What Is the i-have-adhd AI Coding Assistant? Purpose and Implementation

The i-have-adhd AI coding assistant is a specialized skill for Claude Code and compatible AI assistants that transforms verbose technical explanations into concise, actionable, step-by-step instructions designed to reduce cognitive overload for developers with ADHD.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides a plugin-based skill that modifies how AI coding assistants generate responses. Rather than delivering traditional explanatory prose, this AI coding assistant restructures output to prioritize immediate action items, precise time estimates, and numbered sequences that accommodate working-memory limitations.

How the i-have-adhd AI Coding Assistant Works

The skill operates through a manifest-based rule system integrated into the assistant's response pipeline.

The Skill Manifest (SKILL.md)

Located at skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, this file encodes ten concrete output rules. According to the source code, these rules include leading with the next concrete action, numbering multi-step tasks, and providing minute-level time estimates rather than vague durations.

Command Activation System

Users activate the behavior via the /i-have-adhd command defined in .opencode/command/i-have-adhd.md. Once invoked, the skill applies its formatting rules to every subsequent reply for the remainder of the session.

Runtime Integration

The AGENTS.md file documents how the skill integrates with various AI runtime environments. When installed via the plugin marketplace, the assistant reads the skill manifest and filters all generated content through the ADHD-friendly ruleset until the user terminates the session.

Core Design Principles for Neurodivergent Developers

The skill addresses specific cognitive challenges through architectural choices visible in the source implementation.

Action-First Architecture

Traditional AI assistants often prepend explanatory context before delivering instructions. The i-have-adhd skill inverts this pattern, placing the immediate next step at the beginning of every response. This design accounts for working-memory limitations common in ADHD—if the user scrolls or loses focus, the most critical information remains visible.

Explicit Time Boxing

The SKILL.md mandates concrete temporal estimates (e.g., "≈ 15 minutes total") rather than subjective assessments like "quick" or "soon." This precision helps users with time-blindness schedule their focus sessions effectively.

Dopamine-Driven Feedback Loops

The ruleset requires explicit confirmation of completion ("Login now works...") to provide visible wins. This targets dopamine scarcity by creating micro-accomplishments that maintain motivation during complex debugging or refactoring tasks.

Installing and Using the Skill

Basic Activation

To enable the i-have-adhd AI coding assistant in Claude Code:

/i-have-adhd

Typical Output Format

After activation, technical guidance transforms from narrative explanations to structured action lists:

1. Run `npm install jsonwebtoken`.
2. Open `src/auth.ts` and replace `verifyToken` (lines 42-58) with the snippet below.
3. Run `npm test -- auth.spec.ts`.

≈ 15 minutes total.
Next: run the test suite and paste any failing line.

Customization Workflow

Advanced users can modify the behavior by editing the rule manifest:

# Clone and modify the skill

git clone https://github.com/your-username/i-have-adhd
cd i-have-adhd

# Edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md to adjust rules

# Reinstall via the plugin system

claude plugin uninstall i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace add your-username/i-have-adhd
claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

Deactivation

To return to standard response formatting:

stop adhd mode

Summary

• The i-have-adhd AI coding assistant is a skill for Claude Code that restructures AI output into ADHD-friendly formats.
• Core rules defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md prioritize action-first communication, numbered steps, and precise time estimates.
• Activation occurs via /i-have-adhd and persists until "stop adhd mode" is issued.
• The implementation addresses working-memory limitations, action friction, and dopamine scarcity through specific output constraints.
• Source documentation in AGENTS.md and INSTALL.md provides integration details for various AI runtime environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the i-have-adhd AI coding assistant different from standard Claude Code?

Standard Claude Code provides comprehensive explanations with context and reasoning. The i-have-adhd skill modifies this behavior to deliver only the essential next actions upfront, followed by implementation details, specifically to reduce the cognitive load associated with parsing verbose technical text.

Can I use the i-have-adhd skill with other AI coding assistants besides Claude Code?

According to the AGENTS.md file, the skill architecture is designed for compatibility with any AI assistant that supports the OpenCode plugin specification. The manifest-based approach in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md allows integration with any runtime that can parse and apply output formatting rules.

How do I customize the ADHD-friendly rules for my specific needs?

Fork the repository and edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md to modify the ten core rules, then reinstall the plugin using the marketplace commands. This allows you to adjust time estimate granularity, step numbering formats, or action-priority weightings to match your personal workflow requirements.

Will enabling this skill affect all my Claude Code conversations?

The skill activates per-session when you type /i-have-adhd and remains active until you explicitly say "stop adhd mode". It does not persist across new terminal sessions or conversations unless you reinstall the plugin globally or re-invoke the command.

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