# How to Use i-have-adhd with Zed Editor: Complete Setup Guide > Learn how to use i-have-adhd with Zed editor. Install the SKILL.md file via the Agent Panel or clone the repository for a seamless setup. Boost your productivity today. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-02 --- **You can use i-have-adhd with Zed by installing its SKILL.md file through Zed's Agent Panel, either via direct URL import from GitHub or by cloning the repository locally to `~/.config/zed/skills/`.** The **i-have-adhd** project provides formatting rules designed for ADHD-friendly readability in AI-assisted coding. Since Zed's built-in Agent natively supports the Skill specification format, integrating this tool requires no conversion or complex configuration—just point Zed to the skill definition and invoke it with a slash command. --- ## Two Methods to Install i-have-adhd in Zed Zed offers two installation paths depending on whether you prefer cloud-based skills or local, offline access. Both methods register the skill in Zed's **Agent Panel**, making it available across all your projects through the `/i-have-adhd` command. ### Method 1: Install from URL (Recommended) This approach keeps the skill in Zed's **User** scope, meaning it's globally available without cluttering individual project directories. 1. Open Zed's Agent Panel and navigate to the Skills manager 2. Select **"Create skill from URL"** (or press `Cmd+Shift+P` → type "agent: create skill from url") 3. Paste this exact URL: ```bash https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md ``` 4. Confirm—the skill immediately appears in your User scope Once installed, typing `/i-have-adhd` in any file activates the skill's formatting constraints. ### Method 2: Local Clone for Offline Access Copy the skill directly into Zed's configuration directory when you need network-independent operation or want to version-control the skill alongside your own dotfiles. ```bash # Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd # Copy skill to Zed's user-skills directory cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.config/zed/skills/ # Refresh Zed's Skills manager or restart the editor ``` The skill now loads from your local filesystem at `~/.config/zed/skills/i-have-adhd/`. --- ## How the Zed Integration Works Understanding the mechanics helps troubleshoot issues and customize behavior. ### The SKILL.md Format Zed's Agent recognizes skills through a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file containing: - A YAML metadata header (`---` delimited) - Rule definitions that constrain LLM output In [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), the critical `disable-model-invocation: true` flag instructs Zed **not** to re-invoke the model when the skill runs. Instead, the Agent injects the pre-written behavioral rules directly into the prompt context. ### What Happens at Runtime When you type `/i-have-adhd`: 1. Zed locates the registered skill in the Agent Panel 2. Parses the rule definitions from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) 3. Prepends these constraints to your current LLM prompt 4. The model generates responses following ADHD-friendly patterns: - Lead with the immediate next action - Number all sequential steps - Provide concrete time estimates - Break complex explanations into scannable chunks --- ## Verifying and Managing Your Installation ### Check Installation Status Open the **Skills manager** in Zed's Agent Panel and look for "i-have-adhd" in the list, or simply type `/i-have-adhd` in any editor buffer—the autocomplete should surface the skill if properly registered. ### Update the Skill Keep current with upstream improvements: **URL-based installations:** Repeat the "Create skill from URL" step with the same GitHub URL—Zed overwrites the previous version. **Local installations:** ```bash cd i-have-adhd && git pull cp -R skills/i-have-adhd ~/.config/zed/skills/ # Restart Zed or reload the Skills manager ``` --- ## Key Files and References | File | Location | Purpose | |------|----------|---------| | [`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 consumed by Zed's Agent; contains metadata header and formatting rules | | [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) | Repository root | Official installation guide with Zed-specific instructions in the dedicated Zed section | | [`README.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/README.md) | Repository root | Project overview with quick-start examples across multiple editors and agents | The Zed integration follows the standard documented in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) under the **Zed** heading, which mirrors the procedures outlined above. --- ## Summary - **Zed natively supports** the i-have-adhd skill through its Agent Panel—no plugins or conversions needed - **Two installation methods**: URL import for convenience (`https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`), or local clone to `~/.config/zed/skills/` for offline use - **Activation**: Type `/i-have-adhd` in any file to apply ADHD-friendly formatting constraints to LLM responses - **Updates**: Re-import via URL or `git pull` and recopy for local installations --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the i-have-adhd skill for Zed? The i-have-adhd skill is a set of LLM prompt constraints that restructure AI-generated code explanations for ADHD-friendly readability. According to the ayghri/i-have-adhd source code, it enforces patterns like numbered steps, action-first statements, and concrete time estimates. In Zed, this skill integrates directly with the built-in Agent through the standard Skill specification format. ### Where does Zed store locally installed skills? Zed loads user-scoped skills from `~/.config/zed/skills/` on macOS and Linux. When you copy the `i-have-adhd` directory there—as shown in the local installation method—the Agent discovers it on startup without requiring network access to GitHub. ### Can I use i-have-adhd without installing it permanently? No temporary or per-session option exists in Zed's current Agent implementation. You must register the skill through either URL import or local filesystem placement before the `/i-have-adhd` slash command becomes available. However, once registered, you choose when to invoke it—the skill doesn't automatically apply to all Agent interactions. ### Does the i-have-adhd skill work with all Zed LLM providers? Yes. The skill operates at the prompt-construction layer before your request reaches any LLM backend. The `disable-model-invocation: true` flag in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) ensures Zed only manipulates the prompt context rather than triggering model-specific behavior, making it provider-agnostic across OpenAI, Anthropic, and local model configurations.