Guide · Agent skill

How to use the CLI-Hub Discovery Skill agent skill

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The CLI-Hub Discovery Skill (skill name cli-hub-meta-skill) teaches an AI agent to find and install command-line interfaces that wrap professional software such as image editors, 3D tools and video editors. This guide is for people who have not used agent skills before. By the end you will know how to install the skill, ask for tools in plain language, and understand what the agent will run on your machine.

CLI-Hub Discovery SkillHKUDS/CLI-Anything · Apache-2.0 Download the skill

Quick start

1Download the skill ZIP. Get the cli-hub-meta-skill ZIP from the page where you found this guide.
2Unzip it into a skills folder. Place it in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
3Install the cli-hub package manager. Run pip install cli-anything-hub in an environment with Python and pip.
4Ask for a tool in plain language. Describe the task or software you need so the agent can search the catalog.
5Check details before installing. Have the agent run cli-hub info on a candidate tool to confirm it fits.
6Install and run the CLI. Let the agent run cli-hub install, then run cli-anything-<name> with --json for machine-readable output.

What is an agent skill and what does this one do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent instructions for a specific job. This skill is about discovering tools. CLI-Hub is a catalog of agent-native command-line interfaces (CLIs) for professional software, so an agent can operate that software by typing commands instead of clicking through a screen.

Once the skill is installed, the agent can search the catalog, look up details for a tool, and install it with the cli-hub package manager. For multi-tool jobs, it can also plan workflows called matrices and preview what is needed before installing anything.

Browse the full list of CLIs with cli-hub list
Search by category or keyword with cli-hub search
Read details for one tool with cli-hub info
Install a tool with cli-hub install
Plan multi-tool workflows with matrices

Install the skill from the ZIP or the Claude apps

Download the ZIP of the skill from the page where you found this guide. Then choose one of two routes. For Claude Code, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all your projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder to limit it to that project.

If you use the Claude apps, you can upload the skill instead under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Install the cli-hub package manager

The skill relies on the cli-hub package manager, which is a thin wrapper around pip. You need Python with pip available. Install the hub with the command below. Each CLI you later install is a separate pip package, so the hub only resolves names from the registry and tracks installs.

pip install cli-anything-hub

Ask your agent for a tool in plain language

You do not need to type commands yourself. Describe the job and the agent should use the skill to search the catalog. Good requests name the task or the software, for example asking for a tool that edits images, or a CLI for a 3D modeling program.

If you want to check what is available before anything is installed, you can ask the agent to show the details for a specific tool first. The agent will run the lookup commands and report back.

Find a tool that can edit images from the command line
Search the catalog for 3D modeling tools and tell me which to use
Show me the details for the GIMP CLI before installing it
Install the video editing CLI kdenlive and show me how to run it

Commands the agent uses

These are the commands the skill's Quick Start section lists. Knowing them helps you read what the agent is doing. Installing a single CLI and checking its details look like this.

cli-hub list shows all available CLIs
cli-hub search image searches by keyword
cli-hub install gimp installs the cli-anything-gimp package
cli-hub info gimp shows details for a CLI

cli-hub list
cli-hub search image
cli-hub install gimp
cli-hub info gimp

Plan multi-tool jobs with matrices

A matrix packages a whole workflow, mapping capabilities such as text.transcribe to tools. Use one when a task spans several tools, such as producing a video. The skill says to preflight before installing, so the agent checks what is usable first and installs only what the task needs.

Matrix commands also support --dry-run to preview a plan with no side effects. Exit codes are 0 for ok, 3 for partial or gaps, 1 for failure and 2 for a usage error.

Avoid bulk-installing a whole matrix for a one-capability task
If a matrix install fails, retry with --resume
Audit an install with cli-hub matrix doctor

cli-hub matrix list
cli-hub can "transcribe audio"
cli-hub matrix preflight video-creation --json
cli-hub matrix install video-creation --capability text.transcribe

Safety notes before you let the agent install

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. Each installed CLI is a third-party pip package that runs code on your machine, and the SKILL.md does not describe how those packages are vetted. Treat installs in security-sensitive environments with caution.

The target CLIs also need their own dependencies, such as the underlying software like GIMP. The skill files do not specify these in detail, so the install may not be fully self-contained.

Review what a matrix plan will install with --dry-run first
Prefer installing only the specific CLI a task needs
Do not use this on machines where unvetted code must not run

What people use it for

Finding an image editing CLI for batch edits from a script
Choosing a 3D modeling tool for an agent-driven workflow
Planning a video production workflow with a matrix and installing only the transcription capability
Browsing which command-line tools exist for a creative or productivity category

Frequently asked questions

Is the cli-hub-meta-skill free to use?

The skill is licensed under Apache-2.0, as stated on this page. The source does not mention prices, so check the repository at github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything for licence details.

What do I need to install the CLI-Hub skill?

You need Python with pip, internet access to the cli-hub registry and the live catalog URL, and the dependencies for each target CLI. The underlying software, such as GIMP, may also be required and is not detailed in the skill files.

How do I install the cli-hub-meta-skill in Claude?

Download the ZIP and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps you can instead upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

What is the pip command to install cli-hub?

Run pip install cli-anything-hub. Each CLI you then install is a separate pip package named cli-anything-<name>.

Is it safe to let an agent install CLIs?

Each CLI is a third-party pip package that runs code on your machine, and the SKILL.md does not describe how these are vetted. Avoid it in security-sensitive environments and preview installs with --dry-run.

What are the alternatives to CLI-Hub?

The source does not compare CLI-Hub with other tools. You can search for other agent skills or install software directly with pip or your system package manager if you prefer to choose each tool yourself.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you want an agent to find and drive professional or open-source software from the command line, and you are comfortable with pip installs that run code on your machine. Skip it if you only need general chat help or work in an environment where unvetted third-party packages must not run.

Download the skill