Installing LemonCrow into Claude Code

Support level: Full plugin (skills, agents, hooks, MCP server)

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Install Modes

Mode	What it installs	When to use
Marketplace (recommended)	Full plugin via claude plugin install	Normal install — agents + skills + workflows + MCP
Dev (no install)	Plugin loaded via --plugin-dir flag	Testing plugin changes without install
MCP-only (fallback)	.mcp.json entry only, no plugin	Claude < 2.1.154 or when plugin install fails

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Mode 1: Marketplace Install (Recommended)

make install

This registers the local Claude plugin source (lc), installs lemoncrow@lemoncrow, and registers the MCP server in Claude's user scope. Pass --workspace /path/to/workspace to write a project-local .mcp.json instead.

The script is idempotent — safe to run again after updates.

To configure project-specific role models after the global install, run:

uv run lc init --configure-models

The init wizard writes <workspace>/.lemoncrow/settings.json and materializes workspace-local Claude overrides under .claude/, so the shared global plugin can stay neutral while the current project carries explicit per-role models.

Verify

make verify

All checks should show PASS:

• claude plugin list shows lemoncrow@lemoncrow ✔ enabled
• Plugin source lc is registered
• Global install: claude mcp list shows lc
• Workspace install: .mcp.json contains lc server entry

Manual steps (print-only mode)

bash scripts/install_claude.sh --print-only
bash scripts/install_claude.sh --print-only --workspace /path/to/workspace

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Mode 2: Dev Mode (No Install)

For testing plugin changes without a full install:

bash scripts/install_claude.sh --print-only

This prints the command to run:

claude --plugin-dir /abs/path/to/integrations/claude/plugin

No claude plugin install or marketplace registration needed. Changes to skill files are picked up on restart.

Install profile selection:

• LEMONCROW_PROFILE=stable is the default install profile.
• LEMONCROW_PROFILE=dev stages the dev-oriented plugin artifacts.
• LEMONCROW_DEV_MODE=1 is still required for runtime-gated dev tools.

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Mode 3: MCP-Only Fallback

bash scripts/install_claude.sh --print-only

WARNING: This is NOT the full plugin. It installs the MCP server entry in .mcp.json only if you apply the printed manual steps. Agents and /lc:* skills are NOT available. Use this only when claude plugin install is unavailable.

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What Gets Installed (Full Plugin)

Artifact	Global install	--workspace DIR install
Claude plugin	~/.claude/plugins/cache/...	same plugin install
Plugin listing	~/.claude/plugins/installed_plugins.json	same plugin listing
Marketplace entry	~/.claude/settings.json (known_marketplaces)	same marketplace entry
MCP server config	Claude user MCP scope (claude mcp add --scope user)	<workspace>/.mcp.json
Workspace env	not written	<workspace>/.claude/settings.local.json
Skills/agents/hooks/workflows	bundled in integrations/claude/plugin/	bundled in the same plugin

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Project-local model config

The intended flow is:

1. Install the shared Claude plugin globally.
2. Run uv run lc init --configure-models inside a repository.
3. Let the wizard write .lemoncrow/settings.json, .claude/settings.local.json, .claude/agents/, and .claude/skills/.

"auto" means omit an explicit model pin for the workspace Claude surface. Concrete values write model: into the workspace-local Claude agent files while the shared global plugin remains unpinned.

First Task

Start Claude Code in your workspace and type:

/lemoncrow:explore

You should switch into the read-only LemonCrow explore mode and get a focused repo-mapping workflow.

Slash Commands (Skills)

All commands use the /lemoncrow:name format (colon, not dash):

Command	Description
/lemoncrow:code	Switch to main coding mode
/lemoncrow:explore	Switch to read-only exploration mode
/lemoncrow:plan	Switch to implementation planning mode
/lemoncrow:execute	Switch to focused execution mode
/lemoncrow:review	Switch to adversarial review mode
/lemoncrow:research	Switch to external research mode with citations
/lemoncrow:solve	Switch to autonomous solve mode

Agents

Select from the /agents list in Claude Code:

Agent	Role
lemoncrow:code	Main coding agent — full task loop
lemoncrow:explore	Read-only repo exploration
lemoncrow:plan	Planner — grounded implementation plan
lemoncrow:execute	Executor — focused edits + self-check
lemoncrow:review	Verifier — plan checks + rubric gate
lemoncrow:research	External research with citations
lemoncrow:solve	Autonomous solver — artifact/check loop

Dynamic Workflows

Dynamic workflows require Claude Code v2.1.154 or later and are still in research preview.

The LemonCrow Claude plugin now bundles workflow scripts under integrations/claude/plugin/workflows/. The first packaged workflow is code-audit.js, a reusable multi-lens audit that fans out security, performance, and test-review passes before consolidating the findings into one report. It also now bundles gate-benchmark.js, which drives the repo's live benchmark/reporting surfaces and returns a strict PASS / FAIL / INSUFFICIENT_DATA gate verdict instead of relying on deleted A/B infra.

Use /workflows in Claude Code to inspect available workflow runs and saved scripts. Keep long-running workflow permissions broad enough for read/search operations, or the run may pause on approval prompts. bash scripts/verify_claude.sh also checks that the packaged workflows/ surface, code-audit.js, and the workflow README are present before you rely on runtime discovery. The packaged workflow fixture workflows/fixtures/code-audit-review-fixture.json measures the intended adversarial cross-check win over a single-pass review so the pattern stays regression-tested even while Claude's workflow runtime remains a preview surface.

V2 Tools — Memory and Context Savings

With LEMONCROW_DEV_MODE=1, the active LemonCrow MCP surface for Claude Code includes context, route, rescue, record, verify, memory, read, edit, sql, search, compact, bash, and the code helpers.

Without developer mode, record remains the most reliable active surface and some other tools may still appear as passive compatibility stubs.

Host-native file reads, search, shell, slash commands, and agents remain the raw control surface when you do not need LemonCrow-specific context, routing, or trace behavior.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Not in claude plugin list	Run make install
Plugin listed but not enabled	Run claude plugin enable lemoncrow@lemoncrow
Validation fails	Run claude plugin validate integrations/claude/plugin/
MCP tools missing	Global: run claude mcp list; workspace: check .mcp.json
Hooks firing unexpectedly	Set "enabled": false in integrations/claude/plugin/hooks/hooks.json
Want to test without install	Use bash scripts/install_claude.sh --print-only

Uninstall

bash scripts/uninstall_claude.sh
bash scripts/uninstall_claude.sh --workspace /path/to/workspace