Environment First

Community

adamentwistle

environment-first

When something that should work doesn't, suspect the environment before rewriting the code — wrong directory, stale build, missing env var, version mismatch, dirty state. Use when a command fails unexpectedly, tests fail that "can't" fail, behavior contradicts the code you're reading, or the error is command-not-found, module-not-found, connection refused, permission denied, "works in CI", or "works on my machine".

Overview

Publisher	adamentwistle
Repository	`fable-skills`
Skill name	`environment-first`
Stars	98
Forks	11
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by adamentwistle on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Environment First AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/adamentwistle/fable-skills/tree/main/environment-first
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/adamentwistle/fable-skills.git /tmp/fable-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/fable-skills/environment-first .claude/skills/environment-first

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Environment First in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Environment First on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Environment First is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

environment-first

Weak debugging assumes the code is wrong and starts editing. Often the code is fine and the world is misconfigured — and code edits made while the environment lies are wrong edits that then need reverting.

Heuristic: if the failure message doesn't mention your code's names at all (import errors, command-not-found, connection refused, permission denied), it's environment until proven otherwise.

Before editing any code

Prove you're running the source you're reading. When behavior contradicts the code, you probably aren't executing that code: stale build artifact, cached bytecode, an installed copy shadowing the checkout, the wrong virtualenv/node_modules, a server started before the change. Test it directly: add a deliberate marker (a distinctive log line or a throw) to the file, rerun, and confirm the marker appears. No marker → rebuild/restart/reinstall until it does. Only then reason about the logic.
Run the boring five and paste the outputs (under a minute, in order): pwd plus current branch — right repo, right checkout? git status — unexpected local modifications or untracked files? runtime version (node -v, python --version, etc.) vs what the manifest or .nvmrc/.tool-versions expects? env vars and config files the code reads — set, and set to the value you assume? dependency install current — lockfile newer than the last install?
Run the exact failing command, not your paraphrase of it. Same cwd, same shell, same flags, same script name as CI or the user used. A different invocation that passes proves nothing about the one that fails.
"Works on the other machine / in CI" is an environment diff by definition. Diff versions, env vars, OS, and filesystem assumptions (case sensitivity, path separators, line endings) before diffing the code.
Flaky ≠ mysterious. Intermittent failure usually means shared state, port collisions, timing, or leftover files from a previous run. Clean state (kill stray processes, delete temp output, fresh clone if cheap) and rerun before blaming the test's logic.

After the environment is fixed

Re-run the original failing command and paste the output. If the failure vanishes, say so plainly: nothing was wrong with the code, and no code change ships. Revert any edits made while the environment was lying (see workmanship).
Record the setup fix where the project keeps such things (README, setup script, project CLAUDE.md) so the next session doesn't rediscover it.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Environment First AI skill do?

Why use Environment First on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Environment First is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Environment First in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/adamentwistle/fable-skills/tree/main/environment-first. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Environment First?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Environment First?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Environment First with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Environment First AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by adamentwistle under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

environment-first

Before editing any code

After the environment is fixed

Frequently asked questions

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