btca-cli — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Operates btca to search added source repositories, local directories, and npm packages. Use it when an agent needs answers tied to selected resources.
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a claude-codeWhat btca-cli does
This skill operates the btca CLI. It adds git repositories, local directories, and npm packages as searchable context, then asks questions against one resource or several resources at once.
Resources live in the project btca.config.jsonc or the global ~/.config/btca/btca.config.jsonc. Project configuration takes precedence and controls the provider, model, and resources. btca ask can also take a one-off resource directly, without saving it to configuration.
Connect a provider with btca connect before asking questions. A disconnected provider stops requests, so checking that first avoids a failed research step.
What it helps with
- add a git repository as searchable context
- connect a local documentation directory
- ask a question across several resources
- check configured resource names
- inspect an npm package without saving it
Example prompts for the agent
- Use btca to add
npm:@types/[email protected]as thenode-typesresource. - Use btca to ask a question across the
reactandtypescriptresources. - Use btca to check configured resources with
btca resources.
How to install btca-cli
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/btca-cli/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install davis7dotsh/better-context btca-cli2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/davis7dotsh/better-context --path skills/btca-cliManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about btca-cli
How do I install btca-cli in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a claude-code, then run npx skills add davis7dotsh/better-context --skill btca-cli -a claude-code again. The skill file is placed at ~/.claude/skills/btca-cli/SKILL.md.
What does btca-cli do?
It operates the btca CLI for adding resources and asking questions against their contents. Resources can be git repositories, local directories, or npm packages.
Where does btca-cli keep its resource configuration?
Project configuration is stored in btca.config.jsonc, while global configuration is in ~/.config/btca/btca.config.jsonc. The project file overrides the global file.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
--- name: btca-cli description: Operate the btca CLI for local resources and source-first answers. Use when setting up btca in a project, connecting a provider, adding or managing resources, and asking questions via btca commands. Invoke this skill when the user says "use btca" or needs to do more detailed research on a specific library or framework. --- # btca CLI `btca` is a source-first research CLI. It hydrates resources (git, local, npm) into searchable context, then answers questions grounded in those sources. Use configured resources for ongoing work, or one-off anonymous resources directly in `btca ask`. Full CLI reference: https://docs.btca.dev/guides/cli-reference Add resources: ```bash # Git resource btca add -n svelte-dev https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte.dev # Local directory btca add -n my-docs -t local /absolute/path/to/docs # npm package btca add npm:@types/[email protected] -n node-types -t npm ``` Verify resources: ```bash btca resources ``` Ask a question: ```bash btca ask -r svelte-dev -q "How do I define remote functions?" ``` ## Common Tasks - Ask with multiple resources: ```bash btca ask -r react -r typescript -q "How do I type useState?" ``` - Ask with anonymous one-off resources (not saved to config): ```bash # One-off git repo btca ask -r https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte -q "Where is the implementation of writable stores?" # One-off npm package btca ask -r npm:[email protected] -q "How is useTransition exported?" ``` ## Config Overview - Config lives in `btca.config.jsonc` (project) and `~/.config/btca/btca.config.jsonc` (global). - Project config overrides global and controls provider/model and resources. ## Troubleshooting - "No resources configured": add resources with `btca add ...` and re-run `btca resources`. - "Provider not connected": run `btca connect` and follow the prompts. - "Unknown resource": use `btca resources` for configured names, or pass a valid HTTPS git URL / `npm:<package>` as an anonymous one-off in `btca ask`.
© davis7dotsh · MIT · davis7dotsh/better-context
