Install conda-skills#
Install the plugin into the environment that runs conda, usually base. It requires Python 3.11 or newer and conda 26.9 or newer. An environment that only stores skill packages does not need the plugin.
The commands below use -n base for a standard conda installation. If your conda executable belongs to another prefix, replace -n base with -p /path/to/conda-prefix throughout, using its actual path.
Install the plugin before activating an environment containing your skill packages. In a standard initialized shell, the conda shell function continues to use base’s conda executable after activation. conda skill list and link then read from the active environment by default. Activation requires conda’s shell integration. If it is unavailable, follow your conda installation’s shell initialization instructions and reopen the terminal.
For published releases, start with the conda channel instructions below. If the package version you need is unavailable, use a local package or checkout. The sections are alternative installation methods, not steps you need to follow in sequence.
Install from the jezdez channel#
For published releases, use the jezdez channel, with dependencies supplied by conda-forge.
conda install -n base --override-channels -c jezdez -c conda-forge conda-skills
conda skill --help
The main label is the default for -c jezdez, so no /label/main suffix is needed.
Install from PyPI with conda-pypi#
Install conda-pypi in the environment that runs conda, then use it to install a published wheel:
conda install -n base --override-channels -c conda-forge "conda-pypi>=0.12"
conda pypi install -n base conda-skills
conda skill --help
The command searches configured conda channels first, then converts missing wheels from PyPI, including dependencies. Conda itself must already be installed.
Note
Upstream marks conda pypi install for package installs as pending deprecation and recommends conda install with its wheel channel and Rattler solver configuration. See the conda-pypi quickstart for that alternative. The editable -e workflow below remains supported.
Use a local conda package#
If you have built the plugin’s recipe, substitute its actual artifact path:
conda install -n base --override-channels -c conda-forge /path/to/conda-skills-0.1.0-BUILD.conda
conda skill --help
Replace BUILD with the filename’s build string. See Contributing to conda-skills to build your own artifact. Installing it locally does not upload it.
Install from a checkout#
Check the path and version of your conda installation:
conda info --base
conda --version
Then run from the checkout root, adjusting the target if needed:
conda run -n base python --version
conda install -n base --override-channels -c conda-forge "conda-pypi>=0.12" "hatchling>=1.27" "hatch-vcs>=0.4" "rich>=13" "ruamel.yaml>=0.11.14,<0.20"
conda pypi install -n base -e .
conda skill --help
Check that the reported Python and conda versions meet the requirements above. conda-pypi 0.12 fixes explicit --name and --prefix selection. An editable installation reads Python source from the checkout, so keep it at the same path.
Editable installs do not resolve runtime dependencies. The first command supplies rich and ruamel.yaml, plus Hatchling and hatch-vcs for the build. Conda-pypi builds a PEP 660 editable wheel and installs it as a conda package. Only install a checkout whose build code you trust.
To preview the checkout path and target environment without building or installing:
conda pypi install -n base --dry-run -e .
This preview does not validate the build or its dependencies.
Prepare your agent’s directories#
The agents backend uses .agents/skills/, and the claude backend uses .claude/skills/. The plugin only manages filesystem links. Consult your agent’s documentation for whether it reads those paths and when it reloads skills.
On Windows, directory symlinks require Developer Mode or suitable privileges. Enable these under your organization’s policy before following the tutorial. If symlink creation fails, the plugin reports the error without copying directories as a fallback.
Continue with Try your first skill to try one skill. If conda does not recognize a command, see Troubleshooting.