Installation — Codex

SpecArk installs into Codex through the standard plugin marketplace mechanism. One install registers all twelve spdd-* skills.

Install from the marketplace

codex plugin marketplace add maxgda/spec-ark
codex plugin marketplace upgrade

This registers the SpecArk marketplace from GitHub and makes every spdd-* skill available in your Codex session.

Local development install

For local plugin work or testing before publishing:

1. Keep the plugin at plugins/specark/.
2. Keep the marketplace file at .agents/plugins/marketplace.json.
3. Restart Codex after changing skills, references, or metadata.

This loads the plugin directly from the local directory. Useful when you are developing or modifying the plugin itself.

Verify the install

After install, every skill is invokable by name. The Codex invocation pattern is:

Use the <skill-name> skill on @<artifact-path>.

For example:

Use the spdd-orchestrator skill on @idea.md in semi-auto mode.

First run

Start with the orchestrator for the default guided path:

Use the spdd-orchestrator skill on @idea.md in semi-auto mode.

Or jump directly to the matching phase if you already have an artifact:

Use the spdd-story skill on @requirements/brief.md.
Use the spdd-analysis skill on @requirements/STORY-001.md.
Use the spdd-reasons-canvas skill on @spdd/analysis/ANALYSIS-001.md.
Use the spdd-generate skill on @spdd/prompt/PROMPT-001.md.

Skill invocation reference

Action	Command
Full orchestrated workflow	Use the spdd-orchestrator skill on @idea.md in semi-auto mode.
Discovery Interview (manual)	Use the spdd-discovery skill on @idea.md.
Planning slice (optional)	Use the spdd-plan skill on @idea.md.
Create stories	Use the spdd-story skill on @requirements/brief.md.
Run analysis	Use the spdd-analysis skill on @requirements/STORY-001.md.
Generate prompt	Use the spdd-reasons-canvas skill on @spdd/analysis/ANALYSIS-001.md.
Implement	Use the spdd-generate skill on @spdd/prompt/PROMPT-001.md.
Update prompt after change	Use the spdd-prompt-update skill on @spdd/prompt/PROMPT-001.md.
Sync after refactor	Use the spdd-sync skill on @spdd/prompt/PROMPT-001.md.
Generate API tests	Use the spdd-api-test skill on @spdd/prompt/PROMPT-001.md.
Sync documentation	Use the spdd-doc-sync skill after this workflow change.
Check session health	Use the spdd-session-health skill for spdd-analysis on @requirements/STORY-001.md.

Keeping the plugin up to date

codex plugin marketplace upgrade

Read next

• Getting Started — workflow overview and first run
• First Feature Tutorial — end-to-end walkthrough
• Skill Index — reference for all twelve skills