Installation

SpecForge installs in one line as a Claude Code plugin, and its skills also install into any skills.sh-compatible agent. Pick the path that fits you.

Prerequisites

• Claude Code — latest version. If you don’t see the /plugin command, update Claude Code first.
• git — for the marketplace source.
• Node.js (optional) — only for the skills.sh path (npx).

Option 1 — Claude Code plugin (recommended)

The full experience: commands + skills + subagents + the enforced gate.

/plugin marketplace add pooyagolchian/specforge
/plugin install specforge@specforge
/reload-plugins

Non-interactive / scripted:

claude plugin marketplace add pooyagolchian/specforge
claude plugin install specforge@specforge

Option 2 — skills.sh (any agent, skills only)

Installs the lifecycle skills into 70+ agents.

npx skills add pooyagolchian/specforge          # all skills
npx skills add pooyagolchian/specforge --list     # preview first

Caution

The enforcement hooks (the gate) ship only with the Claude Code plugin. On the skills.sh path the skills still guide the workflow and write the specforge/ artifacts, but the gate is advisory, not enforced.

Option 3 — From source (try before you install / develop)

git clone https://github.com/pooyagolchian/specforge
claude --plugin-dir ./specforge/plugins/specforge

--plugin-dir also accepts a .zip, and a local copy overrides an installed same-named plugin for that session — handy while developing.

Option 4 — Team provisioning

Commit this to your repo’s .claude/settings.json so trusting teammates are auto-prompted to install:

{
  "extraKnownMarketplaces": {
    "specforge": { "source": { "source": "github", "repo": "pooyagolchian/specforge" } }
  },
  "enabledPlugins": { "specforge@specforge": true }
}

First run — and see the gate work

/specforge:init

Fill in specforge/inputs/vision.md and tech-environment.md, then watch the gate enforce spec-before-code:

Step	What happens
Ask Claude to edit a source file now	🚫 Blocked — no approved spec/plan
/specforge:specify "…" → /specforge:plan	drafts the spec + plan
/specforge:approve specify && /specforge:approve plan	✅ gate opens
Ask Claude to edit again	allowed — building under the plan
/specforge:quick	fast-track a trivial change (audited)

Updating & uninstalling

/plugin marketplace update            # pull the latest
/plugin uninstall specforge@specforge  # remove the plugin
/plugin marketplace remove specforge   # optional: forget the marketplace

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Fix
No /plugin command	Update Claude Code to the latest version
Commands don’t appear	Run /reload-plugins
The gate never blocks	It’s inert without a specforge/ workspace — run /specforge:init; and the gate ships only with the plugin, not the skills.sh install
The gate blocks after approval	In specforge/state.md, the active feature’s specify and plan rows must read approved
Private/enterprise repo can’t clone	Configure a git credential helper for the marketplace source

At a glance

Method	Command	Gets the gate?	Best for
Plugin marketplace	/plugin install specforge@specforge	✅	Everyone (recommended)
skills.sh	npx skills add pooyagolchian/specforge	❌ (skills)	Non-Claude-Code agents
From source	claude --plugin-dir …	✅	Trying it / development
Team settings	extraKnownMarketplaces + enabledPlugins	✅	Auto-provisioning a team