How to Refresh the Tool Index on Linux or macOS: Complete Command Guide

Run bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh from the repository root to regenerate the markdown and JSON tool indexes on Linux or macOS.

The reverse-skill repository by zhaoxuya520 provides a detection-only Bash script that scans your system for security tools, extracts their versions, and generates both human-readable and machine-readable indexes. This guide covers the exact command to refresh the tool index on Linux or macOS, customization options, and what happens when you run it.

The Refresh Command for Linux and macOS

The standard invocation uses Bash to execute the script located at skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh:

bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh

This command is documented in the repository's AGENTS.md entry-point guide under the "首次使用前按平台运行" (run before first use on the platform) section, which lists the exact invocation for Linux/macOS platforms.

What the Script Does

When executed, refresh-tool-index.sh performs three main operations:

1. Platform detection — Identifies whether the host is linux or macos (lines 21-25)
2. Tool discovery — Iterates the predefined TOOLS array, checking command availability, probing installation paths, and extracting version strings (lines 58-141)
3. Index generation — Writes output to skills/tool-index.md and skills/tool-index.json (lines 46-53 and 78-85)

Customizing Output Paths

The script accepts optional positional arguments to redirect the generated indexes:

# Custom markdown and JSON output locations

bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh /tmp/my-tool-index.md /tmp/my-tool-index.json

If omitted, the script uses default paths relative to the repository root.

Understanding the Generated Output

After execution, the script prints a completion summary:

✅ Tool index refreshed
  markdown=skills/tool-index.md
  json=skills/tool-index.json
  platform=linux
  tools=38

The markdown index (skills/tool-index.md) contains a formatted table with columns:

• Tool — Command name
• Skill — Category in the reverse-skill taxonomy
• Purpose — Description of the tool's function
• Available — Whether the tool was detected (yes/no)
• Path — Filesystem location where found
• Version — Extracted version string
• Source — Detection method used
• Install hint — Platform-specific installation command

The JSON index (skills/tool-index.json) provides the same data in a structured format for programmatic consumption.

Key Files in the Refresh Workflow

File	Purpose	Location
skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh	Main detection and generation script	Source
AGENTS.md	Entry-point documentation with platform commands	Source
skills/tool-index.md	Generated markdown output	(created by script)
skills/tool-index.json	Generated JSON output	(created by script)

Running from Different Directories

To ensure proper path resolution, execute the script from the repository root or use an absolute path:

# From repository root (recommended)

bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh

# From elsewhere with absolute path

bash /path/to/reverse-skill/skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh

The script's platform detection logic automatically adapts its tool probes for Linux or macOS environments without requiring additional flags.

Summary

• The command to refresh the tool index on Linux or macOS is bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh
• The script auto-detects platform and scans for 38+ security tools
• Outputs generate at skills/tool-index.md and skills/tool-index.json by default
• Custom output paths accept two positional arguments: markdown path, then JSON path
• Documented in AGENTS.md as the required first-use step

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to run the refresh command before using reverse-skill tools?

Yes. According to the AGENTS.md documentation, you must run bash skills/scripts/refresh-tool-index.sh before first use to generate the tool index that other components depend on.

Does the refresh command require root privileges?

No. The script runs detection-only and queries tool availability through standard command existence checks and version flags. It does not modify system state.

Can I run this on Windows?

The script targets Linux and macOS specifically. Windows users should use WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and execute the command within that environment.

What happens if a tool is not installed?

The index marks it as Available: no with Path: — and Version: —, but includes an Install hint column with the appropriate package manager command (e.g., apt: sudo apt install nmap or brew: brew install openjdk).

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