setup · diff
git:20260211.66bb485 to git:20260615.e3a990d
21 added, 0 removed. Audit B to B.
---
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "install howl", "set up the statusline", "configure howl", "enable the HUD", or "install the statusline binary". It downloads the Howl binary and configures Claude Code to use it.
disable-model-invocation: true
---
# Howl Setup
Install and configure the Howl statusline HUD for Claude Code.
## What This Does
1. Download the latest Howl binary from GitHub Releases
2. Install it to `~/.claude/hud/howl`
3. Configure `~/.claude/settings.json` to use Howl as the statusline
4. Prompt the user to restart Claude Code
## Installation
Run the install script:
```bash
bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh"
```
## Verify Installation
After the script completes, verify the binary works:
```bash
echo '{}' | ~/.claude/hud/howl
```
The output should show a statusline with default values. If the binary is not found or fails, check:
- `~/.claude/hud/howl` exists and is executable
- Run `chmod +x ~/.claude/hud/howl` if needed
## Post-Install
Inform the user:
- Binary installed to `~/.claude/hud/howl`
- Statusline configured in `~/.claude/settings.json`
- **Restart Claude Code** to activate the statusline
+ ## Auto-Update
+
+ Once installed, the binary keeps itself current automatically:
+
+ - Claude Code auto-updates the **plugin** content (skills, scripts) from the marketplace.
+ - The plugin's `SessionStart` hook (`scripts/sync-binary.sh`) then detects a plugin
+ version change and re-downloads the matching **binary** in the background — so the
+ binary never drifts from the plugin. It is a no-op (no network) when already in sync,
+ and only updates an existing install (it never installs unprompted).
+
+ To receive updates, ensure marketplace auto-update is enabled for the Howl marketplace
+ (third-party marketplaces are not auto-updated by default):
+
+ ```bash
+ # Refresh the marketplace and update installed plugins
+ claude plugin marketplace update ai-screams-howl
+ ```
+
+ To force a binary update immediately, just re-run this setup (`/howl:setup`) or
+ `bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh"`.
+
## Troubleshooting
If the install fails:
- Check internet connectivity (needs access to github.com)
- Verify `curl` is available
- Try manual download from: https://github.com/ai-screams/howl/releases/latest
- Supported platforms: macOS (arm64/amd64), Linux (arm64/amd64)
If the statusline does not appear after restart:
- Check `~/.claude/settings.json` contains the `statusLine` field
- Verify the binary path is correct for this system
- Run `~/.claude/hud/howl --version` to confirm the binary works