# Install & Connect
> Install the Alpha Ladder Agent Skill in Claude.ai (recommended) or another agent, and connect it to your Alpha Ladder account via the MCP server.
The skill is distributed from **[github.com/metacomp-ai/metacomp-skill](https://github.com/metacomp-ai/metacomp-skill)**. Every setup has the same two parts:
1. **Load the skill** into your agent (the playbook that tells Claude *how* to work).
2. **Connect the Alpha Ladder MCP server** with your API key (the tools that actually *do* the work).
The skill alone does nothing without the MCP connection — and the MCP alone works but without the guided workflows. You need both. See [How it works](/developers/skill/how-it-works).
## Prerequisites
- A **Alpha Ladder account** and an API key (`sk-…`) — create it from the **API Keys** section of the [Alpha Ladder dashboard](https://www.alphaladder.hk/dashboard). See [Authentication](/developers/getting-started/authentication).
- The skill package — download the latest skill ZIP from the repository's [Releases](https://github.com/metacomp-ai/metacomp-skill/releases/latest) and unzip it. Use the production package for `https://www.alphaladder.hk`.
---
## Claude.ai (recommended)
Claude.ai is the best place to use the skill — it has first-class Skills support and the cleanest experience.
**Check that skills are enabled** — Skills require **Code execution and file creation** to be enabled first.
- **Free / Pro / Max:** open **Settings → Capabilities** and make sure **"Code execution and file creation"** is on.
- **Team / Enterprise users:** this capability is typically managed by your organization. If skills are unavailable, ask your organization owner to confirm **"Code execution and file creation"** is enabled in **Organization settings → Capabilities**.
- **Team / Enterprise owners provisioning skills org-wide:** enable both **"Code execution and file creation"** and **"Skills"** in **Organization settings → Skills**.
**Download the skill package** — download the latest Alpha Ladder skill ZIP from the repository's [Releases](https://github.com/metacomp-ai/metacomp-skill/releases/latest). Use the production package that matches `https://www.alphaladder.hk`, then keep the ZIP ready for upload.
**Upload the skill** — open **Customize → Skills**, click **"+" → "+ Create skill" → "Upload a skill"**, and choose the skill **ZIP**. The ZIP must contain the **skill folder at its root** (not nested in a subfolder). Make sure the skill's toggle is **on**.
**Connect the Alpha Ladder MCP server** — open **Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector**, enter the MCP URL `https://www.alphaladder.hk/mcp`, and authorize with your `sk-…` API key. Custom connectors require Claude **Pro, Team, or Enterprise**. Full walkthrough: [Claude.ai client setup](/developers/getting-started/ai-clients/claude-ai).
**Ask** — start a chat and ask naturally; the skill triggers on intent (see [examples](#example-prompts) below).
---
## Claude Code
Claude Code loads skills from directories. The Alpha Ladder skill is distributed as a single ZIP package; when you unzip it, you get one skill folder with a `SKILL.md` entry point plus supporting files such as `subSkills/` and references.
**Place the skill folder** — download the Alpha Ladder skill ZIP from [Releases](https://github.com/metacomp-ai/metacomp-skill/releases/latest), then unzip it so the resulting skill folder sits one level under a Claude skills directory:
- **Personal** (all projects): `~/.claude/skills//...`
- **Project** (this repo only): `.claude/skills//...`
```bash
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
unzip metacomp-skill.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/
# result:
# ~/.claude/skills//SKILL.md
# ~/.claude/skills//subSkills/...
# ~/.claude/skills//references/...
```
Keep the unzipped skill folder intact so Claude Code can load both `SKILL.md` and its supporting files. Edits to an existing skills directory are picked up within the session; creating `~/.claude/skills/` for the first time needs a Claude Code restart.
**Connect the Alpha Ladder MCP server:**
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http metacomp \
https://www.alphaladder.hk/mcp \
--header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```
**Use it** — Claude loads the skill automatically when your request matches, or invoke it directly with `/`.
---
## VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf & Cline
These editor-based clients support **MCP** but do not natively load Anthropic Agent Skills. Use them in two steps:
**Add the Alpha Ladder MCP server** — URL `https://www.alphaladder.hk/mcp`, authorized with your `sk-…` key. See [VS Code](/developers/getting-started/ai-clients/vs-code) or [Cursor / Windsurf / Cline](/developers/getting-started/ai-clients/cursor-windsurf-cline) setup.
**Add the playbook as rules** — paste the contents of the skill's `SKILL.md` into the client's rules, custom instructions, agent customization, or system prompt, so the agent follows the same guided workflows.
You get the same Alpha Ladder tools either way; pasting the skill instructions reproduces the guided, confirm-before-acting behavior.
---
## Other agents & the API
Agent Skills follow the open **[Agent Skills](https://agentskills.io)** standard, so any agent that adopts it can load the `SKILL.md` package the same way. To build your own agent programmatically, use the skill with the Claude API / Agent SDK — see the [Claude API skills guide](https://docs.claude.com/en/api/skills-guide). In all cases the skill still needs the Alpha Ladder MCP server (`https://www.alphaladder.hk/mcp`) connected with your API key.
---
## Example prompts
Once the skill is loaded and the MCP server is connected, ask naturally:
> Show my account balance and recent withdrawals.
> I want to exchange 10,000 USD to SGD.
> Deposit 5,000 USD to my account.
> Subscribe 5,000 USD to a 30-day fixed income product.
Claude routes each request to the matching capability, walks the flow, and confirms with you before anything moves money.