ncode Desktop Customize

Commands, agents and skills

Three kinds of Markdown files extend what ncode does: custom commands (your own slash commands), agent definitions (specialists agents can start by name) and skills (instructions and assets an agent loads for one job). The file formats are in the reference on Instructions, memory and project config; this page shows how to add them from the app.

Adding a custom command#

Open Settings → Commands. (The project it works on is the one picked in Settings → Memory.)
Click New command. ncode creates new-command.md from a template, in the project's .swarm_code/commands/ folder (or your global one if no project is picked), and opens the folder in the Finder.
Rename the file to the command you want (release-notes.md becomes /release-notes) and edit it, for example:

markdown

---
description: Draft release notes since a tag
mode: plan
---
Read `git log $ARGUMENTS..HEAD` and draft release notes grouped by feature, fix and chore.

Then type / in the composer: the command appears in the list with its description. /release-notes v1.2.0 runs it with v1.2.0 in place of $ARGUMENTS.

Open project commands and Open global commands open the two folders in the Finder. Commit the project folder to share commands with your team.

Agent definitions#

Settings → Agents lists every agent definition ncode found, with its tier (bundled, yours or the project's), its model, effort and tools. Agents can start a sub-agent from one of these definitions by name.

The three bundled definitions:

Name	What it is for
`scout`	a read-only explorer that searches code and reports what it finds
`reviewer`	a code reviewer that reads changes and reports issues
`implementer`	writes and edits code to complete a task

To add your own, create a .md file in .swarm_code/agents/ in the project (or ~/.swarm_code/agents/ for every project). The bundled scout shows the format:

markdown

---
name: scout
description: Read-only explorer that searches code and reports findings
tools: read_file,grep,find_files,web_fetch,lsp
effort: low
prewalk: false
max_turns: 20
---
You are a scout. Your job is to explore the codebase, find relevant code,
and report your findings. You must not change any files. Be thorough but
concise in your report.

A project definition with the same name replaces yours, and yours replaces a bundled one.

Skills#

A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file and any assets it needs, for example a report template. ncode bundles one, html-report. Add your own in .swarm_code/skills/ in the project, or in skills inside ~/Library/Application Support/SwarmCode for every project. A project skill with the same name wins over yours, and yours over a bundled one.