# Where Is the Canonical Behavior of the i-have-adhd Skill Defined? > Discover where the canonical behavior of the i-have-adhd skill is defined. The SKILL.md file holds all response rules, metadata, and persistence behaviors for compliant runtimes. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: internals - Published: 2026-08-25 --- **The canonical behavior of the i-have-adhd skill is defined in the [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) file, which serves as the single source of truth for all ten ADHD-friendly response rules, metadata specifications, and persistence behaviors required by compliant runtimes.** The `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository provides a specialized AI assistance framework optimized for users with ADHD. Identifying where the **canonical behavior of the i-have-adhd skill** resides ensures contributors modify the correct source files and maintain synchronization across editor implementations. ## The Canonical Skill Definition File The definitive specification lives at **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** in the repository root. This markdown file contains the complete behavioral contract that all runtimes must implement, including ten specific ADHD-friendly response rules, skill metadata, and persistence behavior requirements. According to the repository's [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md) guide (lines 29-31), this file is explicitly designated as the *canonical* skill definition. The document states that any modifications must be made to this primary location first before synchronizing the secondary Cursor-specific copy. This governance model ensures that behavioral changes propagate correctly from a single authoritative source. ## Key Files in the Repository Structure Understanding the relationship between these files prevents configuration drift: - **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** — The canonical definition containing the complete rule set and metadata. This is the source-of-truth referenced by [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md). - **[`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** — A Cursor-compatible mirror of the canonical file. This copy must remain synchronized with the primary definition per repository guidelines. - **[`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md)** — The repository map and agent guidance document that explicitly identifies the canonical skill location and mandates the synchronization workflow between the primary and Cursor copies. ## Invoking and Controlling the Skill The skill supports explicit activation and deactivation commands that trigger the behavior defined in the canonical file. To invoke the skill interactively: ```text /i-have-adhd ``` A typical response follows the ADHD-friendly format, providing exactly one concrete next action: ``` Run `npm install jsonwebtoken`, then edit `src/auth.ts:42`. ``` To toggle the mode manually: ```text i-have-adhd ``` To deactivate the specialized behavior: ```text stop adhd mode ``` ## Synchronization Requirements and Runtime Compliance The repository enforces a strict synchronization policy to prevent behavioral inconsistencies. As documented in [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md), changes to the **canonical behavior of the i-have-adhd skill** must always originate in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) first. Only after canonical updates should contributors synchronize the Cursor 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). This dual-file architecture supports multiple runtime environments while maintaining a single source of truth. Runtimes reading from [`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) receive identical behavioral specifications to those reading from the canonical path, ensuring consistent ADHD-friendly assistance regardless of the editor or agent consuming the skill definition. ## Summary - The **canonical behavior** is defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), not the Cursor copy. - The file specifies ten ADHD-friendly response rules, metadata, and persistence requirements. - [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/AGENTS.md) (lines 29-31) explicitly designates this path as the single source of truth. - **[`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** must remain synchronized with the canonical file. - Activation occurs via `/i-have-adhd` or `i-have-adhd`, while `stop adhd mode` disables the behavior. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What file contains the canonical i-have-adhd skill definition? The canonical definition resides in **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** at the repository root. This file serves as the authoritative specification that all runtimes must follow, containing the complete rule set, metadata, and persistence logic for ADHD-friendly interactions. ### How do I activate ADHD mode in the i-have-adhd repository? Activate the mode by issuing the command **`i-have-adhd`** or using the slash command **`/i-have-adhd`**. To deactivate the specialized behavior and return to standard assistance, use the phrase **`stop adhd mode`**. ### Why does the repository maintain two copies of SKILL.md? The repository maintains **[`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** as the canonical source and **[`.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.cursor/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)** as a Cursor-specific runtime copy. This architecture allows the Cursor editor to consume the skill definition from a standardized local path while ensuring all behavioral changes originate from a single, version-controlled source of truth. ### What specific rules are defined in the canonical skill file? The canonical [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) defines **ten ADHD-friendly response rules** that govern how the AI structures its output. These rules emphasize single-action focus, concrete next steps, and persistence behaviors designed to reduce cognitive load and decision paralysis for users with ADHD.