Guide · Open source
How to use i-have-adhd: install the coding assistant skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
i-have-adhd is an open-source skill, an instruction file for AI coding assistants such as Claude Code, that changes how the assistant writes its replies. It asks for the next action first, numbered steps, and no preamble, recap or tangents. This guide shows you how to install it, what changes in practice, and how to tune the rules if you want to adjust them.
i-have-adhdayghri/i-have-adhd · ★ 59.7k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Check prerequisites. Confirm you have a coding assistant that supports skills or plugins, such as Claude Code.
- 2Install the skill. Paste the install prompt from the README into your assistant's CLI prompt, or follow INSTALL.md.
- 3Restart the assistant. Restart your coding assistant so it loads the skill.
- 4Invoke the skill. Run /i-have-adhd, as the README describes.
- 5Test with a multi-step task. Ask a coding question with several steps and check that the reply leads with the next action and numbers its steps.
- 6Tune the rules (optional). Fork the repo, edit skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md, and reinstall your copy using the README's plugin commands.
What does i-have-adhd do?
The skill tells your coding assistant to lead with the next action, number multi-step tasks, and skip filler such as "Great question!" or "Hope this helps!". The README says it is meant to make responses easier to act on for people with ADHD, and it does not require an ADHD diagnosis.
The project's README shows a before and after. The before reply describes the auth flow at length and ends with a closer. The after reply starts with the file and line to edit, lists three numbered steps, and finishes with one next step.
- Action first, then the reasoning if needed
- Numbered steps for multi-step tasks
- No preamble, recap or closers
- Tangents are suppressed
What do you need before installing?
You need a coding assistant that supports skills or plugins. The README uses Claude Code as its example. The project is written in Python and released under the MIT licence.
- A coding assistant that supports skills or plugins, such as Claude Code
- Access to your assistant's command prompt
How do you install i-have-adhd?
The README gives a prompt you can paste into your CLI prompt. It asks the assistant to install the skill or plugin and to follow the repo's AGENTS.md file. You can also follow the separate installation instructions in INSTALL.md, or clone the repository.
The README's clone command is shown below.
- Option 1: paste the install prompt into your assistant's CLI prompt
- Option 2: follow INSTALL.md in the repository
- Option 3: clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhdHow do you check that it is working?
The README says the skill is invoked as /i-have-adhd, and that you should restart your coding assistant after changing the installed copy. Ask the assistant a multi-step coding question and check whether the reply starts with the next action and uses numbered steps.
Compare the reply with what you would expect from the README's example. If the reply still opens with a long explanation, the skill may not be loaded.
- Restart your coding assistant
- Re-invoke /i-have-adhd if needed
- Ask a task with several steps and check the format
How do you change the rules?
The rules live in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md. The README lists 10 rules, such as cap lists to 5 items, end with one concrete next step, and specific time estimates in minutes. To tune them, fork the repository, edit that file, then swap your copy in. The commands below come from the README and remove the upstream copy first, because the fork and upstream share both names.
- Rule 1: Lead with the next action
- Rule 2: Number multi-step tasks
- Rule 3: End with one concrete next step
- Rule 4: Suppress tangents
- Rule 5: Restate state every turn
- Rule 6: Specific time estimates
- Rule 7: Make wins visible
- Rule 8: Matter-of-fact errors
- Rule 9: Cap lists to 5 items
- Rule 10: No preamble. No recap. No closers.
claude plugin uninstall i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace remove i-have-adhd
claude plugin marketplace add <your-username>/i-have-adhd
claude plugin install i-have-adhd@i-have-adhdWhat people use it for
- Getting a numbered list of steps to fix a failing test
- Receiving a single next action when debugging a build error
- Keeping coding replies short when you are switching between tasks
- Trying a plugin-based response style in Claude Code
Frequently asked questions
Is i-have-adhd free to use?
The project is released under the MIT licence, as stated in the README and the repository's LICENSE file. The source does not list any price or paid tier.
Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to use i-have-adhd?
No. The README states that it is meant for ADHD-friendly outputs and that no ADHD diagnosis is needed.
What do I need to install i-have-adhd?
You need a coding assistant that supports skills or plugins, such as Claude Code. Install by pasting the README prompt into your CLI or by following INSTALL.md.
How do I uninstall or update i-have-adhd?
The README's commands show how to remove the plugin and marketplace entry with claude plugin uninstall and claude plugin marketplace remove. Reinstall your chosen copy with claude plugin install after that.
Can I change how the replies are written?
Yes. The rules are in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md. Fork the repository, edit that file, and install your fork using the README's commands.
Does i-have-adhd make the assistant less useful?
It can. The rules cut tangents and recaps, so you get less background. If you want full explanations, the project may not suit you.
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Our verdict
i-have-adhd suits developers who find long AI replies hard to scan and who want short numbered next steps, especially in Claude Code. If you want full explanations or background from your assistant, or your team needs no change to how the assistant writes, pick something else.
Install options & downloads