How to Install earthtojake/text-to-cad: Three Methods for CAD Generation Skills

You can install earthtojake/text-to-cad via the universal Skills CLI (npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad), as a platform-specific plugin for Codex, Claude Code, or Grok Build, or by cloning the repository for Python development.

The earthtojake/text-to-cad repository provides agent skills that generate CAD models, URDF robot descriptions, and simulation artifacts. Installing these capabilities depends on whether you are adding skills to an existing agent runtime or contributing to the core engine locally.

Method 1: Install via Skills CLI (Recommended)

The Skills CLI offers the fastest path to deploy text-to-cad capabilities. This universal installer fetches skill definitions directly from the repository and registers them with your agent without manual configuration.

To install all text-to-cad skills, run:

npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad

The command downloads the skill definitions from skills/cad/SKILL.md and skills/urdf/SKILL.md, making them immediately available to your agent. To update existing skills to the latest version, execute the same command again. The CLI automatically re-fetches and overwrites any existing skill files.

Method 2: Install as an Agent Plugin

For users running specific agent platforms, the repository provides native plugin manifests. Each platform offers a one-line installation command that registers the text-to-cad plugin with the agent runtime.

Codex Plugin Installation

Requires Codex version 0.142.0 or higher:

codex plugin marketplace add earthtojake/text-to-cad
codex plugin add cad@text-to-cad

Claude Code Plugin Installation

claude plugin marketplace add earthtojake/text-to-cad
claude plugin install cad@text-to-cad

Grok Build Plugin Installation

grok plugin install earthtojake/text-to-cad --trust
grok plugin enable cad

Method 3: Clone and Install for Development

Contributors and advanced users should clone the repository to access the full source code and validation suite. This method requires Python 3.11 or newer.

First, clone the repository and navigate to the project root:

git clone https://github.com/earthtojake/text-to-cad.git
cd text-to-cad

Install the development dependencies specified in requirements-dev.txt:

pip install -r requirements-dev.txt

Verify the installation by executing the test driver:

./scripts/test/test.sh

This script validates the integration between the skill definitions and the core engine.

Understanding the Core Engine (cadgen)

All three installation methods ultimately rely on the cadgen distribution located in packages/cadgen/. According to packages/cadgen/README.md, this package contains the core generation engine, a bundled JavaScript runtime, and the CAD Viewer server.

The cadgen package is version-pinned in each skill's requirements.txt file, ensuring compatibility between the skills and the underlying generation runtime. When installing via CLI or plugins, the system automatically resolves these dependencies without manual intervention.

Summary

• Install earthtojake/text-to-cad instantly using npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad for universal agent support
• Platform-specific plugins are available for Codex (≥0.142.0), Claude Code, and Grok Build using their respective CLI commands
• Development installations require cloning the repo, installing dependencies from requirements-dev.txt, and running ./scripts/test/test.sh
• The cadgen package in packages/cadgen/ provides the core engine that powers CAD and URDF generation skills

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I update text-to-cad skills after installation?

Run the same installation command used initially. For CLI installations, execute npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad again to re-fetch the latest skill definitions. Plugin users should reference their platform's native update mechanism to refresh the cad@text-to-cad registration.

What Python version is required for development?

The repository requires Python 3.11 or newer when installing from source. This version requirement is enforced in requirements-dev.txt to ensure compatibility with the cadgen engine bindings and asynchronous runtime features.

Where is the core CAD generation logic located?

The core engine resides in packages/cadgen/ as documented in packages/cadgen/README.md. This directory contains the bundled JavaScript runtime and CAD Viewer server that processes generation requests from the skill definitions in skills/cad/ and skills/urdf/.

Can I install individual skills instead of the entire repository?

Yes. While npx skills add earthtojake/text-to-cad fetches all available skills, the modular structure allows agent platforms to load specific skill definitions selectively. Each skill directory contains a SKILL.md manifest that defines its parameters and can be targeted individually by advanced agent configurations.

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