How do I install howl?

Run the install script: bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh as described in the Installation section.

How do I verify the installation?

Check that ~/.claude/hud/howl exists and is executable, then run echo '{}' | ~/.claude/hud/howl to see a statusline output.

What if the statusline doesn't appear after restart?

Ensure ~/.claude/settings.json contains a statusLine field pointing to Howl, verify the binary path is correct, and run ~/.claude/hud/howl --version to confirm it works, then restart Claude Code.

Setup

npx machina-cli add skill ai-screams/howl/setup --openclaw

Files (1)

SKILL.md

1.7 KB

Howl Setup

Install and configure the Howl statusline HUD for Claude Code.

What This Does

Download the latest Howl binary from GitHub Releases
Install it to ~/.claude/hud/howl
Configure ~/.claude/settings.json to use Howl as the statusline
Prompt the user to restart Claude Code

Installation

Run the install script:

bash "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh"

Verify Installation

After the script completes, verify the binary works:

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

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

Source

git clone https://github.com/ai-screams/howl/blob/main/skills/setup/SKILL.mdView on GitHub

Overview

Automates installing the Howl statusline HUD and wiring Claude Code to use it. It downloads the latest Howl binary, installs it to ~/.claude/hud/howl, updates the settings to enable the statusline, and prompts you to restart Claude Code.

How This Skill Works

The process fetches the latest Howl binary from GitHub Releases and installs it at ~/.claude/hud/howl. It then edits ~/.claude/settings.json to set Howl as the statusLine and prompts you to restart Claude Code to activate the HUD.

When to Use It

When the user asks to install howl
When the user asks to set up the statusline
When the user asks to configure howl
When the user asks to enable the HUD
When the user asks to install the statusline binary

Quick Start

Step 1: Run the install script: bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh
Step 2: Verify installation: echo '{}' | ~/.claude/hud/howl
Step 3: Restart Claude Code to activate the statusline

Best Practices

Run the install script: bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/install.sh
Verify the binary exists and is executable at ~/.claude/hud/howl (chmod +x if needed)
Update ~/.claude/settings.json to include statusLine set to Howl
Test the installation: echo '{}' | ~/.claude/hud/howl
Restart Claude Code to activate the statusline

Example Use Cases

User asks to install Howl to enable the HUD in Claude Code
User wants to set up the statusline so Howl becomes the active HUD
User configures Howl after an upgrade or fresh install
User encounters a failed install and checks binary path or permissions
User verifies the binary works with a version or run test command

Frequently Asked Questions

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