# How to Use i-have-ADHD with the Pi Agent: Complete Setup Guide

> Learn how to use i-have-ADHD with the Pi agent. Follow our simple setup guide to install and enable the skill for enhanced productivity.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-02

---

**Invoke the i-have-ADHD skill in Pi by running `/skill:i-have-adhd` after installing it via `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a pi` and enabling `"enableSkillCommands": true` in your Pi settings.**

The `i-have-adhd` repository by Aymane Ghrib provides an **Agent Skill** that restructures AI responses for readers with ADHD. If you use the **Pi agent**, you can install and activate this skill to get concise, actionable outputs with clear next steps and concrete time estimates.

---

## What the i-have-adHD Skill Does

The skill lives in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and defines a set of formatting rules designed to reduce cognitive load. When active, Pi will:

- Lead every response with the next action
- Number multi-step tasks
- Provide concrete time estimates
- Use short paragraphs and clear structure

The skill's front-matter sets `disable-model-invocation: true`, which means Pi **will not** auto-activate it—you must trigger it manually with a slash command.

---

## Installing the i-have-ADHD Skill for Pi

### Step 1: Add the Skill via CLI

Use the Pi-provided `skills` CLI to clone and register the skill:

```bash
npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a pi -y

```

The `-a pi` flag targets the Pi agent specifically. The `-y` flag skips confirmation prompts.

### Step 2: Enable Slash-Command Support

Edit your Pi configuration file to allow skill commands:

```json
// ~/.pi/settings.json
{
  "enableSkillCommands": true
}

```

This one-time setting is required because Pi disables slash commands by default for security.

### Step 3: Restart Pi

Start a fresh Pi session so the new skill appears in the command registry.

---

## Activating and Deactivating i-have-ADHD Mode

### Activate in Any Chat Session

Type the exact slash command:

```text
/skill:i-have-adhd

```

Once activated, the skill's rules apply to **every response** in that session until you disable it.

### Deactivate When Done

Use either phrase to return to normal output:

```text
stop adhd mode

```

or

```text
normal mode

```

---

## How Pi Loads the Skill Internally

According to the `ayghri/i-have-adhd` source code, Pi implements the **Agent Skills specification** natively. When you run the install command, Pi:

1. Clones the repository to your local skills directory
2. Detects [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) as a valid skill definition
3. Parses the front-matter (title, description, invocation settings)
4. Registers `/skill:i-have-adhd` as an available slash command

Unlike some agents that require JSON conversion, Pi reads [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) directly—no build step needed.

---

## Key Files and Their Purpose

| File | Location | What It Contains |
|------|----------|----------------|
| [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) | [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) | Core skill definition with ADHD formatting rules and `disable-model-invocation: true` |
| [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) | Repository root | Pi-specific installation steps, CLI examples, and troubleshooting |
| [`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) | Repository root | Overview of supported agents and general usage patterns |

The skill contains **no executable code**—only declarative rules in Markdown that Pi's response formatter applies at inference time.

---

## Troubleshooting Common Issues

**Slash command not recognized?**

- Verify `"enableSkillCommands": true` is set in `~/.pi/settings.json`
- Confirm the skill installed with `npx skills list`

**Skill activates but format doesn't change?**

- Check that you typed `/skill:i-have-adhd` exactly (case-sensitive)
- Some Pi versions require a new session after installing skills

**Want permanent activation?**

Pi currently requires manual activation per session due to the `disable-model-invocation: true` setting in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md). This is intentional design—you control when ADHD-friendly formatting applies.

---

## Summary

- Install with `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a pi`
- Enable commands in `~/.pi/settings.json` with `"enableSkillCommands": true`
- Activate per-session with `/skill:i-have-adhd`
- Deactivate with `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode`
- The skill definition lives in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and requires no conversion for Pi

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does i-have-adHD work with Pi out of the box?

Yes. Pi implements the Agent Skills specification natively and reads [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) directly without conversion. Install via the CLI and enable slash commands to use it.

### Can I make i-have-adHD mode permanent in Pi?

No. The skill's front-matter explicitly sets `disable-model-invocation: true`, requiring manual activation with `/skill:i-have-adhd` each session. This design gives you explicit control over when ADHD formatting applies.

### What happens if I forget the slash command?

Type `help` or `/help` in Pi to list available skills. The i-have-ADHD skill appears as `/skill:i-have-adhd` if properly installed.

### Does this skill modify Pi's model or just the output formatting?

Output formatting only. The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file contains declarative rules that Pi's response renderer applies—no model retraining or fine-tuning occurs.