How to Use i-have-adhd with Codex: Installation and Activation Guide

The i-have-adhd plugin for Codex is an Agent Skills plugin that reshapes LLM output for ADHD readers, installed via codex plugin marketplace add and activated with the $i-have-adhd command.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides a Codex-compatible Agent Skills plugin that reformats AI responses according to ten specific rules designed for readers with ADHD. Because Codex ships with implicit invocation enabled, the skill integrates directly into your command-line workflow without additional configuration.

Installing the i-have-adhd Plugin in Codex

Add to Marketplace

First, register the plugin in your Codex marketplace. The --ref main flag ensures Codex fetches the default branch from the repository:

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

Install Locally

Next, add the skill to your local Codex environment using the plugin name defined in plugin.json:

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

Verify Installation

Confirm the plugin is active by listing installed plugins:

codex plugin list

You should see i-have-adhd in the output, indicating Codex has loaded the skill definition from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md.

Activating ADHD-Friendly Output Mode

Once installed, invoke the skill using the dollar-sign prefix anywhere in your Codex session:

$i-have-adhd

This command toggles the ADHD-friendly output style for the current session. Codex will now restructure responses to lead with actionable answers, number multi-step processes, and eliminate preambles and recaps according to the rules defined in SKILL.md.

To deactivate the skill and return to standard output formatting, issue either command:

stop adhd mode

Or:

normal mode

Architecture and Configuration Files

SKILL.md - The Rule Engine

The core logic resides in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, a plain Markdown/YAML file that Codex parses at startup. This file declares the skill name, description, and the ten ADHD-output rules that reshape LLM responses. The file includes the flag disable-model-invocation: true, which prevents auto-application while allowing explicit invocation via the $i-have-adhd command.

Plugin Metadata

The plugin.json file at the repository root describes the plugin to the Codex marketplace, including version information and author details. Codex references this metadata during the marketplace add operation.

Optional Always-On Configuration

To make ADHD-friendly output permanent across all sessions, create or edit ~/.codex/AGENTS.md and paste the following configuration:

## 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...
...
10. No preamble, no recaps, no closers.

This bypasses the need to type $i-have-adhd at the start of each session, as documented in the Always-on (optional) section of INSTALL.md.

Complete Workflow Example

Follow this sequence to install, verify, and use the plugin:

# Step 1: Add to marketplace

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

# Step 2: Install locally

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

# Step 3: Verify installation

codex plugin list

# Step 4: Activate ADHD mode for current session

$i-have-adhd

# Step 5: Ask Codex a multi-step question

# (Output will now lead with the next action and number steps)

What are the steps to set up a Docker container for a Node.js app?

# Step 6: Return to normal mode when finished

stop adhd mode

Summary

• Install the plugin using codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main followed by codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd.
• Activate ADHD-friendly output by typing $i-have-adhd in any Codex session.
• Deactivate using stop adhd mode or normal mode to clear the formatting rules.
• Configure permanent activation by adding the output style rules to ~/.codex/AGENTS.md.
• Core files include skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md (rules), plugin.json (metadata), and INSTALL.md (full documentation).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the i-have-adhd plugin?

The i-have-adhd plugin is an Agent Skills extension for Codex that reformats AI responses according to ten specific rules optimized for readers with ADHD. According to the ayghri/i-have-adhd source code, it eliminates preambles, leads with actionable answers, and numbers multi-step instructions to reduce cognitive load.

How do I install i-have-adhd in Codex?

Add the plugin to your Codex marketplace with codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main, then install it locally using codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd. Verify the installation by running codex plugin list to confirm the skill appears in your active plugins.

How do I deactivate ADHD mode in Codex?

Type stop adhd mode or normal mode in your Codex session. This command clears the formatting rules and returns Codex to its default output style, as implemented in the skill definition within skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md.

Can I make ADHD-friendly output permanent in Codex?

Yes. Copy the output style rules from INSTALL.md into your user-wide ~/.codex/AGENTS.md file. This configuration applies the ADHD formatting rules to every Codex session automatically, eliminating the need to type $i-have-adhd at startup.

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