Multi-Client Install Guide (Codex / Claude Code / Gemini)

Full Functionality Requirement

Portable install does not require Python, but full functionality does.

For the complete system, install and configure:

• python3
• codex
• claude
• gemini
• OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY

Without them, installation and shell rsk maintenance commands still work, but orchestrator execution, doctor, validators, and full multi-model flows will be incomplete.

1. Portable Install (No Python Required)

The most portable install path is the shell bootstrapper. It downloads the selected release archive and runs the bundled installer:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jxpeng98/research-skills/main/scripts/bootstrap_research_skill.sh | bash -s -- \
  --project-dir /path/to/project \
  --target all

Requirements:

• bash
• curl or wget
• tar

Notes:

• By default this also installs a shell CLI: research-skills, rsk, rsw.
• Default CLI location: ${RESEARCH_SKILLS_BIN_DIR:-~/.local/bin}.
• Add --overwrite when re-installing/upgrading existing targets.
• Use --no-cli if you only want the workflow assets.
• Use --cli-dir <path> to install the shell CLI elsewhere.
• --doctor is optional and only runs when python3 is available.
• Remote bootstrap only supports --mode copy. If you want --mode link, clone the repo and use the local installer below.

2. Optional Python CLI

If Python is already available on the machine, you can install the updater CLI with pipx:

pipx install research-skills-installer
rsk upgrade --target all --project-dir /path/to/project --doctor

3. Local Repository Installer

If you already have a repository checkout, you can run the installer directly:

./scripts/install_research_skill.sh --target all --project-dir /path/to/project --install-cli --doctor

Target behaviors

• codex
  • Installs research-paper-workflow into ${CODEX_HOME:-~/.codex}/skills/research-paper-workflow.
• claude
  • Installs research-paper-workflow into ${CLAUDE_CODE_HOME:-~/.claude}/skills/research-paper-workflow.
  • Copies .agent/workflows/*.md into <project>/.agent/workflows/.
  • Copies CLAUDE.md to <project>/CLAUDE.md (or CLAUDE.research-skills.md if CLAUDE.md already exists and --overwrite is not used).
• gemini
  • Installs research-paper-workflow into ${GEMINI_HOME:-~/.gemini}/skills/research-paper-workflow.
  • Creates <project>/.gemini/research-skills.md with orchestrator quickstart commands.
  • Copies standards/agent-profiles.example.json to <project>/.gemini/agent-profiles.example.json.

Common flags

• --mode copy|link: copy files or create symlinks.
• --install-cli: install shell CLI commands (research-skills, rsk, rsw).
• --no-cli: skip shell CLI installation.
• --cli-dir <path>: choose where the shell CLI is installed (default: ${RESEARCH_SKILLS_BIN_DIR:-~/.local/bin}).
• --overwrite: replace existing installation targets.
• --dry-run: preview installation actions only.
• --doctor: run python3 -m bridges.orchestrator doctor --cwd <project> after install when python3 is available.

Upgrade

• CLI aliases (after pipx install): rsk / rsw (same as research-skills)
• Shell CLI aliases (after bootstrap install): rsk / rsw / research-skills
• Optional default upstream (omit --repo): set RESEARCH_SKILLS_REPO=<owner>/<repo>, or add research-skills.toml in your project root
• Python-free refresh: rerun bootstrap_research_skill.sh with --overwrite
• Check updates: rsk check --repo <owner>/<repo> (shell CLI or Python CLI; or python3 scripts/research_skill_update.py check ...)
• Upgrade (no fork / no git clone required): rsk upgrade --repo <owner>/<repo> --project-dir /path/to/project --target all (shell CLI or Python CLI; or python3 scripts/research_skill_update.py upgrade ...)
• Full guide: Upgrade

Verify

python3 -m bridges.orchestrator doctor --cwd /path/to/project
python3 scripts/validate_research_standard.py --strict