Getting Started
Installation
Install Gangsta skills on your preferred AI development platform.
Installation
Gangsta is a skills framework — it doesn't run as a standalone application. Instead, you install it into your AI coding tool so the agent can invoke skills automatically. Choose your platform below.
What you're installing: A collection of Markdown-based skill files that tell your AI agent when and how to use structured development processes. No runtime dependencies, no build step, no package manager required.
Prerequisites
- Git
- An AI coding tool (Claude Code, OpenCode, Codex, Gemini CLI, or Cursor)
- A project directory where you want to use Gangsta
Install for Your Platform
# 1. Clone the Gangsta repo
git clone https://github.com/kucherenko/gangsta.git ~/gangsta
# 2. Add the skills path to your Claude Code config
# Edit ~/.claude/settings.json (or your project's .claude/settings.json)
# Add under "mcpServers" or the appropriate config key:
{
"mcpServers": {},
"skills": {
"paths": ["~/gangsta/skills"]
}
}
# 3. Restart Claude Code
# 1. Clone the Gangsta repo
git clone https://github.com/kucherenko/gangsta.git ~/gangsta
# 2. Create or edit opencode.json in your project root
# Add the Gangsta plugin with skills path:
{
"plugins": {
"gangsta": {
"source": "~/gangsta"
}
},
"skills": {
"paths": ["~/gangsta/skills"]
}
}
# 3. Restart OpenCode
# 1. Clone the Gangsta repo
git clone https://github.com/kucherenko/gangsta.git ~/gangsta
# 2. Symlink skills to the Codex skills directory
mkdir -p ~/.agents/skills
ln -s ~/gangsta/skills/gangsta ~/.agents/skills/gangsta
# 3. Restart Codex
# Install directly via the Gemini extensions registry
gemini extensions install https://github.com/kucherenko/gangsta
# This handles cloning, path configuration, and registration automatically
# 1. Clone the Gangsta repo
git clone https://github.com/kucherenko/gangsta.git ~/gangsta
# 2. Follow the Claude Code installation steps
# Cursor uses the same conventions as Claude Code for skill registration
# 3. In Cursor settings, add the skills path:
# ~/gangsta/skills
# 4. Restart Cursor
Verify Installation
After installing, start a new session with your AI tool and test with this prompt:
Verification prompt: Start a new session and say:
The agent should automatically invoke"I want to build a new feature"
gangsta:reconnaissance and begin gathering intel about your codebase and requirements. If it does, installation is successful.If the agent doesn't invoke the skill:
- Check that the skills path is correctly configured
- Ensure you're starting a fresh session (skills are loaded at session start)
- Verify the
skills/directory contains.mdfiles (not nested too deep)
Updating
To update Gangsta skills to the latest version:
cd ~/gangsta
git pull origin main
gemini extensions update gangsta
Always update before starting a new Heist. Skill definitions evolve, and using the latest version ensures you have the most current process definitions.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Agent doesn't invoke skills | Check skills path configuration; restart session |
| Skills appear but produce errors | Verify skill files are .md format, not corrupted |
| Partial skill invocation | Ensure the entire skills/ directory is linked, not individual files |
| Gemini CLI extension not found | Ensure gemini extensions install completed without errors |