---
title: "Advanced Installation"
description: "Install, update, and remove NVIDIA skills with control over agent, scope, and non-interactive workflows."
---

Use this guide when you need more control than the root README quickstart: non-interactive installs, specific agents, global vs project scope, updates, removals, or a manual fallback.

## Requirements

- Node.js and npm available on your PATH. The examples use `npx`, which ships with npm.
- Access to `https://github.com/NVIDIA/skills`.
- An AI agent that supports Agent Skills, such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, or another compatible agent.

## List Skills Before Installing

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills --list
```

Use this when you want to inspect the catalog before selecting a skill.

## Install One Skill

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python
```

Use the skill name from the `name:` field in the skill's `SKILL.md`. In this catalog, names usually match the leaf folder under `skills/<product>/`.

## Install to a Specific Agent

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python --agent codex
npx skills add nvidia/skills --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python --agent claude-code
npx skills add nvidia/skills --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python --agent cursor
```

You can pass `--agent` more than once:

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills \
  --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python \
  --agent codex \
  --agent claude-code
```

## Choose Project or Global Scope

Project installs are the default. They place links under the current project's agent-specific skills directory so the skills travel with that project.

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python
```

Global installs make the skill available across projects for the selected agent:

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills \
  --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python \
  --agent codex \
  --global
```

## Non-Interactive Install

Use `--yes` when scripting setup or bootstrapping a development environment:

```bash
npx skills add nvidia/skills \
  --skill cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python \
  --agent codex \
  --global \
  --yes
```

## Update or Remove Installed Skills

```bash
# See installed skills
npx skills list

# Check for updates
npx skills check

# Update all installed skills
npx skills update

# Remove a skill
npx skills remove cuopt-numerical-optimization-api-python
```

## Manual Fallback

Prefer `npx skills add` because it handles agent directories, global vs project scope, and updates. If you cannot use Node.js or npm, you can still copy a skill directory manually:

1. Open the product folder under [`skills/`](../skills/).
2. Copy the specific skill directory containing `SKILL.md`.
3. Place it in your agent's skills directory.

Common global locations are:

| Agent | Global skills directory |
|-------|-------------------------|
| Claude Code | `~/.claude/skills/` |
| Codex | `~/.codex/skills/` |
| Cursor | `~/.cursor/skills/` |

Manual installs do not participate in `npx skills update`, so use them only as a fallback.
