How to Install HumanLayer Skills for Claude Code

To install HumanLayer skills for Claude Code, run the npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill <skill-name> 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 <skill-name> flag identifies which skill to install from the plugins/<skill-name>/ directory.
4. Clone and register – The CLI copies files from plugins/<skill-name>/ into a local .claude-plugin/ folder, updates the marketplace manifest at .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:

npx skills add humanlayer/skills --skill SKILLNAME

Visual Assistant (show-me)

To install the show-me visual assistant skill:

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 within the repository.

CLAUDE.md Enhancement (improve-claude-md)

To install the improve-claude-md skill for optimizing your CLAUDE.md files:

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:

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:

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:

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 file that defines its behavior and templates:

• plugins/show-me/SKILL.md – Visual output templates and descriptions
• plugins/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md – CLAUDE.md rewriting logic
• plugins/narrow-react-prop-types/SKILL.md – React prop-type guidance
• plugins/build-iterated-agentic-loop/SKILL.md – Agent workflow configuration
• 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/<skill-name>/ source directory
• .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 <name>
• Skills source from the plugins/<skill-name>/ directory in the humanlayer/skills repository
• Local storage occurs in the .claude-plugin/ folder with metadata in 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/<skill-name>/ path and updates .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 <skill-name>. Because the CLI pulls directly from the GitHub repository, executing the command again fetches the latest skill definition from plugins/<skill-name>/ and overwrites your local copy in .claude-plugin/.

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