OpenDirectory

Documentation

Learn how to integrate our open-source agent skills and automation pipelines into your autonomous agents.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Our skills are designed to be consumed directly by autonomous AI agents (like Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex, or Gemini CLI). You don't need to be a software engineer to install these!

Native Installation (Claude Code Only)

Users who exclusively use Anthropic's Claude Code can add Open Directory as a native community marketplace directly inside their Claude interface. This allows you to install skills using Claude's built-in plugin system.

1. Add the Open Directory marketplace

/plugin marketplace add Varnan-Tech/opendirectory

2. Install a skill directly

/plugin install [SKILL-NAME]@opendirectory-marketplace

Manual Installation (Claude Desktop / Web App)

If you use the visual Claude Desktop App or the Claude.ai Web Interface, you can install skills manually via the Custom Skills interface.

Step 1: Download the skill from GitHub

  • Copy the URL of this specific skill folder from your browser's address bar.
  • Go to download-directory.github.io.
  • Paste the URL and click Enter to download.

Step 2: Install the Skill in Claude

  • Open your Claude desktop app.
  • Go to the sidebar on the left side and click on the Customize section.
  • Click on the Skills tab, then click on the + (plus) icon button to create a new skill.
  • Choose the option to Upload a skill, and drag and drop the .zip file (or you can extract it and drop the folder, both work).

Note: For some skills (like position-me), the SKILL.md file might be located inside a subfolder. Always make sure you are uploading the specific folder that contains the SKILL.md file!

Standard Installation (Other Agents)

For other agents like OpenCode, Hermes, or Codex, we use a convenient npx command to fetch and install skills directly into your AI agent.

1

Install Node.js (Prerequisite)

Before you can run the installation command, your computer needs a program called Node.js. It allows your computer to run the npx command.

  • Go to the official website: nodejs.org
  • Download the version labeled "Recommended For Most Users" (LTS).
  • Open the downloaded file and click "Next" through the standard installation steps (you don't need to change any default settings).

If you already have Node.js installed, you can skip this step entirely.

2

Find Your Skill & Copy the Command

Browse the Open Directory homepage to find the exact skill you want your AI to learn (for example, the blog-cover-image-cli).

On the bottom right of every skill card, you will see a small copy icon. Click it! This will copy the exact magic command you need to your clipboard.

The copied command will look like this:

npx "@opendirectory.dev/skills" install [SKILL-NAME] --target claude
3

Open Your Terminal

You need to paste that command into your computer's "Terminal" or "Command Prompt".

  • Mac users: Press Cmd + Space, type "Terminal", and hit Enter.
  • Windows users: Press the Windows key, type "cmd" or "Command Prompt", and hit Enter.
4

Paste & Press Enter

Once the black terminal window is open, simply paste the command you copied in Step 2. (On Windows, you can usually just right-click to paste).

Press Enter. You will see some text scrolling by as your computer reaches out to Open Directory and securely downloads the skill directly into your AI agent.

Success!

Once the text stops, the installation is complete. You can close the terminal window. Your AI agent now possesses the new skill and is ready to work!

Advanced: Selecting Your AI Target (npx only)

By default, the copied npx command targets OpenCode. If you are using a different AI agent, you can manually change the --target flag at the end of the command before pressing Enter.

OpenCode

--target opencode

Codex

--target codex

Gemini CLI

--target gemini

Anti-Gravity

--target antigravity

How it works under the hood

When you run our npx command, the tool acts as a bridge between the open-source GitHub repository and your local AI environment. Here is exactly what happens in the background:

  1. Registry Lookup: The CLI fetches the latest skill package definition from the Open Directory manifest.
  2. Secure Download: It downloads the prompt instructions, tool definitions (if any), and system guidelines associated with the skill.
  3. Target Injection: Depending on the --target flag you provided, it writes these definitions into your specific agent's local configuration file (e.g., .claude.json or your global MCP config).
  4. Context Priming: The skill is now "memorized" by your AI. The next time you open your agent, it automatically knows the exact steps, prompts, and APIs needed to execute the skill flawlessly.

Contribute to Open Directory

Have you built an innovative skill or pipeline? Join our open-source ecosystem and share it with the world. We welcome contributions that help autonomous agents do more.

Troubleshooting

"npx is not recognized as an internal or external command"▼
This error means Node.js is not installed on your computer, or your terminal hasn't recognized it yet. Please go back to Step 1 and download Node.js. If you just installed it, completely close your terminal window and open a new one to refresh it.
My AI agent says it doesn't know the skill▼
Ensure you used the correct --target flag during installation. Also, you must completely restart your AI agent (close the window and reopen it) for it to load the newly installed skill configurations.