---
title: "@henryqw/pi-add-dir"
seo:
  description: "Add external directories to a Pi session with context, skills, and file search."
---

<div class="not-prose my-6 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3"><span class="text-sm text-muted-foreground">v0.1.15</span><a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@henryqw/pi-add-dir" aria-label="View @henryqw/pi-add-dir on npm"><img alt="Monthly npm downloads" height="20" src="https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/%40henryqw%2Fpi-add-dir?cacheSeconds=7200&amp;color=1d4ed8&amp;label=downloads&amp;labelColor=101828&amp;style=flat-square" width="144"></a></div>

Add external directories to the current Pi session. Pi can use their context files and skills, and search their files.

![Pi using added external directories by name](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/HenryQW/pi-harness/main/extensions/pi-add-dir/example.png)

## Why

- **Created for**: Use context and skills outside the current working directory.
- **Advantage**: Use external trees without copying them into the repository.

## Install

```bash
pi install npm:@henryqw/pi-add-dir
```

## Use

| Surface | Type | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `/dir-add` | command | Add directory; no path opens input. Supports `~`. |
| `/dir-ls` | command | List directories; select one to remove. |
| `/dir-reload` | command | Reload external directory resources. |
| `add_directory` | tool | Add a directory. |
| `search_external_files` | tool | Glob-search added directories. |

Added directories give Pi these resources:

- Root `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, `.pi/AGENTS.md`, and `.pi/CLAUDE.md` files. Pi injects them into later prompts.
- Skills that Pi loads from `.pi/skills`, `.agents/skills`, and `.claude/skills`.
- Files in the editor's `@` autocomplete, with absolute paths.

`/dir-add` reloads when it finds skills. `add_directory` reports when a reload is needed.

Search supports basename and relative-path globs. It skips `.git` and `node_modules`. It uses Node filesystem traversal and returns at most 1,000 results per call.

## State

Pi session entry `add-dir:state` stores added directories. It is package-managed; do not edit it. Tree navigation restores the active branch's directories and reloads resources when that set changes.