# How to Install i-have-adhd for Pi: Complete Setup and Configuration Guide

> Learn how to install i-have-adhd for Pi with our easy setup guide. Activate ADHD-friendly output on your Pi effortlessly. Get started now!

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-11

---

**Install the i-have-adhd extension for Pi by running `pi install https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd`, then toggle ADHD-friendly output with the `/i-have-adhd` command.**

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides a native Pi extension that optimizes AI responses for ADHD users by injecting structured rules into every session. Installing i-have-adhd for Pi requires only the Pi CLI and access to the GitHub repository, after which the extension automatically handles session persistence and rule injection through [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts).

## Quick Installation

To install i-have-adhd for Pi, execute the package installation command in your terminal:

```bash
pi install https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

```

This command registers the extension located in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) and loads the markdown skill definitions from [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). According to the [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) documentation for Pi, the repository installs as a native package where the `extensions/` directory provides session-persistent functionality while the `skills/` directory supplies the Agent Skills entry point.

## Verifying the Installation

After installation, start a new Pi session to verify the extension loads correctly. The extension runs a registration sequence that loads the ADHD-friendly rules and sets up the command interface:

```bash

# Start Pi and check that the command is available

/i-have-adhd

```

When active, the footer displays **"● ADHD ON"** indicating that the `loadRules` function has injected the structured response guidelines from the skill file into your session context.

## Configuration and Usage

### Toggling ADHD Mode Manually

The extension registers the `/i-have-adhd` command which accepts several arguments to control the session state:

```bash
/i-have-adhd          # Toggle current state on/off

/i-have-adhd on       # Explicitly enable ADHD mode

/i-have-adhd off      # Explicitly disable ADHD mode

stop adhd mode        # Natural language alternative to disable

```

### Enabling Always-On Mode

To enable ADHD-friendly output by default for every new session, create the flag file that the extension checks during initialization:

```bash
touch ~/.pi/agent/.i-have-adhd-always

```

Alternatively, configure the JSON settings file for more granular control:

```bash
cat > ~/.pi/agent/i-have-adhd.json <<'EOF'
{
  "alwaysOn": true,
  "hideStatus": false
}
EOF

```

After creating either configuration, restart Pi or run `pi reload` to apply changes. The extension checks for these files in the `session_start` lifecycle hook and sets the initial state accordingly.

### Hiding the Status Bar

To keep the ADHD rules active without displaying the visual indicator:

```bash
cat > ~/.pi/agent/i-have-adhd.json <<'EOF'
{
  "alwaysOn": true,
  "hideStatus": true
}
EOF
pi reload

```

This configuration maintains the injection of rules from [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) while suppressing the "● ADHD ON" footer notification.

## Technical Implementation Details

The extension operates through [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts), which implements several key mechanisms:

- **Rule Injection**: The `loadRules` function parses [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and injects the 10 ADHD-friendly response guidelines into the session context when the flag is active.
- **State Persistence**: The extension uses `STATE_ENTRY_TYPE` to save your preference in the session tree. Lifecycle hooks including `session_start`, `session_tree`, and `session_compact` restore this state across session reloads.
- **Configuration Parsing**: During initialization, the extension checks for `~/.pi/agent/.i-have-adhd-always` and `~/.pi/agent/i-have-adhd.json` to determine default activation behavior.

## Summary

- **Install i-have-adhd for Pi** using `pi install https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd` as documented in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md)
- **Toggle the mode** with `/i-have-adhd` commands or natural language phrases like "stop adhd mode"
- **Enable always-on mode** via the `~/.pi/agent/.i-have-adhd-always` flag file or JSON configuration at `~/.pi/agent/i-have-adhd.json`
- **State persists** across sessions through `STATE_ENTRY_TYPE` handling in the extension's lifecycle hooks
- **Hide visual indicators** while keeping rules active by setting `"hideStatus": true` in the JSON configuration

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where does Pi store the i-have-adhd configuration?

Pi stores configuration in `~/.pi/agent/`. The `.i-have-adhd-always` file acts as a boolean flag for default activation, while [`i-have-adhd.json`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/i-have-adhd.json) provides structured settings including `alwaysOn` and `hideStatus` properties that the extension parses during the `session_start` hook.

### Why does my ADHD mode setting persist across sessions?

The extension implements state persistence through the `STATE_ENTRY_TYPE` constant defined in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts). The `session_tree` and `session_compact` hooks save your preference to the conversation tree, and `session_start` restores it when you reconnect, ensuring continuity without manual reactivation.

### Can I use i-have-adhd without the status bar indicator?

Yes. Set `"hideStatus": true` in `~/.pi/agent/i-have-adhd.json` while maintaining `"alwaysOn": true`. This configuration keeps the rules from [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) active and injected via the `loadRules` function without displaying the "● ADHD ON" footer indicator.

### How do I completely uninstall i-have-adhd from Pi?

Remove the package using Pi's uninstall command and delete the configuration files from `~/.pi/agent/`. Uninstalling stops the rule injection process defined in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) and removes the `/i-have-adhd` command registration from your Pi environment.