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The install.md file provides task-oriented installation instructions for AI agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and ChatGPT. Unlike traditional documentation written for human readers, install.md presents installation steps as direct commands that AI agents execute autonomously. Mintlify automatically generates an install.md file at the root of your project by aggregating and synthesizing installation-related documentation pages. This file is always up to date and does not require maintenance. View your install.md by appending /install.md to your documentation site’s URL. Open the install.md for this site.

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How install.md works

Mintlify automatically identifies pages in your documentation that contain installation-related content by matching keywords in page paths and titles. Hidden pages and pages excluded from indexing are automatically filtered out.
  • installation or install
  • quickstart or quick-start
  • getting-started or getting_started
  • setup or set-up
  • introduction or intro
  • overview
Mintlify synthesizes these pages into a concise, task-oriented format optimized for AI agent execution.
  1. Extracts all shell commands, URLs, and platform-specific instructions.
  2. Reorganizes content into a clear objective with success criteria.
  3. Presents steps as direct commands rather than passive documentation.
  4. Includes a TODO checklist for agents to track progress.
  5. Removes troubleshooting sections and optional features to focus on the core installation path.
Mintlify does not generate an install.md file when:
  • Your documentation is private or requires authentication.
  • You have a custom install.md file at the root of your project.
  • No installation-related pages are found in your documentation.

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install.md structure

An install.md file is a plain Markdown file that contains:
  • Conversational opening: Frames the content as a user request to trigger autonomous execution.
  • Objective statement: Clear goal of what needs to be installed.
  • Success condition: Specific measurable outcome that proves successful installation.
  • TODO checklist: High-level tasks.
  • Detailed instructions: Step-by-step commands with all necessary shell commands.
  • Execution directive: Closing statement that triggers immediate action.

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Custom install.md

To add a custom install.md file, create an install.md file at the root of your project. Adding a custom file overrides the automatically generated file. If you delete the custom file, Mintlify generates a new install.md file. Your custom install.md file should follow the task-oriented format with a conversational opening, clear objective, success criteria, and a TODO checklist to maximize effectiveness with AI agents.