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Getting started

This guide walks through setup one step at a time. If you only want the commands, the home page has them.

Setup takes four steps. Only the first is required.

  1. Install skl
  2. Import existing skills, if you have any
  3. Log in and sync, if you want the library on more than one machine
  4. Open the TUI and use a skill in a project

1. Install

The install script downloads the binary and can walk you through first-run:

curl -fsSL https://www.tryskl.fyi/install.sh | sh

On a TTY it asks Log in now? [Y/n], then Import existing skills (skl init)? [Y/n]. A non-TTY or CI install writes the binary only.

Want flags and PATH notes? See Installation.

At this point skl is on disk. Bare skl on a TTY opens the TUI.

2. Import existing skills

skl init copies skills from home agent dirs into the personal library. The foreign trees stay where they are.

skl init

Skip this if you have nothing to import. You can create a skill later with skl create. Details are in Import existing skills.

3. Set up sync (optional)

Sync backs the personal library up and shares it between machines. You can use the hosted API or run the server from this repo.

skl login
skl sync

skl login prints a verification URL and a user code. Approve the device in the browser. The device token is stored in ~/.local/share/skl/state.db.

Skipping this step is fine. The personal library stays on this machine, not backed up and not synchronized. Setting up sync covers a second machine, conflicts, and what the server can read.

4. Use a skill

Create one if the library is empty:

skl create writing-tests

Change into a project and activate it:

cd /path/to/project
skl use writing-tests

skl use writes .agents/skills/writing-tests and adds the name to skills.toml. Default is a symlink to the personal library. If the symlink fails, skl copies instead.

Bare skl opens the two-pane browser. Keybindings are in The TUI. Everyday commands are in Basic usage.

Getting help

File an issue at github.com/x0ba/skl/issues. Run skl doctor first and include that output.