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Agent skill

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor

by spec-kitty in spec-kitty/spec-kitty

Install, verify, and recover the modern Spec Kitty 2.0.11+ operating surface.

MITAuto-check passedAgent Workflows

Install Spec Kitty Setup Doctor

skills CLI
$ npx skills add spec-kitty/spec-kitty --skill spec-kitty-setup-doctor -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install spec-kitty/spec-kitty spec-kitty-setup-doctor --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/spec-kitty/spec-kitty.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/src/charter/offering/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor .claude/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
spec-kitty-setup-doctor
GitHub stars
1.7k
Token cost
~1.4k tokens
SKILL.md length
589 words
Files
4 (incl. scripts, references)
Skills in repo
50
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Install, verify, and recover the modern Spec Kitty 2.0.11+ operating surface.

  • Works in 6 steps: Detect Environment → Verify Installation → Check Prerequisites → …
  • Agent Workflows work in your project
  • SKILL.md covers Step 1: Detect Environment, Step 2: Verify Installation, Step 3: Check Prerequisites and Step 4: Diagnose Issues, plus 3 more sections
  • Calls pipx and git

What it does

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor is an agent skill from spec-kitty/spec-kitty. Install, verify, and recover the modern Spec Kitty 2.0.11+ operating surface. Triggers: "set up Spec Kitty", "skills missing", "next is blocked", "runtime is broken", "doctrine assets are missing", "my agent can't find the skills". Does NOT handle: generic coding questions with no Spec Kitty context, direct runtime loop advancement, or editorial glossary maintenance.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.4k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 5 other files, including scripts and reference files (for example `references/agent-path-matrix.md` and `references/common-failure-signatures.md`).

It sits in Agent Workflows. The repository describes itself as: Spec-Driven Development with organizational governance. Specs tell AI agents what to build; Charter governs how they build it. Git-native missions, enforceable workflows, and… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Agent Workflows work in your project

Example prompts

  • “set up Spec Kitty”
  • “skills missing”
  • “next is blocked”
  • “/spec-kitty-setup-doctor”

Workflow steps

6 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Detect Environment
  2. Verify Installation
  3. Check Prerequisites
  4. Diagnose Issues
  5. Recover
  6. Direct Next Action

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit e533131. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    Ships 1 file in scripts/, which the agent can run.

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • pipx
    • git

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use pipx and git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor loads about 1.4k tokens when it runs, and up to ~3.9k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 98 tokens; SKILL.md has 589 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~98
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.4k
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them
~3.9k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); the scripts in this folder are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from spec-kitty/spec-kitty at commit e533131, republished under its MIT licence (© spec-kitty). 589 words, ~1,410 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 3 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
spec-kitty-setup-doctor
description
Install, verify, and recover the modern Spec Kitty 2.0.11+ operating surface. Triggers: "set up Spec Kitty", "skills missing", "next is blocked", "runtime is broken", "doctrine assets are missing", "my agent can't find the skills". Does NOT handle: generic coding questions with no Spec Kitty context, direct runtime loop advancement, or editorial glossary maintenance.

spec-kitty-setup-doctor

Diagnose and repair the Spec Kitty installation for the current project and agent.

Use this skill when the user reports that Spec Kitty is not working, skills are missing, slash commands are unavailable, or the runtime environment appears broken.

Step 1: Detect Environment

Determine the active agent, repository state, and working directory.

What to check:

  • Which AI agent is running (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, etc.)
  • Whether the current directory is inside a git repository
  • Whether a .kittify/ directory exists (indicates prior initialization)
  • Whether this is a worktree or the repository root checkout

Commands:

bash
git rev-parse --show-toplevel
ls .kittify/config.yaml
spec-kitty --version

Expected outcome: You know the agent identity, repo root path, and whether Spec Kitty was previously initialized.

Step 2: Verify Installation

Check that skill roots, wrapper roots, manifest, and generated artifacts are present.

What to check:

  • Skill root directory exists for the active agent (see references/agent-path-matrix.md)
  • Wrapper root (slash-command directory) exists for the active agent
  • The relevant manifest exists and is valid JSON: .kittify/skills-manifest.json for legacy canonical skills and/or .kittify/command-skills-manifest.json for command-skill agents
  • Skill files listed in the manifest are present on disk

Commands:

bash
spec-kitty doctor skills --json

If spec-kitty is not installed:

bash
pipx install spec-kitty-cli
pipx ensurepath
spec-kitty --version

Expected outcome: spec-kitty doctor skills --json reports a healthy command and skill surface, or lists specific missing/drifted files.

Step 3: Check Prerequisites

Verify that the working environment meets runtime requirements.

What to check:

  • Current working directory is the repository root (not a subdirectory)
  • Active branch is correct for the current workflow stage
  • If using worktrees, the worktree is properly linked
  • Runtime configuration in .kittify/config.yaml is present and valid

Commands:

bash
spec-kitty agent tasks status
spec-kitty agent config status

Expected outcome: Status output shows the current kanban board, configured agents, and active missions without errors.

Step 4: Diagnose Issues

Match observed symptoms against known failure patterns.

What to check:

Consult references/common-failure-signatures.md for a catalog of known issues. Common patterns include:

  • Missing skill root -- agent cannot find skills directory
  • Missing wrapper root -- slash commands not available
  • Manifest drift -- skill files were manually edited
  • Runtime not found -- .kittify/ directory missing or corrupted

How to diagnose:

bash
spec-kitty doctor skills --json
spec-kitty agent config status

Review error messages and match them against the failure signatures. Each signature includes a symptom, cause, and deterministic recovery step.

Expected outcome: You have identified the specific failure pattern(s) affecting this installation.

Show full SKILL.md (230 more words)Show less

Step 5: Recover

Apply deterministic recovery steps for each identified issue.

Recovery actions by issue type:

IssueRecovery Command
Missing skill filesspec-kitty doctor skills --fix
Missing wrapper rootspec-kitty doctor skills --fix
Missing skill rootspec-kitty doctor skills --fix
Manifest driftspec-kitty doctor skills --fix
Runtime not foundspec-kitty init . --ai <agent>
Corrupted configBack up and remove .kittify/config.yaml, then run spec-kitty init . --ai <agent>

Commands:

bash
# Full re-initialization (fixes most issues)
spec-kitty init . --ai <agent>

# Targeted skill repair (preserves existing config)
spec-kitty doctor skills --fix

Expected outcome: After recovery, spec-kitty doctor skills --json reports no issues and spec-kitty agent tasks status shows a healthy installation.

Step 6: Direct Next Action

After recovery is complete, point the user to the correct next step.

Decision tree:

  1. If the user wanted to start a new project: spec-kitty init . --ai <agent>
  2. If the user wanted to specify a mission: /spec-kitty.specify
  3. If the user wanted to check status: spec-kitty agent tasks status
  4. If the user wanted to implement a work package: /spec-kitty.implement
  5. If the problem was skills missing: confirm skills are now visible with spec-kitty doctor skills --json

What to communicate:

  • Confirm the issue is resolved
  • State what was repaired
  • Suggest the next logical command based on the user's original intent
  • If the issue persists, recommend checking references/common-failure-signatures.md for additional patterns or filing an issue

References

  • references/agent-path-matrix.md -- Agent skill roots and wrapper roots for supported agents; verify against AI_CHOICES, AGENT_COMMAND_CONFIG, and AGENT_SKILL_CONFIG
  • references/common-failure-signatures.md -- Known failure patterns with symptom/cause/recovery

© spec-kitty, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 3 other files (scripts, references) in src/charter/offering/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor of spec-kitty/spec-kitty.

  • SKILL.md
  • references/agent-path-matrix.md
  • references/common-failure-signatures.md
  • scripts/.gitkeep

Open the folder on GitHubat commit e533131

Compare with similar skills

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Spec Kitty Setup Doctor this skillspec-kitty/spec-kitty1.7k—~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Orca CLIstablyai/orca88k2 repos~593Automated safety check: PassMIT
OpenSpec Guided OnboardingFission-AI/OpenSpec71k1 repos~4.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Claude Code Plugin Structureanthropics/claude-plugins-official38k10 repos~3.4kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0
Neat-Freak Knowledge CloseoutKKKKhazix/khazix-skills21k—~1.9kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
O2 Review Loopopenobserve/openobserve22k—~3.7kAutomated safety check: PassAGPL-3.0

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Categories

Questions about Spec Kitty Setup Doctor

What does Spec Kitty Setup Doctor do?

Install, verify, and recover the modern Spec Kitty 2.0.11+ operating surface. Spec Kitty Setup Doctor is an agent skill from spec-kitty/spec-kitty.11+ operating surface.

When should I use Spec Kitty Setup Doctor?

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor fits situations like: agent Workflows work in your project.

How do I install Spec Kitty Setup Doctor in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add spec-kitty/spec-kitty --skill spec-kitty-setup-doctor -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (src/charter/offering/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor in spec-kitty/spec-kitty) into .claude/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Spec Kitty Setup Doctor in Codex?

Run `npx skills add spec-kitty/spec-kitty --skill spec-kitty-setup-doctor -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (src/charter/offering/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor in spec-kitty/spec-kitty) into .agents/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Spec Kitty Setup Doctor in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add spec-kitty/spec-kitty --skill spec-kitty-setup-doctor -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor, .gemini/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor, .github/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor and .opencode/skills/spec-kitty-setup-doctor in your project.

What does Spec Kitty Setup Doctor need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Spec Kitty Setup Doctor needs the command-line tools its instructions call (pipx and git).

Does Spec Kitty Setup Doctor access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Spec Kitty Setup Doctor safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. The check reads SKILL.md only: the scripts in the folder are not scanned, so read them before running anything.

What licence does Spec Kitty Setup Doctor use?

Spec Kitty Setup Doctor is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Spec Kitty Setup Doctor use?

About 1.4k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 5.6k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 2.5k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Spec Kitty Setup Doctor?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Spec Kitty Setup Doctor: Orca CLI (stablyai/orca, 88k stars), OpenSpec Guided Onboarding (Fission-AI/OpenSpec, 71k stars), Claude Code Plugin Structure (anthropics/claude-plugins-official, 38k stars) and Neat-Freak Knowledge Closeout (KKKKhazix/khazix-skills, 21k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Spec Kitty Setup Doctor?

spec-kitty (a GitHub organization) maintains it in spec-kitty/spec-kitty, which has 1,678 GitHub stars. The repository holds 50 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 9, 2026.

Source: spec-kitty/spec-kitty on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.