AI Tools Management
Extensible AI CLI tools management with delegation-first design. Detects installed tools, installs missing tools, reports versions, and retrieves update instructions from authoritative sources.
Design Principles
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No hardcoded documentation - Never duplicate docs that exist elsewhere
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Delegation-first - Route to ecosystem skills/agents for authoritative guidance
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Graceful fallback - Skill -> MCP research -> web search
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Extensible - Easy to add new tools via tool-registry.md
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Two-tier detection - PATH check first, npm global fallback second
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Install capability - Offer to install missing tools via delegation
Workflow
Step 1: Detect Installed Tools (Two-Tier)
Check which AI CLI tools are installed using two-tier detection:
Tier 1 - PATH check:
Claude Code
command -v claude &>/dev/null && claude --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"
Gemini CLI
command -v gemini &>/dev/null && gemini --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"
Codex CLI
command -v codex &>/dev/null && codex --version 2>/dev/null || echo "NOT_IN_PATH"
Tier 2 - npm global fallback (for tools not found in PATH):
Check npm global packages for tools not in PATH
npm list -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code --depth=0 2>/dev/null npm list -g @google/gemini-cli --depth=0 2>/dev/null npm list -g @openai/codex --depth=0 2>/dev/null
Report which tools are installed with their current versions. Classify each as:
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Installed (found in PATH) - version detected
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Installed (npm only) - found via npm but not in PATH (may need PATH fix)
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Not installed - not found by either method
Step 2: Install Missing Tools (Delegation Pattern)
For each tool that is not installed, offer to install it using the delegation chain from the tool registry's Install Delegation Chain.
Default behavior: Offer to install missing tools (prompt user for confirmation).
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--install mode: Install missing tools without prompting
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--no-install mode: Skip installation, only report and update existing tools
Claude Code
Primary: Invoke claude-ecosystem:docs-management skill with query "Claude Code install setup"
Fallback 1: Spawn claude-code-guide agent to find install docs
Fallback 2: mcp__perplexity__search("Claude Code CLI install npm")
Fallback 3: WebSearch("Claude Code CLI install")
Gemini CLI
Primary: Invoke google-ecosystem:gemini-cli-docs skill with query "install setup npm"
Fallback 1: mcp__perplexity__search("Google Gemini CLI npm install setup")
Fallback 2: WebSearch("Google Gemini CLI npm install")
Codex CLI
Primary: Invoke openai-ecosystem:codex-cli-docs skill with query "install setup npm"
Fallback 1: mcp__perplexity__search("OpenAI Codex CLI npm install setup")
Fallback 2: WebSearch("OpenAI Codex CLI npm install")
After installation, re-run detection to confirm and report installed versions.
Step 3: Get Update Instructions (Delegation Pattern)
For each installed tool that needs updating, retrieve instructions from authoritative sources using the delegation chain from the tool registry's Delegation Chain.
Claude Code
Primary: Invoke claude-ecosystem:docs-management skill with query "Claude Code update install upgrade"
Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, spawn claude-code-guide agent:
First WebFetch https://code.claude.com/docs/en/claude_code_docs_map.md to find update/install documentation. Then WebFetch those pages. Return the update commands.
Fallback 2: If agent unavailable, use MCP:
mcp__perplexity__search("Claude Code CLI update install latest version 2026")
Fallback 3: WebSearch for "Claude Code CLI update install"
Gemini CLI
Primary: Invoke google-ecosystem:gemini-cli-docs skill with query "update install upgrade npm"
Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, use MCP:
mcp__perplexity__search("Google Gemini CLI npm update install latest version 2026")
Fallback 2: WebSearch for "Google Gemini CLI npm install update"
Codex CLI
Primary: Invoke openai-ecosystem:codex-cli-docs skill with query "update install upgrade npm"
Fallback 1: If skill unavailable, use MCP:
mcp__perplexity__search("OpenAI Codex CLI npm update install latest version 2026")
Fallback 2: WebSearch for "OpenAI Codex CLI npm install update"
Step 4: Execute Updates
After retrieving authoritative update instructions:
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Present the update commands to user
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If --dry-run mode, stop here (show what would happen)
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Otherwise, execute the update commands
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Report new versions after updates complete
Step 5: Report Results
Provide a summary table:
Tool Before After Status
Claude Code vX.X.X vY.Y.Y Updated
Gemini CLI Not installed vX.X.X Installed
Codex CLI vX.X.X vY.Y.Y Updated
Possible statuses: Updated, Installed, Already latest, Skipped, Failed, Not installed (--no-install)
Tool Registry
See references/tool-registry.md for the complete tool registry with:
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Detection commands (two-tier: PATH + npm fallback)
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npm package names and install types
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Delegation sources (skills, agents, MCP queries)
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Install delegation chains
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Fallback search queries
Adding New Tools
To add a new AI CLI tool:
Add entry to references/tool-registry.md with:
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Detection command (how to check if installed)
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npm package name and install type
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Version command (how to get current version)
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Docs source (which skill/agent has authoritative docs)
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Search query (fallback for MCP/web search)
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Install delegation chain
No code changes needed - the workflow automatically handles tools in the registry
Supported Modes
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Default: Update all installed tools, offer to install missing tools
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--tool NAME : Update/install specific tool only
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--dry-run : Show what would happen without executing
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--check : Only check versions, don't update or install
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--install : Install missing tools without prompting
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--no-install : Skip installation of missing tools, only update existing
Error Handling
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Tool not installed (default): Offer to install via delegation chain
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Tool not installed (--no-install): Skip gracefully, report in summary
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npm not in PATH: Detected via npm fallback, suggest PATH fix
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Skill unavailable: Fall back to MCP search
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MCP unavailable: Fall back to web search
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Update fails: Report error, continue with other tools
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Install fails: Report error with delegation source that failed, continue with other tools
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No authoritative source found: Report inability to update/install, suggest manual check
Why Delegation?
Update and install commands change over time:
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Package managers evolve (npm -> pnpm, pip -> uv)
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Installation methods change (npm global -> npx)
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Flags and options get added/deprecated
By delegating to ecosystem skills that maintain current documentation, this skill stays accurate without manual updates.
Test Scenarios
Scenario 1: Check installed tools
Given: User asks "what AI tools do I have installed?" Then: Detect all tools using two-tier detection and report versions
Scenario 2: Update all tools
Given: User asks "update my AI tools" Then: Detect installed tools, retrieve update instructions via delegation, execute updates
Scenario 3: Update specific tool
Given: User asks "update claude code" Then: Retrieve Claude Code update instructions via delegation, execute update
Scenario 4: Dry run mode
Given: User asks "show me how to update my AI tools without running anything" Then: Detect installed tools, retrieve update instructions, display without executing
Scenario 5: Check only mode
Given: User asks "what versions of AI tools do I have?" Then: Detect installed tools and report versions without attempting updates or installs
Scenario 6: Install missing tools (default)
Given: User runs update and some tools are not installed Then: Offer to install missing tools via delegation, install on confirmation, report results
Scenario 7: Install with --install flag
Given: User runs with --install flag Then: Install all missing tools without prompting, then update existing tools
Scenario 8: npm fallback detection
Given: Tool is installed via npm but not in PATH Then: Two-tier detection finds it via npm list -g , reports as "Installed (npm only)", suggests PATH fix
Scenario 9: Skip install with --no-install
Given: User runs with --no-install flag and some tools are not installed Then: Skip missing tools, only update tools that are already installed
Version History
Version Date Changes
1.1.0 2026-02-15 Two-tier detection (PATH + npm fallback), install workflow with --install/--no-install modes, Install Delegation Chain in registry
1.0.0 2026-01-17 Initial release - delegation-first design, support for Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Codex CLI
Model: Claude Opus 4.6 (claude-opus-4-6) Last Updated: 2026-02-15