How to Update reverse-skill to the Latest Version: A Complete Guide

Update reverse-skill by pulling the latest Git commits, refreshing the tool-index, and bootstrapping any new capabilities using platform-specific scripts.

reverse-skill is an open-source Git repository that maintains a routing matrix for reverse engineering tools. Knowing how to update reverse-skill to the latest version ensures your skill definitions, tool paths, and bootstrap scripts remain synchronized with upstream changes.

Why Regular Updates Matter

The repository's architecture depends on three interconnected components: the routing logic (defined in skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md and skills/routing.md), the tool-index (skills/tool-index.md), and the bootstrap manifest. When you update reverse-skill, you must realign all three to prevent execution failures from stale paths or missing dependencies.

Step 1: Pull the Latest Source Code

Fetch and merge the newest commits from the main branch. This retrieves changes to README.md, RULES.md, VERSION, and the entire skills/ tree.

git fetch
git checkout main
git pull origin main

Alternatively, use the consolidated command:

git pull origin main

Step 2: Refresh the Local Tool Index

After pulling code updates, regenerate skills/tool-index.md to capture any new tool locations or version changes. This file serves as the single source of truth for all tool paths, install methods, and versions.

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

The refresh script scans your system and writes absolute paths to skills/tool-index.md, ensuring the routing matrix resolves tools correctly.

Step 3: Bootstrap Missing Tools

If the refresh reports any tools as missing, install them using the bootstrap scripts with the --start-services flag. This automatically deploys new capabilities and starts required MCP services.

Linux/macOS Example (installing jadx)

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

Windows Example

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.ps1 jadx --start-services

Kali Linux Example

bash kali/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh jadx --start-services

Step 4: Verify the Update

Confirm your local version matches the latest release:

cat VERSION

Or check the version badge displayed in README.md.

Key Files in the Update Process

File	Purpose
skills/tool-index.md	Auto-generated registry of installed tools with absolute paths
skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh	Bash script that rebuilds the tool-index on Linux/macOS
skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.ps1	PowerShell script that rebuilds the tool-index on Windows
skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh	Bash bootstrap script for installing capabilities on Linux/macOS
skills/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.ps1	PowerShell bootstrap script for Windows
RULES.md	Central routing rules that must be read before any action
VERSION	Text file containing the current release identifier

Summary

• Pull the latest commits with git pull origin main to update routing logic and skill definitions
• Refresh the tool-index using platform-specific scripts in skills/scripts/
• Bootstrap missing tools with the --start-services flag to install new capabilities and start MCP services
• Verify by checking the VERSION file or README badge

Following this sequence keeps your reverse-skill installation consistent and ensures all skill executions use correct binaries and paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need to run the bootstrap script?

Run the refresh script first. If it reports tools as missing or displays version mismatches in skills/tool-index.md, invoke the bootstrap script with the specific tool name and --start-services flag to install what's required.

Can I update reverse-skill without Git?

No. reverse-skill is distributed exclusively as a Git repository. The update mechanism depends on Git commands to synchronize skills/MASTER-ROUTING.md, bootstrap manifests, and the tool tree. Clone the repository initially if you haven't already.

What happens if I skip the refresh step after updating?

The tool-index will contain stale paths. Since skills/tool-index.md is the router's single source of truth for tool locations, stale entries cause skill executions to fail when binaries have moved or new tools were added upstream.

Is there a difference between the Kali scripts and standard Linux scripts?

Yes. Kali-specific scripts are located in kali/scripts/ and may include penetration-testing toolchains or adjusted paths for Kali's default environment. Use kali/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh and kali/scripts/bootstrap-reverse.sh on Kali Linux instead of the standard skills/scripts/ variants.

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