HelixLab Setup

VerifiedCaution

Checks that HelixLab's system dependencies (ffmpeg, ffprobe, bc) are installed and guides the user through installation if anything is missing. It also detects the user's AI coding agent and provides tailored integration instructions. For Claude Code users, reminds them to enable auto-update via the plugin marketplace.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DevelopmentBeginner
906/2/2026
Claude Code
#helixlab#dependency-check#system-setup#prerequisites

Recommended for

Our review

Checks and installs HelixLab's system dependencies (ffmpeg, ffprobe, bc) and provides tailored integration instructions for the user's AI agent.

Strengths

  • Idempotent and safe to run at any time
  • Automatically detects the AI agent and provides personalized integration guidance
  • Includes a check-only mode (--check) that makes no changes

Limitations

  • Requires shell access and installation privileges on the system
  • Limited to HelixLab-specific dependencies
  • Integration instructions may vary depending on agent version
When to use it

When first setting up HelixLab or to verify that the environment is correctly configured.

When not to use it

If you are using an environment without shell access or if you have already verified dependencies manually.

Security analysis

Caution
Quality score85/100

The skill uses Bash to execute a setup script (scripts/setup.sh) that checks for dependencies and may offer installation guidance. Although the described intention is benign and the process is claimed idempotent, the actual script is not visible in the skill definition, so it could perform system modifications or unsafe actions.

Findings
  • Executes a bash script from the plugin directory, which could potentially run arbitrary system-level commands.

Examples

Check dependencies only
Run the HelixLab setup with the --check flag to verify that all prerequisites are installed without making any changes.
Full setup and integration
Set up HelixLab on my system: install any missing dependencies and provide integration instructions for my AI agent.
Verify after installation
Run the HelixLab setup script to ensure everything is installed correctly, then run the test script to confirm ffmpeg works.

name: setup description: Check prerequisites and set up HelixLab dependencies allowed-tools:

  • Bash
  • Read argument-hint: "[--check]" disable-model-invocation: true

<essential_principles> The setup skill checks that HelixLab's system dependencies (ffmpeg, ffprobe, bc) are installed and guides the user through installation if anything is missing. It also detects the user's AI coding agent and provides tailored integration instructions.

This skill is idempotent — safe to run at any time. </essential_principles>

<workflow>

Step 1: Run the setup script

Check what flags the user passed (available as $ARGUMENTS):

  • If --check was passed, run in check-only mode
  • Otherwise, run the full setup
bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/setup.sh $ARGUMENTS

Step 2: Interpret results

Review the script output:

  • If all dependencies show ✓, report that HelixLab is ready
  • If any dependencies show ✗, help the user resolve them based on the script's recommendations

Step 3: Verify with tests

After installation (or if all deps were already present), confirm everything works:

bash ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/tests/test-scripts.sh --check-ffmpeg

Step 4: Report status

Summarize for the user:

  • Which dependencies are installed (with versions)
  • Which AI agent was detected and how to integrate
  • Any remaining action items
  • For Claude Code users: remind them to enable auto-update via /plugin → Marketplaces tab → select the helixlab marketplace → Enable auto-update (third-party marketplaces have auto-update disabled by default)
</workflow>
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