# What Is the disable-model-invocation Flag in i-have-adhd?

> Learn about the disable-model-invocation flag in i-have-adhd. Prevent automatic rule application and explicitly invoke skills for better control.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-07-31

---

**The `disable-model-invocation` flag is a YAML metadata property defined in the skill descriptor that prevents automatic rule application until the user explicitly invokes the skill.**

This flag controls activation behavior in the `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository, ensuring the productivity-focused rules remain dormant during standard AI interactions. Located in the skill's frontmatter, the `disable-model-invocation` setting determines whether Claude Code, Copilot, or similar harnesses automatically load the output-shaping instructions.

## Where the disable-model-invocation Flag Is Defined

The metadata property appears at line 4 of [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md):

```yaml
---
name: i-have-adhd
description: 'Shape output for a reader with ADHD …'
disable-model-invocation: true   # prevents auto-loading

license: MIT
---

```

A cached copy of the skill definition exists at [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), maintaining identical configuration to the source file.

## How disable-model-invocation Controls Skill Loading

When set to `true`, this property instructs the surrounding harness not to automatically apply the skill's rules. The model never receives the output-shaping instructions during standard chat sessions, keeping the skill dormant by default.

### Explicit Invocation Requirements

To activate the skill, you must type the explicit command:

```bash
/i-have-adhd

```

This manual trigger temporarily loads the rules for that specific interaction. If the flag were set to `false` or omitted, the harness would automatically prepend the skill's instructions to every prompt, creating an "always-on" behavior.

## How Platforms Respect the disable-model-invocation Flag

According to the installation documentation in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), both Copilot and Claude Code honor this metadata setting.

**Copilot** recognizes the flag and remains inactive until explicitly invoked (see [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) around line 406). Similarly, **Claude Code** distinguishes manually triggered skills from auto-loaded ones, as documented near line 560 of [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), ensuring consistent behavior across platforms.

## Summary

- The `disable-model-invocation` flag appears at line 4 of [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and its cached copy at [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)
- Setting it to `true` prevents automatic skill loading across Claude Code, Copilot, and Codex
- Users must explicitly invoke the skill using `/i-have-adhd` to activate its output-shaping rules
- Omitting the flag or setting it to `false` forces the skill rules to apply to every interaction

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What happens if I set disable-model-invocation to false?

If set to `false` or omitted entirely, the harness automatically applies the skill's output-shaping rules to every response. This creates an "always-on" behavior that contradicts the intended productivity focus of the i-have-adhd skill.

### How do I know if the skill is active when disable-model-invocation is true?

The skill is only active immediately after you type `/i-have-adhd` in the chat interface. Once invoked, the AI applies the formatting rules for that specific interaction, returning to normal behavior afterward.

### Does GitHub Copilot respect the disable-model-invocation flag?

Yes. According to [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) at line 406, Copilot recognizes the flag and keeps the skill dormant until explicitly called via the invocation command.

### Where is the skill definition cached locally?

The repository includes a cached copy at [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) that mirrors the canonical definition in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). Both files contain identical `disable-model-invocation` settings.