How to Install zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill: Complete Setup Guide for Linux, macOS, and Windows

Clone the repository and run the platform-specific refresh script to automatically detect, install, and index all required reverse-engineering tools.

The reverse-skill repository is a modular skill router that directs AI agents and security analysts to the appropriate reverse-engineering, penetration testing, or CTF workflow. Installing zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill requires only cloning the repository and executing a bootstrap script that handles dependency detection and installation across Linux, macOS, or Windows.

Installation Overview

The repository follows a three-layer architecture:

1. Routing Layer — Global rules in RULES.md, fast primary ladder in skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md, and full task matrix in skills/routing.md
2. Ops Layer — Case workspace contracts and role-based permissions under skills/ops/
3. Capability Layer — Bootstrap scripts that install and verify external tools, generating skills/tool-index.md

Post-installation, the router queries tool-index.md to determine which skills can execute based on available tools.

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill.git
cd reverse-skill

This creates the local copy needed for all subsequent setup operations.

Step 2: Refresh the Tool Index

Run the platform-appropriate refresh script to detect existing tools and populate the local index:

Platform	Command
Linux / macOS	bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh
Windows	powershell -File skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.ps1
Kali Linux	bash kali/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh

These scripts write to skills/tool-index.{md,json}, which the router uses for runtime capability checks.

Step 3: Install Platform Prerequisites

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu) Baseline Setup

Install core dependencies via apt as documented in docs/platforms/linux.md:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y \
  git curl wget ca-certificates unzip tar jq \
  python3 python3-venv python3-pip pipx \
  openjdk-17-jdk nodejs npm \
  graphviz plantuml nmap sqlmap ffuf hashcat binwalk
python3 -m pipx ensurepath

Install Missing Tools Manually (Linux Example: jadx)

For tools not in package managers, download GitHub releases directly:

mkdir -p ~/tools/jadx
curl -L https://github.com/skylot/jadx/releases/latest/download/jadx-1.5.5.zip -o /tmp/jadx.zip
unzip -q /tmp/jadx.zip -d ~/tools/jadx
export PATH="$HOME/tools/jadx/bin:$PATH"
jadx --version

macOS Baseline Setup (Homebrew)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

brew install \
  git curl wget jq unzip gnu-tar \
  python node openjdk \
  jadx apktool android-platform-tools \
  radare2 graphviz plantuml \
  nmap sqlmap ffuf hashcat binwalk

python3 -m pip install --user pipx
python3 -m pipx ensurepath

Install Frida via pipx (macOS)

pipx install frida-tools
frida --version
frida-ps --version

Step 4: Bootstrap Core Capabilities

Run skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh to register specific reverse-engineering capabilities with the router:

# Core Android reverse-engineering tools

bash skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh jadx apktool frida

# JavaScript hooking and analysis frameworks

bash skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh jshookmcp anything-analyzer

# IDA Pro registration (only if locally installed)

bash skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh idapro --start-services

The bootstrap script updates internal capability registries so skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md can route tasks appropriately.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

Validate that all expected tools are present and the index is current:

java -version
python3 --version
node -v
npm -v
npx -v
jadx --version || true
apktool --version || true
adb version || true
frida --version || true
r2 -v || true
ghidraRun 2>/dev/null || true
bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh

Running refresh-tool-index.sh finalizes the environment by updating skills/tool-index.md with the actual state of installed binaries.

Key Files in the Installation Flow

Understanding these files helps troubleshoot setup issues:

• README.md — High-level quick-start and usage matrix
• RULES.md — Global routing rules that gate task execution
• skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md — Primary fast-track routing ladder
• skills/routing.md — Complete task-to-skill mapping
• skills/tool-index.md — Auto-generated local tool availability index
• skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh — Cross-platform capability bootstrap
• skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh — Tool detection and indexing script
• docs/platforms/linux.md and docs/platforms/macos.md — Platform-specific setup details

Summary

• Clone zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill from GitHub to obtain the router and skill definitions
• Run refresh-tool-index.sh (or .ps1 on Windows) to detect existing tools and build the local index
• Install platform prerequisites via apt, Homebrew, or manual GitHub release downloads
• Execute bootstrap-reverse.sh with desired capability names to register tools with the router
• Verify with the validation checklist and re-run the refresh script to finalize tool-index.md

Once complete, AI agents and analysts can invoke any skill in the repository, with the router automatically selecting viable workflows based on the populated tool index.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does reverse-skill require root or administrator privileges?

No for basic operation, though some tool installations need elevated permissions. The apt commands and Homebrew installation require sudo or administrator access, but running the router itself works with standard user permissions. The refresh-tool-index.sh script detects tools in common user directories like ~/tools/ without requiring root.

Can I install reverse-skill on Windows without WSL?

Yes. Use the PowerShell refresh script: powershell -File skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.ps1. However, many reverse-engineering tools in the ecosystem are Linux-native, so WSL2 or a virtual machine provides better compatibility for the full capability set.

What happens if a required tool is missing when running a skill?

The routing layer checks skills/tool-index.md before dispatching. If a tool is unavailable, the router falls back to alternative skills or returns a clear dependency error. Run bootstrap-reverse.sh <tool-name> to install missing capabilities without reinstalling the entire environment.

How do I update the tool index after installing new software?

Re-run the platform refresh script: bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh. This rescans PATH and known tool directories, then regenerates skills/tool-index.{md,json}. The router immediately uses the updated index for subsequent routing decisions.

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