# How to Install HumanLayer Skills for Claude Code > Easily install HumanLayer skills for Claude Code using the npx skills add command. Quickly integrate advanced capabilities into your project from the humanlayer/skills repository. - Repository: [HumanLayer/skills](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-09-12 --- **To install HumanLayer skills for Claude Code, run the `npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill ` command to fetch the skill definition from the humanlayer/skills repository and register it as a slash command in your project.** HumanLayer distributes its Claude Code capabilities through the `humanlayer/skills` repository as an npm-based CLI tool called `skills`. This guide explains how to install these skills using the `npx` command-line interface, which clones skill files from the repository's `plugins/` directory and configures them for immediate use within Claude Code. ## How the Installation Works The installation process relies on a lightweight CLI that interacts directly with the GitHub repository. When you execute the install command, the tool performs several operations to integrate the skill into your local environment. ### Installation Flow The CLI follows a four-step workflow to set up each skill: 1. **Execute via npx** – The `npx skills` command runs the latest published version of the package without requiring a global installation. 2. **Target the repository** – The argument `humanlayer/skills` specifies the skill catalog source. 3. **Select the skill** – The `--skill ` flag identifies which skill to install from the `plugins//` directory. 4. **Clone and register** – The CLI copies files from `plugins//` into a local `.claude-plugin/` folder, updates the marketplace manifest at [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json), and registers the slash command. Because the tool pulls directly from the repository, you always receive the latest skill version without manual file management. ## Installing Specific Skills You can install any skill from the catalog by replacing `SKILLNAME` with the desired identifier in the following command: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill SKILLNAME ``` ### Visual Assistant (show-me) To install the **show-me** visual assistant skill: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill show-me ``` After installation, invoke the skill within Claude Code: ``` /show-me ``` The skill definition resides in [`plugins/show-me/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/show-me/SKILL.md) within the repository. ### CLAUDE.md Enhancement (improve-claude-md) To install the **improve-claude-md** skill for optimizing your CLAUDE.md files: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill improve-claude-md ``` Access the skill via: ``` /improve-claude-md ``` ### React Development (narrow-react-prop-types) For React prop-type narrowing capabilities: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill narrow-react-prop-types ``` Invoke with: ``` /narrow-react-prop-types ``` ### Agentic Workflows (build-iterated-agentic-loop) To set up an iterated coding agent workflow: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill build-iterated-agentic-loop ``` Run using: ``` /build-iterated-agentic-loop ``` ### Control Loop Design (design-control-loop) For control-loop interview and generation tasks: ```bash npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill design-control-loop ``` Execute with: ``` /design-control-loop ``` ## Key File Structure Understanding how skills are organized in the `humanlayer/skills` repository helps troubleshoot installation issues and understand the CLI's behavior. ### Repository Layout The repository stores skill definitions under the `plugins/` directory, with each skill containing a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file that defines its behavior and templates: - [`plugins/show-me/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/show-me/SKILL.md) – Visual output templates and descriptions - [`plugins/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md) – CLAUDE.md rewriting logic - [`plugins/narrow-react-prop-types/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/narrow-react-prop-types/SKILL.md) – React prop-type guidance - [`plugins/build-iterated-agentic-loop/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/build-iterated-agentic-loop/SKILL.md) – Agent workflow configuration - [`plugins/design-control-loop/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/design-control-loop/SKILL.md) – Control-loop generation rules ### Local Installation Structure After running the install command, the CLI creates a `.claude-plugin/` directory in your project root containing: - **Skill files** – Copied from the corresponding `plugins//` source directory - **[`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json)** – The skill manifest that registers available slash commands with Claude Code This local structure ensures Claude Code can discover and execute the installed skills through the standard slash command interface. ## Summary - **Use `npx`** to run the `skills` CLI without global installation: `npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill ` - **Skills source** from the `plugins//` directory in the `humanlayer/skills` repository - **Local storage** occurs in the `.claude-plugin/` folder with metadata in [`marketplace.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/marketplace.json) - **Invocation** happens via slash commands (e.g., `/show-me`) immediately after installation - **No manual updates** required—the CLI always fetches the latest version from the repository ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the `skills` CLI tool? The `skills` CLI is an npm-based command-line interface published by HumanLayer that automates the installation of Claude Code skills. It fetches skill definitions from the `humanlayer/skills` GitHub repository and handles the file copying and registration process required to make slash commands available in your Claude Code environment. ### Where are skill files stored locally? After installation, skill files reside in the `.claude-plugin/` directory within your project root. The CLI copies files from the repository's `plugins//` path and updates [`.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json) to register the skill with Claude Code's slash command system. ### Do I need to install the skills CLI globally? No. The recommended approach uses `npx skills add`, which executes the latest version of the package without permanent installation. This ensures you always run the most recent CLI version while keeping your global npm packages clean. ### How do I update an installed skill? Re-run the original installation command: `npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill `. Because the CLI pulls directly from the GitHub repository, executing the command again fetches the latest skill definition from `plugins//` and overwrites your local copy in `.claude-plugin/`.