Slash Command

Instinct Import

Import instincts from file or URL into project/global scope

Type: Slash Command
Repository: affaan-m/ECC
GitHub stars: 268k
License: MIT
Repo last updated: Sep 24, 2026
Source file: commands/instinct-import.md

What Instinct Import is

Instinct Import is a slash command published in the affaan-m/ECC repository on GitHub, which has about 268k stars. The repository describes itself as: “The agent harness performance optimization system. Skills, instincts, memory, security, and research-first development for Claude Code, Codex, Opencode, Cursor and beyond.”

A slash command is a reusable prompt saved as a markdown file and run by typing its name after a slash. In Claude Code, custom commands have been merged into skills: a file in .claude/commands/ and a skill folder in .claude/skills/ both create the same kind of command, and existing command files keep working.

Instinct Import gives you a repeatable way to run the same instructions without retyping them, optionally with arguments.

How to install Instinct Import

Claude Code

Download instinct-import.md from the repository.
Save it to ~/.claude/commands/ (all projects) or .claude/commands/ (one project). As a skill, you can instead save it as ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md.
Run it by typing / followed by its name.

Claude Cowork

Turn the command into a skill: create a folder with the file saved as SKILL.md and zip it.
In Customize → Skills, click +, then upload the ZIP.
Run it from any task with / and the skill name.

New to extending Cowork? Our plugins guide and Customize guide explain how skills, plugins, and connectors fit together.

Inside the source file

An excerpt from commands/instinct-import.md, shared under the repository's MIT license. Read the full file on GitHub.

Implementation

Run the instinct CLI using the plugin root path:

python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/continuous-learning-v2/scripts/instinct-cli.py" import <file-or-url> [--dry-run] [--force] [--min-confidence 0.7] [--scope project|global]

Or if CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT is not set (manual installation):

python3 ~/.claude/skills/continuous-learning-v2/scripts/instinct-cli.py import <file-or-url>

Import instincts from local file paths or HTTP(S) URLs.

Usage

/instinct-import team-instincts.yaml
/instinct-import https://github.com/org/repo/instincts.yaml
/instinct-import team-instincts.yaml --dry-run
/instinct-import team-instincts.yaml --scope global --force

What to Do

Fetch the instinct file (local path or URL)
Parse and validate the format
Check for duplicates with existing instincts
Merge or add new instincts
Save to inherited instincts directory:

Project scope: ~/.claude/homunculus/projects/ /instincts/inherited/
Global scope: ~/.claude/homunculus/instincts/inherited/

Import Process

 Importing instincts from: team-instincts.yaml
================================================

Found 12 instincts to import.

Analyzing conflicts...

## New Instincts (8)
These will be added:
  ✓ use-zod-validation (confidence: 0.7)
  ✓ prefer-named-exports (confidence: 0.65)
  ✓ test-async-functions (confidence: 0.8)
  ...

## Duplicate Instincts (3)
Already have similar instincts:
  WARNING: prefer-functional-style
     Local: 0.8 confidence, 12 observations
…

Merge Behavior

When importing an instinct with an existing ID:

Higher-confidence import becomes an update candidate
Equal/lower-confidence import is skipped
User confirms unless --force is used

Source Tracking

Imported instincts are marked with:

source: inherited
scope: project
imported_from: "team-instincts.yaml"
project_id: "a1b2c3d4e5f6"
project_name: "my-project"

Flags

--dry-run: Preview without importing
--force: Skip confirmation prompt
--min-confidence : Only import instincts above threshold
--scope <project|global>: Select target scope (default: project)

Output

After import:

PASS: Import complete!

Added: 8 instincts
Updated: 1 instinct
Skipped: 3 instincts (equal/higher confidence already exists)

New instincts saved to: ~/.claude/homunculus/instincts/inherited/

Run /instinct-status to see all instincts.

Before you install

Read the whole file first. Skills, commands, and subagents are instructions Claude will follow, so make sure they match what you want.
Check which tools, scripts, or MCP servers it uses. Local servers and scripts run with your permissions.
Try it in a test project or a copy of your files before pointing it at real work.
Pin the version you tested, and review changes before updating.
Watch for instructions that fetch web content or run shell commands; those are where prompt injection risks start. See our prompt injection guide.

FAQ

What is Instinct Import?

Instinct Import is a slash command for Claude Code and Claude Cowork from the affaan-m/ECC repository on GitHub. Import instincts from file or URL into project/global scope

How do I install Instinct Import in Claude Code?

Download instinct-import.md from the repository. Save it to ~/.claude/commands/ (all projects) or .claude/commands/ (one project). As a skill, you can instead save it as ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md. Run it by typing / followed by its name.

Can I use Instinct Import in Claude Cowork?

Turn the command into a skill: create a folder with the file saved as SKILL.md and zip it. In Customize → Skills, click +, then upload the ZIP. Run it from any task with / and the skill name.

Is Instinct Import safe to install?

It is a third-party community resource, not reviewed by Anthropic or this site. Read the source file first, check which tools and connectors it uses, and install only from sources you trust.

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Listing data comes from the public GitHub repository and was last checked in September 2026. Excerpts are © their authors and shared under MIT. This directory is independent and not affiliated with Anthropic or the resource's authors.