Install your framework

RStack is a plugin, not a standalone app — it runs inside an AI coding framework. This page gets you from nothing to a framework with RStack installed, whichever tool you use. Every path ends the same way:

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init        # auto-detects your framework

Prerequisite for all frameworks: Node.js 18 or newer (node --version). RStack and its dashboard run on Node.

How well does each framework integrate?

Framework	Integration	What you get
Pi	🟢 Native adapter	All 18 `sdlc_*` tools, lifecycle hooks, gating, auto-launch dashboard
Claude Code	🟢 First-class	`init` writes a usage guide + a SessionStart hook; plugin commands
Tau	🟢 First-class	Python adapter (community, by Jeomon) bridges to the same harness; guard enforcement wires by shadowing Tau’s built-in `terminal`/`write`/`edit` tools
Hermes	🟢 First-class	Python plugin bridges to the same harness; guard enforcement wires on Hermes’ real `pre_tool_call` hook
Operator	🟡 Wrapped, not native	Python adapter bridges to the same harness; `operator-use` has no plugin-loading mechanism, so RStack ships a `bootstrap.py` you run in place of the `operator` command
Codex CLI	🟡 Asset-based	RStack agents/skills as context via `AGENTS.md`; no native tool gating
Gemini CLI	🟡 Asset-based	RStack agents/skills as context via `GEMINI.md`; no native tool gating
Any other harness	🟡 Universal	The `.rstack/` state contract + a Node bridge any tool can call

🟢 = full governed harness. 🟡 = RStack guides the agent via shared context; the dashboard, state, and CLI still work, but tool-level gating depends on the host.

Pi

Pi is RStack’s native home — the deepest integration.

Install Pi

Follow the Pi install guide for your platform, then confirm:

pi --version

Add RStack to your project

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework pi

Pi auto-loads the RStack extension from the package — no manual wiring.

Start a run in your next Pi session

sdlc_start(goal="...")

Details: Pi adapter.

Claude Code

Install Claude Code

Install the Claude Code CLI or IDE extension, then confirm with claude --version.

Add RStack + init

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework claude-code

This writes .claude/rstack-sdlc.md (a usage guide) and a SessionStart hook so the Business Hub opens every session. If you already have a .claude/settings.json, RStack leaves a mergeable snippet instead of overwriting it.

Install the plugin (adds the /sdlc-* commands)

/plugin marketplace add richard-devbot/SDLC-rstack
/plugin install sdlc-rstack

Then drive the pipeline with /sdlc-start "<goal>", /sdlc-plan, /sdlc-build-next, /sdlc-validate, /sdlc-approve, /sdlc-status, /sdlc-resume — full list in plugins/sdlc-rstack/commands/.

Details: Claude Code adapter.

Operator

operator-use has no third-party plugin discovery at all — no entry_points, no config field, no directory scan. RStack ships bootstrap.py: a drop-in replacement for the operator command that wires the plugin before handing off to the real CLI.

Install Operator + Node

Operator is a Python harness (pip install operator-use). RStack’s Operator adapter shells out to a Node bridge, so you also need node and npx on PATH.

Add RStack + init

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework operator

Run the bootstrap in place of `operator`

python node_modules/rstack-agents/src/integrations/operator/bootstrap.py start

This wires all 18 sdlc_* tools and the real BEFORE_TOOL_CALL guard hook, then hands off to the real Typer CLI — every other operator subcommand behaves identically to a stock install.

Details: Operator adapter.

Tau

Tau (github.com/Jeomon/Tau) is a Python agent framework. Its documented tool_call hook never actually fires upstream, so RStack’s adapter wires enforcement by shadowing Tau’s built-in terminal/write/edit tools instead — a real, documented Tau capability. Adapter contributed by Jeomon.

Install Tau + Node

RStack’s Tau adapter shells out to the same Node bridge as Operator, so you need node and npx on PATH.

Add RStack + init

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework tau

init writes rstack-tau.example.json (auto-detected from tau.json, tau_settings.json, or a .tau/ directory).

Wire the adapter into Tau settings

Merge the extensions.list entry from rstack-tau.example.json into your Tau settings.json. Loading the extension registers all sdlc_* tools and shadows Tau’s terminal/write/edit tools to route through rstack-agents guard — destructive actions block until a destructive-action:<taskId> approval exists.

Details: Tau adapter.

Hermes

Hermes (github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent) loads RStack as a plugin — a directory with a plugin.yaml manifest and an __init__.py exposing register(ctx). Its pre_tool_call hook is a real blocking gate, so enforcement wires itself once the plugin is enabled.

Install Hermes + Node

RStack’s Hermes adapter shells out to the same Node bridge, so you need node and npx on PATH.

Add RStack + init

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework hermes

Install and enable the plugin

mkdir -p ~/.hermes/plugins/rstack-sdlc
ln -s "$(pwd)/node_modules/rstack-agents/src/integrations/hermes/rstack_sdlc.py" \
      ~/.hermes/plugins/rstack-sdlc/__init__.py
ln -s "$(pwd)/node_modules/rstack-agents/src/integrations/hermes/plugin.yaml" \
      ~/.hermes/plugins/rstack-sdlc/plugin.yaml
hermes plugins enable rstack-sdlc

Hermes plugins are opt-in — the loader silently skips a plugin directory with no plugin.yaml, and a plugin not in plugins.enabled never loads.

Details: Hermes adapter.

Codex CLI

Codex integrates through shared context files (no native tool binding yet).

Install the Codex CLI

Install per its docs and confirm it runs in your project.

Add RStack and bring in the assets

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework custom

Then point Codex at the RStack agents via AGENTS.md. See the Codex adapter for the exact AGENTS.md block.

Use the dashboard + CLI

The Business Hub (npx rstack-agents hub) and .rstack/ state work the same as any framework.

Gemini CLI

Same asset-based pattern as Codex, via GEMINI.md.

Install the Gemini CLI

Install per its docs.

Add RStack + init (custom)

cd your-project
npm install rstack-agents
npx rstack-agents init --framework custom

Add the RStack instructions to GEMINI.md — see the Gemini adapter.

Any other framework

If your harness can read a project directory, it can use RStack. Install with --framework custom, then either feed it the RStack agent context or have it call the Node bridge per tool. Full contract: Universal / custom adapter.

Whatever framework you chose, your next stop is the same: Your first run.

Overview

Getting Started

Core Concepts

The Pipeline

Business Hub

Adapters

Security & Compliance

Roadmap & Research

Install your framework

How well does each framework integrate?

Pi

Claude Code

Operator

Tau

Hermes

Codex CLI

Gemini CLI

Any other framework

​How well does each framework integrate?

​Pi

​Claude Code

​Operator

​Tau

​Hermes

​Codex CLI

​Gemini CLI

​Any other framework

How well does each framework integrate?

Pi

Claude Code

Operator

Tau

Hermes

Codex CLI

Gemini CLI

Any other framework