> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/vercel-labs/skills/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Environment Variables

> All environment variables recognized by the Skills CLI

The Skills CLI recognizes several environment variables that control its behavior.

## Telemetry Control

<ParamField env="DISABLE_TELEMETRY" type="boolean">
  Disable anonymous usage telemetry

  <Expandable title="Details">
    **Values:** `1`, `true`, or any truthy value\
    **Default:** Telemetry enabled

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Temporary theme={null}
      DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Bash/Zsh) theme={null}
      echo 'export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1' >> ~/.bashrc
      source ~/.bashrc
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Fish) theme={null}
      set -Ux DISABLE_TELEMETRY 1
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

<ParamField env="DO_NOT_TRACK" type="boolean">
  Alternative way to disable telemetry (respects universal tracking opt-out)

  <Expandable title="Details">
    **Values:** `1`, `true`, or any truthy value\
    **Default:** Telemetry enabled

    This follows the [Console Do Not Track (DNT) standard](https://consoledonottrack.com/).

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Temporary theme={null}
      DO_NOT_TRACK=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Bash/Zsh) theme={null}
      echo 'export DO_NOT_TRACK=1' >> ~/.bashrc
      source ~/.bashrc
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Fish) theme={null}
      set -Ux DO_NOT_TRACK 1
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

<Info>
  Both `DISABLE_TELEMETRY` and `DO_NOT_TRACK` have the same effect. Use whichever you prefer.
</Info>

***

## Skill Discovery

<ParamField env="INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS" type="boolean">
  Show and install skills marked as `internal: true`

  <Expandable title="Details">
    **Values:** `1`, `true`, or any truthy value\
    **Default:** Internal skills hidden

    Skills can be marked as internal in their frontmatter:

    <CodeGroup>
      ```markdown Internal Skill Example theme={null}
      ---
      name: my-internal-skill
      description: An internal skill not shown by default
      metadata:
        internal: true
      ---

      # Internal Skill

      This skill is only visible when INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    **Usage:**

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash List Internal Skills theme={null}
      INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list
      ```

      ```bash Install Internal Skill theme={null}
      INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill my-internal-skill
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    **Use Cases:**

    * Work-in-progress skills not ready for general use
    * Experimental features
    * Skills meant only for internal tooling
    * Development/testing skills
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

***

## GitHub Authentication

<ParamField env="GITHUB_TOKEN" type="string">
  GitHub personal access token for authenticated API requests

  <Expandable title="Details">
    **Format:** GitHub personal access token (classic or fine-grained)\
    **Scope Required:** `public_repo` (for public repositories)\
    **Rate Limits:**

    * **With token:** 5,000 requests/hour
    * **Without token:** 60 requests/hour

    The CLI uses this token to:

    * Fetch skill folder hashes via GitHub Trees API
    * Clone private repositories (if token has appropriate permissions)
    * Avoid rate limiting on public repositories

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Temporary theme={null}
      GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Bash/Zsh) theme={null}
      echo 'export GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx' >> ~/.bashrc
      source ~/.bashrc
      ```

      ```bash Permanent (Fish) theme={null}
      set -Ux GITHUB_TOKEN ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    <Warning>
      Never commit tokens to version control. Use environment variables or secret management tools.
    </Warning>
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

<ParamField env="GH_TOKEN" type="string">
  Alternative GitHub token variable (checked if GITHUB\_TOKEN is not set)

  <Expandable title="Details">
    **Format:** Same as `GITHUB_TOKEN`\
    **Purpose:** Compatibility with `gh` CLI and other tools

    The CLI checks tokens in this order:

    1. `GITHUB_TOKEN` environment variable
    2. `GH_TOKEN` environment variable
    3. `gh` CLI auth token (via `gh auth token`)

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Using GH_TOKEN theme={null}
      GH_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Expandable>
</ParamField>

***

## CI Detection

The CLI automatically detects CI environments and adjusts behavior (e.g., disables telemetry). These variables are **read-only** (set by CI platforms, not by users).

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="CI" icon="circle-check">
    Generic CI environment indicator

    **Set by:** Most CI platforms\
    **Example:** `CI=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="GITHUB_ACTIONS" icon="github">
    GitHub Actions environment

    **Set by:** GitHub Actions\
    **Example:** `GITHUB_ACTIONS=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="GITLAB_CI" icon="gitlab">
    GitLab CI environment

    **Set by:** GitLab CI/CD\
    **Example:** `GITLAB_CI=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="CIRCLECI" icon="circle">
    CircleCI environment

    **Set by:** CircleCI\
    **Example:** `CIRCLECI=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="TRAVIS" icon="t">
    Travis CI environment

    **Set by:** Travis CI\
    **Example:** `TRAVIS=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="BUILDKITE" icon="b">
    Buildkite environment

    **Set by:** Buildkite\
    **Example:** `BUILDKITE=true`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="JENKINS_URL" icon="j">
    Jenkins environment

    **Set by:** Jenkins\
    **Example:** `JENKINS_URL=https://jenkins.example.com`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="TEAMCITY_VERSION" icon="t">
    TeamCity environment

    **Set by:** TeamCity\
    **Example:** `TEAMCITY_VERSION=2023.11`
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Info>
  When any CI variable is detected, the CLI automatically:

  * Disables telemetry (unless explicitly re-enabled)
  * Adds `ci=1` flag to any telemetry that is sent
  * May adjust interactive prompts (some CI platforms)
</Info>

***

## Examples

### Development Workflow

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Local Development with Telemetry Disabled theme={null}
  DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
  ```

  ```bash Testing Internal Skills theme={null}
  INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1 npx skills add ./my-skills --list
  ```

  ```bash Authenticated GitHub Access theme={null}
  GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxx npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### CI/CD Pipelines

<CodeGroup>
  ```yaml GitHub Actions theme={null}
  name: Install Skills

  on: [push]

  jobs:
    install:
      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
      steps:
        - uses: actions/checkout@v3
        
        - name: Install skills
          env:
            GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
            DISABLE_TELEMETRY: 1
          run: |
            npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills \
              --skill frontend-design \
              --agent cursor \
              --yes
  ```

  ```yaml GitLab CI theme={null}
  install-skills:
    script:
      - export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1
      - npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design -a cursor -y
    variables:
      GITHUB_TOKEN: $GITHUB_TOKEN
  ```

  ```groovy Jenkins theme={null}
  pipeline {
    agent any
    environment {
      DISABLE_TELEMETRY = '1'
      GITHUB_TOKEN = credentials('github-token')
    }
    stages {
      stage('Install Skills') {
        steps {
          sh 'npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design -a cursor -y'
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Shell Configuration

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Bash/Zsh (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) theme={null}
  # Disable telemetry for all skills commands
  export DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1

  # GitHub token for authenticated requests
  export GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx

  # Enable internal skills by default
  export INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1
  ```

  ```fish Fish (~/.config/fish/config.fish) theme={null}
  # Disable telemetry
  set -Ux DISABLE_TELEMETRY 1

  # GitHub token
  set -Ux GITHUB_TOKEN ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxxx

  # Enable internal skills
  set -Ux INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS 1
  ```
</CodeGroup>

***

## Complete Reference

<ResponseField name="Environment Variables" type="table">
  | Variable                  | Type    | Purpose                                | Default |
  | ------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------- | ------- |
  | `DISABLE_TELEMETRY`       | boolean | Disable usage telemetry                | `false` |
  | `DO_NOT_TRACK`            | boolean | Disable usage telemetry (DNT standard) | `false` |
  | `INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS` | boolean | Show internal skills                   | `false` |
  | `GITHUB_TOKEN`            | string  | GitHub API token                       | `null`  |
  | `GH_TOKEN`                | string  | Alternative GitHub token               | `null`  |
  | `CI`                      | boolean | Generic CI indicator                   | `false` |
  | `GITHUB_ACTIONS`          | boolean | GitHub Actions CI                      | `false` |
  | `GITLAB_CI`               | boolean | GitLab CI                              | `false` |
  | `CIRCLECI`                | boolean | CircleCI                               | `false` |
  | `TRAVIS`                  | boolean | Travis CI                              | `false` |
  | `BUILDKITE`               | boolean | Buildkite CI                           | `false` |
  | `JENKINS_URL`             | string  | Jenkins CI                             | `null`  |
  | `TEAMCITY_VERSION`        | string  | TeamCity CI                            | `null`  |
</ResponseField>

***

## Related Documentation

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Telemetry" icon="chart-line" href="/advanced/telemetry">
    Learn more about what telemetry data is collected
  </Card>

  <Card title="Lock Files" icon="lock" href="/advanced/lock-files">
    See how GitHub tokens are used to fetch skill hashes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>