# How the Skill Installation Script Operates and Which Hosts It Configures > Learn how the skill installation script operates, validating packs and configuring AI hosts like Claude Code and Codex. Discover the three-phase idempotent process. - Repository: [Rohit Ghumare/ai-engineering-from-scratch](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-29 --- **The skill installation script ([`bin/install.sh`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/bin/install.sh)) validates the Agent Workbench pack, copies skill artifacts including [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md), and configures repositories to support Claude Code, Codex, and other AI hosts through an idempotent three-phase process.** The `rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch` repository ships with a portable **skill installation script** designed to drop the Agent Workbench curriculum into any target repository. This bash utility automates the deployment of curriculum packs while establishing host-specific invocation contracts for multiple AI coding environments. ## How the Skill Installation Script Operates Located at [`bin/install.sh`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/bin/install.sh) in the Agent Workbench pack, the script executes three distinct phases to safely deploy skill assets. ### Phase 1: Validation The script first declares a list of required pack items: [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md), `VERSION`, `docs/`, `schemas/`, and `scripts/`. It verifies each item exists under the pack root (`$PACK_ROOT`) before proceeding. Critically, the script checks whether [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md) already exists in the target repository. If detected, the installation aborts unless the `--force` flag is supplied. This protects existing host contracts from accidental overwrites while guaranteeing a complete pack structure. ### Phase 2: Installation During the core installation phase, the script performs the following atomic operations: - Copies the canonical [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md) into the target repository: `cp "$PACK_ROOT/AGENTS.md" "$TARGET/AGENTS.md"` - Recursively copies the `docs/`, `schemas/`, and `scripts/` directories using `mkdir -p` and `cp -r` - Writes the pack version into a hidden marker file (`.workbench-version`) This phase installs the full suite of skill assets—documentation, schema definitions, and helper scripts—in a single, reproducible step. ### Phase 3: Feedback Upon completion, the script emits a concise success message displaying the installed version. It suggests next manual steps including configuring [`task_board.json`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/task_board.json), running acceptance commands, and executing [`scripts/init_agent.py`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/scripts/init_agent.py) to bootstrap the agent environment. ## Hosts Configured by the Script The critical file installed by the script is **[`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md)**, which defines the **host-invocation contract** for all portable skills. This markdown file specifies how each skill can be invoked across different execution hosts. ### Claude Code For **Claude Code** environments, the script configures slash-command style invocations. The host contract enables syntax like: ``` Use /learn-agent-skills to start the Agent Skills path. ``` This routing allows Claude Code to recognize and execute skills using native slash command patterns. ### Codex For **Codex** hosts, the installation configures natural-language style invocations: ``` Use learn-agent-skills to start or resume the Agent Skills path. ``` The script ensures the target repository recognizes this invocation pattern without requiring slash prefixes. ### Other Compatible Hosts For generic AI coding assistants, the script configures standard natural language routing: ``` Use learn-agent-skills to start or resume the Agent Skills path. ``` These host definitions enable any downstream lesson to rely on a unified, host-agnostic skill name (`learn-agent-skills`) while concrete invocation syntax gets automatically resolved by the host-specific contract baked into [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md). ## Running the Skill Installation Script Execute the installer from the root of the skill pack: ```bash # Navigate to the pack directory cd phases/14-agent-engineering/42-agent-workbench-capstone/outputs/agent-workbench-pack # Standard installation (aborts if AGENTS.md exists) ./bin/install.sh # Force overwrite existing installation ./bin/install.sh --force ``` ### Verifying Host Contracts After installation, confirm the host configurations are properly deployed: ```bash # Inspect the installed AGENTS.md for host definitions cat AGENTS.md | grep -A2 "## Invocation belongs to the host" ``` This output displays entries for Claude Code, Codex, and generic natural-language hosts, confirming multi-environment compatibility. ## Key Files in the Installation Workflow The skill installation script interacts with several critical components: - **[`bin/install.sh`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/bin/install.sh)** – The idempotent installer script that validates packs, copies assets, and writes version markers - **[`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md)** – The host-invocation contract defining how portable skills are called on Claude Code, Codex, and other hosts - **`VERSION`** – The pack version file displayed during installation feedback - **`.workbench-version`** – Hidden version marker written to the target repository - **[`scripts/init_agent.py`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/scripts/init_agent.py)** – Helper script mentioned in post-installation hints for bootstrapping the agent environment ## Summary - The **skill installation script** operates through three phases: validation of required files, atomic installation of assets, and user feedback with next steps. - The script is **idempotent** by default, refusing to overwrite existing [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md) files unless the `--force` flag is provided. - It configures three host types: **Claude Code** (slash commands), **Codex** (natural language), and **other compatible hosts** (generic natural language). - Core artifacts installed include [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md), documentation directories, schema definitions, and the `.workbench-version` marker. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What makes the skill installation script idempotent? The script checks for the presence of [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md) in the target directory before executing any copy operations. If the file exists, the installation aborts immediately unless you explicitly pass the `--force` flag. This prevents accidental overwrites and ensures repeated runs are safe—subsequent executions simply refuse to modify existing installations without explicit user consent. ### Which AI hosts does the installation script configure? The script configures **Claude Code**, **Codex**, and **other compatible AI hosts** by deploying the [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md) host-invocation contract. Claude Code receives slash-command routing (`/learn-agent-skills`), while Codex and generic hosts use natural-language invocation patterns (`learn-agent-skills`). This multi-host configuration allows the same skill pack to operate across different AI coding assistants without manual reconfiguration. ### How do I force an overwrite of an existing skill installation? Append the `--force` flag when executing the script: ```bash ./bin/install.sh --force ``` This bypasses the existing file detection and replaces [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md), the `docs/`, `schemas/`, and `scripts/` directories, and updates the `.workbench-version` marker. Use this flag when upgrading to a new version of the Agent Workbench pack or when recovering from a corrupted installation. ### What files are required for the installation script to proceed? The script validates the presence of five required pack items before installation: [`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch/blob/main/AGENTS.md), `VERSION`, `docs/`, `schemas/`, and `scripts/`. If any of these components are missing from the pack root (`$PACK_ROOT`), the script aborts during the validation phase. This ensures only complete, valid skill packs get deployed to target repositories.