Getting Started

Quickstart

Install the CLI, initialize your hub, then link all supported IDEs.

Recommended (macOS and Linux): one command installs the CLI and, when needed, configures a user-owned npm global directory so you avoid EACCES on /usr/local (common with the Node installer from nodejs.org).

curl -fsSL https://www.chainhub.one/install.sh | bash

If chain is not found right after install, open a new terminal tab or run source ~/.zshrc (bash: source ~/.bashrc) so your shell reloads PATH, then continue below.

Then:

chain init

chain setup

chain list

Alternative: if npm install -g already works on your machine:

npm install -g chain-hub

chain init

chain setup

chain list

Requires Node.js 20+. See Troubleshooting if install fails with permission errors.

Optional: install the removable Hub Authoring Pack (create-skill, create-workflow, create-agent, and related slugs) on first init:

chain init --with-authoring

By default your hub lives at ~/chain-hub (visible in your home folder). To use a custom location, run chain config set chain_home <path> or set the CHAIN_HOME environment variable (advanced).

CLI and hub updates

The chain command is installed from the chain-hub-cli npm package. Update the CLI by running the same global install as for a fresh setup:

npm install -g chain-hub

chain --version

After upgrading the CLI, run chain init so ~/chain-hub/core/ matches the bundled core in that release. Run chain setup again if release notes mention IDE symlink changes. For skills installed from the registry or GitHub bundles, use chain update.