RStack can be installed in any AI coding environment.
Requirements
- Node.js >= 18.0.0
- npm >= 9.0.0
Recommended: one command for any framework
cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --profile business-flex # auto-detects pi | claude-code | operator | custom
init sets up .rstack/, writes the active business profile and budget policy,
registers the project with the Business Hub, scaffolds bootstrap files
(SOUL.md, HEARTBEAT.md, and framework-specific CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md),
writes the framework-specific glue,
and prints next steps — idempotent and non-destructive. New to your AI framework
itself? See
Install your framework for the
per-tool setup, then run the command above.
The sections below are the manual / asset-based paths. You only need them
for frameworks without a native adapter (Codex, Gemini, universal) or if you
prefer wiring assets yourself.
Business profiles
Choose the active project shape during init:
npx rstack-agents init --profile business-flex
npx rstack-agents init --profile lean-mvp
npx rstack-agents init --profile enterprise-webapp
.rstack/rstack.config.json and .rstack/budget.json. They guide enabled domains, plugin priority, dashboard pages, routing explanations, and budget envelopes. See Business Flex Profiles.
Pi — Native adapter (full-featured)
The native Pi adapter gives RStack lifecycle hooks, tool gating, session events, and the full governed harness.
# Install from npm
pi install npm:rstack-agents
# Install from local checkout
pi install /path/to/SDLC-rstack
# One-off run without installing
pi -e /path/to/SDLC-rstack/extensions/rstack-sdlc.ts
Claude Code — Asset adapter
Recommended: npx rstack-agents init --framework claude-code scaffolds CLAUDE.md, SOUL.md, and HEARTBEAT.md automatically.
Manual asset copy (optional):
export RSTACK_HOME=/path/to/SDLC-rstack
mkdir -p .claude/agents/rstack .claude/commands/rstack .rstack/vendor/rstack
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/agents" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/skills" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/plugins" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/prompts" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/agents"/* .claude/agents/rstack/
cp "$RSTACK_HOME/prompts"/*.md .claude/commands/rstack/ 2>/dev/null || true
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/CLAUDE.md ./CLAUDE.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/SOUL.md ./SOUL.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/HEARTBEAT.md ./HEARTBEAT.md
Codex CLI — AGENTS.md adapter
Recommended: npx rstack-agents init --framework custom scaffolds AGENTS.md, SOUL.md, and HEARTBEAT.md.
Manual asset copy (optional):
export RSTACK_HOME=/path/to/SDLC-rstack
mkdir -p .rstack/vendor/rstack
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/agents" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/skills" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/plugins" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/prompts" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/AGENTS.md ./AGENTS.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/SOUL.md ./SOUL.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/HEARTBEAT.md ./HEARTBEAT.md
Gemini CLI — GEMINI.md adapter
Recommended: run init --framework custom, then copy GEMINI.md:
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/GEMINI.md ./GEMINI.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/SOUL.md ./SOUL.md
cp node_modules/rstack-agents/templates/bootstrap/HEARTBEAT.md ./HEARTBEAT.md
export RSTACK_HOME=/path/to/SDLC-rstack
mkdir -p .rstack/vendor/rstack
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/agents" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/skills" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/plugins" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
cp -R "$RSTACK_HOME/prompts" .rstack/vendor/rstack/
Universal — Asset-only mode
Use this when your framework can read files but has no native RStack adapter.
git clone https://github.com/richard-devbot/SDLC-rstack.git ~/rstack-agents
export RSTACK_HOME=~/rstack-agents
Use RStack SDLC from $RSTACK_HOME.
Read agents/core/orchestrator.md first.
Use agents/core/builder.md for implementation tasks.
Use agents/core/validator.md for read-only verification.
Use agents/sdlc/ for lifecycle routing.
Use skills/ and plugins/ only when relevant.
Write run state under .rstack/runs/<run_id>/.
Require specs, approvals, traceability, builder.json, validation.json, and command evidence.
Never claim DONE without evidence.
Verify your installation
# Check CLI is working
rstack-agents list agents
rstack-agents list skills
rstack-agents list plugins
rstack-agents validate
$ rstack-agents validate
[rstack] All 196 agents passed validation.
