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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Caveman Help Card agent skill (caveman-help)

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The Caveman Help Card is a small agent skill from the caveman skill set. When you ask for it, the agent prints a short reference card listing the caveman modes, the related sub-skills, and how to switch or set the default mode. This guide explains what agent skills are, how to install this one, how to trigger it, and what to watch for, so you can look up the caveman commands without digging through the docs.

Caveman Help CardJuliusBrussee/caveman · Apache-2.0

Quick start

  1. 1Download the ZIP. Download the caveman-help ZIP from this page.
  2. 2Unzip the folder. Unzip the archive so you have a folder containing SKILL.md and README.md.
  3. 3Place it in a skills folder. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
  4. 4Or upload it in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill.
  5. 5Invoke the card. Type /caveman-help or ask "caveman help" to display the reference card.
  6. 6Set a default mode if needed. Export CAVEMAN_DEFAULT_MODE or edit ~/.config/caveman/config.json to choose your default.

What is an agent skill, and what does caveman-help do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file with instructions that an AI agent loads when it is relevant or when you invoke it. This one is named caveman-help and is part of the caveman skill set, which changes how the agent writes its answers.

When invoked, caveman-help displays a reference card. The card lists three caveman modes: caveman (the default voice, answer first with no fluff), ultracave (grammar stripped, fragments allowed) and megacave (classical Chinese style with far fewer characters). It also lists the sibling skills caveman-commit, caveman-review and caveman-compress, plus how to deactivate caveman and how to set the default mode.

Install the Caveman Help Card skill

Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. Then place the resulting folder in one of two locations: the personal skills folder ~/.claude/skills/ to make it available everywhere, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder to make it available only in that project.

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

  • Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
  • Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project
  • Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload

How to trigger the skill with natural requests

Type the slash command /caveman-help. You can also ask in plain words; the skill responds to "caveman help", "what caveman commands" and "how do I use caveman".

The skill is a one-shot display. According to its instructions, it does not change the current mode, write files or save anything, so it is safe to call when you only want a reminder.

/caveman-help

Example: what the card shows

The card is plain text organised into three blocks: Modes, Skills and Deactivate. Its example output looks like this, and your agent will print a version of it when you invoke the skill.

  • Modes: /caveman (the voice, default), /ultracave (grammar stripped), /megacave (classical Chinese)
  • Status: /caveman status reports the current mode without changing it
  • Skills: /caveman-commit, /caveman-review, /caveman-compress, /caveman-stats
  • Deactivate: say "stop caveman" or "normal mode"

Set a default mode and check status

The default mode is caveman. You can change it with an environment variable, which has the highest priority, or with a config file at ~/.config/caveman/config.json. Resolution order is: environment variable, then repo config, then user config, then the built-in caveman default.

For opt-in activation in Claude Code, set defaultMode to manual. Sessions then start with caveman off, and /caveman or "talk like caveman" turns it on. Setting it to off suppresses automatic and bare-command activation.

  • Environment variable: CAVEMAN_DEFAULT_MODE=ultracave
  • Config file key: "defaultMode" in ~/.config/caveman/config.json
  • Opt-in in Claude Code: defaultMode set to manual
  • Check the current mode with /caveman status, which does not change it
export CAVEMAN_DEFAULT_MODE=ultracave

Safety notes: scripts and network

This skill runs no scripts and uses no network access, according to its listing. It requires nothing beyond the caveman skill set itself. Its files are README.md and SKILL.md.

Be aware that /caveman status is only truly tracked in some hosts. Claude Code and the standalone OpenCode plugin read stored state; other hosts answer from the conversation and mark the result as not tracked by that host.

Tips for getting the most from the card

Use the card when you forget a command, then pick the mode or sub-skill you need. Remember that the card only explains the caveman family; it does not do coding or writing work for you.

Language is kept by default: the agent replies in the language you write in, and technical terms, code, commands and error strings stay verbatim unless you ask for translation.

  • Use /caveman-help as a quick lookup, not a status check
  • Use /caveman status when you need the live mode in Claude Code
  • Use "stop caveman" or "normal mode" to turn the style off

What people use it for

  • Recalling the slash commands after installing the caveman skill set
  • Checking which caveman mode to use before a session
  • Finding the right sub-skill for commit messages, PR review comments or compressing Markdown files
  • Looking up how to set manual opt-in activation in Claude Code

Frequently asked questions

Is the caveman-help skill free?

The source material for this listing does not state pricing or licence terms in the skill files beyond the listing's licence, which is Apache-2.0. Check the repository's licence file before reuse. The skill itself requires nothing to run, according to its listing.

What do I need to run caveman-help?

The listing states that it requires nothing and runs no scripts and uses no network. You need an agent host that can load skills, such as the Claude apps or Claude Code, and the skill files installed.

Where do I put the caveman-help skill folder?

Place it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Does caveman-help change my current mode or save anything?

According to its instructions, no. It is a one-shot display that does not change the mode, write flag files or persist anything.

Why does /caveman status say not tracked by this host?

Status is only truly tracked in Claude Code and the standalone OpenCode plugin, which read stored state. Other hosts answer from the conversation and mark the result as not tracked by that host.

How is caveman-help different from the other caveman skills?

caveman-help only explains the caveman family. caveman-commit writes terse commit messages, caveman-review writes one-line PR comments, and caveman-compress compresses Markdown files. Use the help card to choose between them.

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Our verdict

This skill is worth installing if you use the caveman skill set and want a quick command reminder, or if you want to set a default mode in Claude Code. It is not a general coding or writing skill, and it will not show live status on hosts that do not track state; for real work, use the sub-skills it lists.

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