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Getting Started with ZeroShot

Install in one line, sign in once, then your AI coding agent picks up the ZeroShot skills automatically.

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1. Install the CLI

Run this in your terminal:
The installer will:
  1. Download the bb binary for your OS and architecture
  2. Place it in ~/.buildbetter/bin/bb and add that directory to your PATH
  3. Detect which coding agents you have installed (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, etc.) and offer to install matching skill packs
Prefer to read the script first? Open buildbetter.sh in your browser to inspect it, then download and pipe to sh once you’re satisfied.

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Prerequisites

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2. Verify the install

bb doctor reports which agents it detected, where their skill directories live, and whether your PATH and shell rc files are wired up correctly.
A browser window opens for you to authenticate with your free BuildBetter account. After signing in:
  • Your agent sessions sync to the cloud and become resumable on any machine
  • Teammates can pull each other’s sessions for the same branch
  • Skills update automatically when your team improves them
You can skip this step and use the CLI fully offline — sessions just stay local.

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4. Install the skills

The installer prompts you to install the default packs, or you can install them manually:
To see everything installed:
To update later:

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5. Use the skills in your agent

Open your coding agent and type / — the ZeroShot skills appear in the slash command list.

/bb-specify

Draft a feature spec from a description, with customer signals attached

/bb-plan

Generate a phased implementation plan from the spec

/bb-review

Review code against your team’s encoded conventions

/trust-but-verify

Walk the UI like a real user before merging
See the skills reference for the full list.

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Updating

This refreshes the bb binary and updates every installed skill pack.

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Uninstalling

This removes the bb binary, every installed skill, and the ~/.buildbetter/ directory. Your agent sessions in the BuildBetter cloud are not deleted — sign in to buildbetter.ai and delete them there if you want them gone.

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Troubleshooting

The installer added ~/.buildbetter/bin to your shell’s rc file, but the current shell doesn’t have it loaded. Open a new terminal window, or run source ~/.zshrc (or ~/.bashrc).
Run bb doctor to confirm the skills directory matches what your agent expects. Restart the agent after installing or updating skills — most agents only scan the skills directory at startup.
Download the binary directly from the latest release and place it on your PATH manually. Then run bb skills install spec-workflow testing core to fetch the skill packs.
bb respects standard HTTP_PROXY / HTTPS_PROXY / NO_PROXY environment variables. Set them in your shell before running bb login or bb skills update.

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Next steps

Browse the skills

See what each skill does and when to reach for it

Resume an agent session

Pick up where a teammate left off