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The Skills CLI requires Node.js 18 or higher and can be run directly with npx without installation.

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Requirements

Node.js

Version 18 or higher required

Package Manager

npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun
The easiest way to use the Skills CLI is with npx, which runs the latest version without requiring global installation:
Terminal
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
Using npx ensures you’re always running the latest version of the Skills CLI without manual updates.

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Global Installation

If you prefer to install the CLI globally: 
npm install -g skills
After global installation, you can use the skills command directly:
Terminal
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills

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Verify Installation

Check that the CLI is working correctly:
Terminal
# Show version
npx skills --version

# Show help
npx skills --help

# Show banner with available commands
npx skills

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Package Manager Configuration

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pnpm

If you’re using pnpm, the project uses pnpm as its package manager:
package.json
{
  "packageManager": "[email protected]"
}

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npm Registry

The package is published to the npm registry as skills:
Terminal
# View package info
npm info skills

# View latest version
npm info skills version

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Environment Variables

Optional environment variables for configuration:
VariableDescription
INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLSSet to 1 or true to show and install skills marked as internal: true
DISABLE_TELEMETRYSet to disable anonymous usage telemetry
DO_NOT_TRACKAlternative way to disable telemetry
GITHUB_TOKENGitHub personal access token for higher API rate limits

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Using a GitHub Token

For higher rate limits when checking for updates or installing skills from private repositories:
Terminal
export GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_your_token_here
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
The CLI automatically respects GITHUB_TOKEN environment variables for authentication with GitHub’s API.

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Viewing Internal Skills

Some skill repositories contain internal skills that are hidden by default. To view and install them:
Terminal
INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list

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Disabling Telemetry

The CLI collects anonymous usage data by default. To disable: 
export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
Telemetry is automatically disabled in CI environments. No personal information is collected.

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Updating the CLI

If you installed globally, update with your package manager: 
npm update -g skills
If using npx, you’re automatically using the latest version.

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Troubleshooting

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”Command not found: skills”

If you get this error after global installation:
  1. Ensure your npm global bin directory is in your PATH:
    Terminal
    npm config get prefix
  2. Add the bin directory to your PATH in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc: 
    export PATH="$PATH:$(npm config get prefix)/bin"
  3. Reload your shell configuration:
    Terminal
    source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

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Permission Errors

If you encounter permission errors during global installation: 
# Avoid permission issues by using npx
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills

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Node.js Version Too Old

The CLI requires Node.js 18 or higher:
Terminal
# Check your Node.js version
node --version

# If too old, upgrade using nvm
nvm install 18
nvm use 18

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Next Steps

Quickstart

Learn how to install and manage skills

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