How to Use i-have-adhd with Gemini CLI: Command vs Extension Setup

You can integrate i-have-adhd with Gemini CLI via an opt-in custom command (/i-have-adhd) for per-session use or as an always-on extension that applies ADHD-friendly rules to every interaction.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides two distinct integration paths for Gemini CLI users. Both approaches leverage the same underlying skill definition in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, differing only in how and when the rules are activated. This guide covers the complete setup, verification, and management workflows for each method.

Integration Modes: Command vs Extension

Choose your integration based on how frequently you need ADHD-optimized output:

Mode	Activation	Best For
Custom command	Type /i-have-adhd in a session	Occasional, on-demand use without permanent changes
Extension	Automatic on every session start	Daily use with consistent ADHD-friendly formatting

The implementation details for both modes are documented in INSTALL.md under the Gemini CLI section【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/INSTALL.md†L0113-L0150】.

Architecture: How the Integration Works

The integration relies on three core files that wrap the skill definition:

1. skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml — Defines the /i-have-adhd custom command, embedding the full prompt from GEMINI.md directly in the TOML configuration【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml†L01-L25】

2. gemini-extension.json — Extension manifest pointing to GEMINI.md as the context source【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/gemini‑extension.json†L01-L06】

3. GEMINI.md — Imports @./skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md to load the complete rule set【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/GEMINI.md†L01-L06】

The actual behavior is defined in SKILL.md, which contains the formatting rules, cognitive load optimizations, and structure guidelines. Neither the TOML nor JSON files modify these rules—they simply route them to Gemini【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i‑have‑adhd/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md†L13-L40】.

Installing the Opt-In Custom Command

For users who want ADHD-friendly output only when explicitly requested:

mkdir -p ~/.gemini/commands
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml \
  -o ~/.gemini/commands/i-have-adhd.toml

After installation, start any Gemini session and run:

gemini
/i-have-adhd

The skill remains active for that session only. Close the session, and Gemini returns to default behavior【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/INSTALL.md†L0181-L0245】.

Installing the Always-On Extension

For persistent ADHD-optimized output across all sessions:

gemini extensions install https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

The extension reads GEMINI.md at session startup, automatically importing SKILL.md. No manual activation is required—every response follows the ADHD-friendly format from the first message【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i‑have‑adhd/main/INSTALL.md†L0326-L0332】.

Verifying Your Installation

Confirm successful setup using the appropriate command for your chosen mode:

# For custom command installation

ls ~/.gemini/commands

# Expected output: i-have-adhd.toml

# For extension installation

gemini extensions list

# Expected output: i-have-adhd with version info

Both verification methods are detailed in the installation guide【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i‑have‑adhd/main/INSTALL.md†L0334-L0340】.

Updating and Uninstalling

Manage your installation lifecycle with these commands:

Operation	Command Route	Extension Route
Update	Re-run the curl command	gemini extensions update i-have-adhd
Uninstall	rm ~/.gemini/commands/i-have-adhd.toml	gemini extensions uninstall i-have-adhd

Complete uninstall instructions appear in INSTALL.md【/cache/repos/github.com/ayghri/i‑have‑adhd/main/INSTALL.md†L0443-L0055】.

Complete Setup Walkthrough

# =================================================

# OPTION 1: Per-session command (opt-in)

# =================================================

# 1. Install the command definition

mkdir -p ~/.gemini/commands
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/main/skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml \
  -o ~/.gemini/commands/i-have-adhd.toml

# 2. Use in any session

gemini
/i-have-adhd  # ADHD rules now active for this session only

# =================================================

# OPTION 2: Always-on extension

# =================================================

# Single command install

gemini extensions install https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

# =================================================

# VERIFICATION (both routes)

# =================================================

ls ~/.gemini/commands           # Check command file

gemini extensions list          # Check extension status

# =================================================

# CLEANUP (when needed)

# =================================================

gemini extensions uninstall i-have-adhd
rm ~/.gemini/commands/i-have-adhd.toml

Key Files Reference

File	Purpose	Location in Repository
gemini.toml	Command definition with embedded prompt	skills/i-have-adhd/agents/gemini.toml
gemini-extension.json	Extension manifest	Repository root
GEMINI.md	Extension entry point that imports skill	Repository root
SKILL.md	Core rule set for ADHD-optimized output	skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md
INSTALL.md	Full installation documentation	Repository root

Summary

• Two integration modes: Custom command (/i-have-adhd) for on-demand use, extension for automatic application
• Single skill source: Both modes ultimately load skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, ensuring consistent behavior
• Simple installation: One curl command for the custom route, one gemini extensions install for the permanent route
• Easy verification: Check ~/.gemini/commands or run gemini extensions list to confirm setup
• Clean removal: Delete the TOML file or use gemini extensions uninstall as appropriate

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both the command and extension simultaneously?

Yes, though the extension takes precedence. If you install both, the extension loads SKILL.md automatically at session start. Running /i-have-adhd in the same session re-imports the same rules, causing no conflict but adding no benefit. Choose one approach based on your usage pattern.

Does the custom command modify my Gemini configuration permanently?

No. The TOML file in ~/.gemini/commands/ only defines an available command. It does not alter global settings, and the ADHD rules activate only in sessions where you explicitly type /i-have-adhd. Remove the file to completely eliminate the option.

How do I update to the latest version of i-have-adhd rules?

Re-install using your original method. For the command route, re-run the curl command to fetch the latest gemini.toml. For the extension, run gemini extensions update i-have-adhd. Both pull the most recent version of the underlying SKILL.md from the repository.

Will the ADHD formatting work with all Gemini CLI features?

Yes. Whether you use the command or extension, the rules in SKILL.md apply to all LLM outputs in the session. This includes code generation, explanation requests, and multi-turn conversations. The integration operates at the context level, not the feature level.

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