only required if you want to customize SKILL.md with your own rules.

What does the i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd syntax mean?

The @i-have-adhd suffix specifies the Git branch to install from. The repository uses i-have-adhd as its default branch name rather than main. You can append any branch name to test development versions.

Will the skill work with all Claude Code backends?

Yes. The agents/ directory contains openai.yaml and gemini.toml configuration files that adapt the skill's rule enforcement to whichever LLM backend Claude Code is configured to use.

How do I temporarily disable the skill if I enabled permanent activation?

Remove or rename the sentinel file: rm ~/.claude/.i-have-adhd-always. Alternatively, start a fresh Claude Code session without the file present—changes take effect on next launch.

Where are the 10 formatting rules defined?

In skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md within the repository. These rules include directives like "start with the most important information" and "use numbered lists for sequential steps," which Claude Code's response parser enforces when the skill is active.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}