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How-to

Keep AIDLC up to date

Update the CLI and your project's AIDLC files, then let doctor tidy what older versions left behind.

What you'll do

Update the CLI and refresh the AIDLC files in your project with one command, then run doctor to fix anything older versions left behind. Your own context documents in .aidlc/context/ are not overwritten.

Steps

  1. See what an update would change. This writes nothing:

    aidlc update --dry-run
    
  2. Update:

    aidlc update
    

    It updates the CLI if a newer version exists, then refreshes the skills and instruction files for each tool you set up. Text you wrote outside the AIDLC markers in files like CLAUDE.md is kept.

  3. Tidy up. doctor applies safe fixes on its own and asks before it changes what git tracks:

    aidlc doctor
    

    To preview first, run aidlc doctor --dry-run. In CI, where nothing can answer a question, use aidlc doctor --yes.

  4. See what changed, then commit it:

    git status
    git add .aidlc
    git commit -m "chore: update AIDLC"
    

    Also add any tool folder or instructions file git status lists, such as .claude/ or CLAUDE.md.

Check it worked

Run aidlc update --dry-run again. You should see CLI: <version> (already up to date), and every project file listed under Unchanged:.