AI agent skill · by @ryoppippi

Missing Tools

Resolves missing CLI tools. Use when a command is unavailable, a shell reports command not found, or a tool must be run without installing it globally.

Archived 2026-10-23 · Source updated 2026-09-19 · License: MIT. Check the original repository for the latest version.

SKILL.md instructions

Use this workflow when a required command is unavailable:

1. Try comma: `, <command>`.
2. Try the project environment: `direnv exec . <command>`.
3. Use `nix run nixpkgs#<package> -- <args>` when a package is known.
4. Use `nix shell nixpkgs#<package> --command <command>` when a package is known but a temporary shell is required.

Exceptions:

- Script with a missing interpreter: read its shebang and run it with `nix shell nixpkgs#<package> --command ./<script>`.
- Last resort: `docker run --rm -v "$PWD:/workspace" -w /workspace <image> <command>`.

For GitHub-backed Nix fetches, use the `nix-github-rate-limit` skill.

Never install tools globally. Use Zsh for normal commands; if a user tool is only on Fish's PATH, resolve it with `fish -lc 'command -v <tool>'` and invoke the resulting path.