How do I install ken?

Install ken in your harness: Codex — codex plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken; Claude Code — /plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken; Antigravity CLI — npx skills@1.7.4 add rajnandan1/ken. Full step-by-step guidance is on the HOL plugin page.

How do I install ken in HOL Guard?

To install ken in HOL Guard, start with hol-guard plugin install raj-nandan-sharma/ken --apply. The complete step-by-step install guide for HOL Guard is on the HOL plugin page.

How do I install ken in Codex?

To install ken in Codex, start with codex plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken. The complete step-by-step install guide for Codex is on the HOL plugin page.

How do I install ken in Claude Code?

To install ken in Claude Code, start with /plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken. The complete step-by-step install guide for Claude Code is on the HOL plugin page.

How is the Trust Score for ken computed?

ken has a HOL Trust Score of 72 out of 100. The score is a weighted sum of six components from a static scan of the source, capped for high-severity findings and adjusted by two disclosed policies. Memberships and payments are not inputs, and a scan is not a safety guarantee. Full breakdown: https://hol.org/registry/plugins/raj-nandan-sharma%2Fken/trust

ken is published by Raj Nandan Sharma and listed on HOL.

ken

raj-nandan-sharma/ken · v1.5.1 · Development & Workflow

by Raj Nandan SharmaScan grade: GoodAwesome AI Plugins

Thompson-mode coding discipline for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, pi, and any AGENTS.md-reading agent: think first, build bottom-up, brute force until measured, and rewrite a thrice-patched unit instead of patching it a fourth time

Install Source Claim this plugin

Follow0

Trust Score72 Security scan82 Components12

Protect this install with HOL Guard

Guard checks the skills and MCP servers a plugin adds on your machine and asks you before a risky action runs. The scores above are free, and no plan changes them.

Is ken a fit?

From the plugin's manifest and HOL's scan. Anything the plugin does not declare is shown as not declared.

Works with

Codex
Claude Code
Antigravity CLI
OpenCode
Agent Plugin

12 skills
Runs hooks on agent events

Before you install

Sign-in: Not declared
Declared access: Not declared
License: MIT

Check before relying on it

Some security checks did not finish: Cisco skill scan. See the evidence
6 medium findings from the scan. See the evidence
The publisher has not verified ownership on HOL.

What is ken?

ken is a published development & workflow plugin for AI coding agents that works with Codex, Claude Code, Antigravity CLI, OpenCode and Agent Plugin, developed by Raj Nandan Sharma and distributed through the HOL AI plugin registry. Thompson-mode coding discipline for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, pi, and any AGENTS.md-reading agent: think first, build bottom-up, brute force until measured, and rewrite a thrice-patched unit instead of patching it a fourth time.

Canonical slug: raj-nandan-sharma/ken
Version: v1.5.1 · updated Nov 8, 2026
Open data: entity.json (JSON-LD)

Registry snapshot

Repository: https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken
Support the project: GitHub Sponsors
Canonical profile: https://hol.org/registry/plugins/raj-nandan-sharma%2Fken
Owner verification: Not verified
Marketplace source: .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
Scanner: HOL plugin scanner
Security result: Needs review
Digest verified: Yes

12 bundled skillsRead, copy or download each SKILL.mdOpen skills

Trust and security

Trust & reputation

HOL Trust Score

Per-metric points (0–100 each) combined via a weighted average into the overall score.

Installability

76/100

Maintenance

90/100

MCP server setup

100/100

Plugin Security

82/100

Provenance

70/100

Publisher Quality

75/100

Provenance

Plugin root: .
Source repo: https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken
Source commit: bffe0968e486…
Publisher verified: No
Owner verified: Not owner verified
Agent Plugins 1.0: Not detected

Continuous scanner CI not detected

This plugin remains listed. Its overall trust score is reduced by 10% because security checks are not maintained in the source repository's CI.

Optional: maintain the scanner in the source repository's CI to receive the full trust score. Listing does not require that change.

README badge not detected

Plugin owners can add the HOL badge to the repository README from Guard Plugins. Distribution, not security evidence. It adds a 2% engagement adjustment to the overall trust score and never changes the security result.

Security posture

See how the Trust Score is computed

Needs review

Security result

Security score

High findings

Provider: codex-plugin-scanner
Grade: B · Good
Version: 3.24.2

codex:hol-plugin-scanner-5jauoM / cisco-skill-scanner: failedcodex:hol-plugin-scanner-5jauoM / cisco-mcp-scanner: skipped

[claude:.] Claude Plugin

18/18

5 checks

[claude:.] Security

16/16

6 checks

[claude:.] Operational Security

0/6

5 checks

[claude:.] Code Quality

10/10

2 checks

[codex:.] Manifest Validation

28/31

9 checks

[codex:.] Security

16/16

9 checks

[codex:.] Operational Security

0/6

5 checks

[codex:.] Best Practices

9/12

5 checks

[codex:.] Marketplace

5/15

3 checks

[codex:.] Skill Security

5/5

4 checks

[codex:.] Code Quality

10/10

2 checks

[gemini:.] Gemini Extension

15/15

3 checks

[gemini:.] Security

16/16

6 checks

[gemini:.] Operational Security

0/6

5 checks

[gemini:.] Code Quality

10/10

2 checks

[opencode:.] OpenCode Plugin

2/2

4 checks

[opencode:.] Security

16/16

6 checks

[opencode:.] Operational Security

0/6

5 checks

[opencode:.] Code Quality

10/10

2 checks

Published advisories

None matched in GitHub security advisories, checked 2026-11-08. This covers published advisories only, not problems nobody has reported.

GitHub security advisories are those the source repository has published.

Findings

mediumoperational-securityDEPENDENCY_LOCKFILE_MISSINGReported 4 times

package.json is present without a corresponding lockfile or pinned dependency snapshot.

Commit a lockfile or use fully pinned requirements for reproducible dependency resolution.

mediummarketplaceMARKETPLACE_SOURCE_INVALID

plugin[0] in marketplace.json must declare "source": {"source": "local", "path": "./plugins/..."}

Use the official repo marketplace shape with a local source object.

mediummarketplaceMARKETPLACE_UNSAFE_SOURCE

The marketplace source "plugin[0]=missing "source.path"" is absolute or resolves outside the plugin directory.

Use relative in-repo paths that stay within the plugin directory.

lowoperational-securityDEPENDABOT_MISSINGReported 4 times

Automation or dependency surfaces exist, but .github/dependabot.yml is missing.

Add Dependabot updates for GitHub Actions and dependency manifests.

infomanifest-validationPLUGIN_JSON_INTERFACE_ASSET_PRIVACYPOLICYURL

The interface field "privacyPolicyURL" must use HTTPS or point to a safe in-repo asset.

Update "privacyPolicyURL" to use HTTPS or an existing relative asset path.

infomanifest-validationPLUGIN_JSON_INTERFACE_ASSET_TERMSOFSERVICEURL

The interface field "termsOfServiceURL" must use HTTPS or point to a safe in-repo asset.

Update "termsOfServiceURL" to use HTTPS or an existing relative asset path.

infomanifest-validationPLUGIN_JSON_INTERFACE_ASSET_SCREENSHOTS

The interface field "screenshots" must use HTTPS or point to a safe in-repo asset.

Update "screenshots" to use HTTPS or an existing relative asset path.

infobest-practicesCODEXIGNORE_MISSING

A .codexignore file helps prevent accidental inclusion of local artifacts and secrets.

Add a .codexignore file with generated assets, local state, and secret paths.

Install guidance

Install in Claude Code

Install through the Claude Code plugin marketplace.

Claude Code plugin docs

Optional: install HOL Guard for Claude Code first, so it can check this plugin's tools on your machine before Claude Code uses them.

1
Add the marketplace
Run this inside a Claude Code session. It registers the marketplace manifest shipped at the repository root. If the repository ships none, add the generated entry from the Advanced section below first.
claude code
2
Install the plugin
Installs the ken entry from the ken marketplace.
claude code
3
Scripted alternative
Non-interactive equivalent for scripts and CI pipelines. Add --scope project to pin the install to one repository.
shell
4
Check it is installed
Lists installed plugins. The entry should appear as enabled.
shell

To remove it later, run claude plugin uninstall ken@ken.

Did setup work in Claude Code?

No setup reports for Claude Code yet. Self-reported by signed-in visitors. Copying a command is not counted, and most installs are never reported.

Attested installs: Fewer than 10 attested installs of this plugin in week 2026-W45, so no number is shown. Counted from opt-in HOL Guard install reports, once per machine and runtime, and never mixed with the answers above. How install reports work.

Loading reviews

Plugin manifest

{
  "name": "ken",
  "version": "1.5.1",
  "description": "Thompson-mode systems discipline. Think first, build bottom-up, brute force until proven, throw it out and rewrite it.",
  "author": {
    "name": "Raj Nandan Sharma",
    "url": "https://github.com/rajnandan1"
  },
  "homepage": "https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken",
  "repository": "https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken",
  "license": "MIT",
  "keywords": [
    "thompson",
    "brute-force",
    "rewrite",
    "code-review",
    "productivity"
  ],
  "skills": "./",
  "hooks": "./hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json",
  "interface": {
    "displayName": "Ken",
    "developerName": "Raj Nandan Sharma",
    "shortDescription": "Thompson-mode systems discipline",
    "longDescription": "Think first, steal proven ideas, build bottom-up from primitives you fully understand, brute force until measured, rewrite over patch.",
    "category": "Productivity",
    "capabilities": [
      "Instructions",
      "Lifecycle hooks"
    ],
    "websiteURL": "https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken",
    "defaultPrompt": [
      "Use Ken mode for this task.",
      "Review this diff for rot and translate-only layers.",
      "Brute force this, then name the ceiling."
    ],
    "brandColor": "#111111",
    "composerIcon": "./assets/logo.svg",
    "logo": "./assets/logo.svg"
  },
  "holManifestOrigin": "repository",
  "registryIndexVersion": 9
}

Marketplace source

Repo URL: https://github.com/rajnandan1/ken
Marketplace path: .claude-plugin/marketplace.json
Source path: .
Install policy: Unspecified

Skills

12 SKILL.md files ship with this plugin. Preview, copy, or download each one, then install them with the Skills CLI.

skills-cli

ken-audit
.openclaw/skills/ken-audit/SKILL.md
Audit the whole repo for Thompson-mode violations. A ranked list of what to rewrite, delete, or take back into the trusted base.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-debt
.openclaw/skills/ken-debt/SKILL.md
Harvest every ken: ceiling comment into one ledger, so brute-force deferrals get tracked instead of forgotten. One-shot report.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-gain
.openclaw/skills/ken-gain/SKILL.md
Show ken measured impact as a scoreboard from its own benchmark results. Honest empty state when none exist. One-shot display.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-help
.openclaw/skills/ken-help/SKILL.md
Quick reference for ken modes, skills, and commands. One-shot display.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-review
.openclaw/skills/ken-review/SKILL.md
Review a diff for method violations: rot to rewrite, translate-only layers, unvouched deps, fancy over brute force. One line per finding.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken
.openclaw/skills/ken/SKILL.md
Thompson-mode discipline for any coding task: think first, build bottom-up, brute force until measured, rewrite over patch. Not for non-coding requests.
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-audit
skills/ken-audit/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-debt
skills/ken-debt/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-gain
skills/ken-gain/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-help
skills/ken-help/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken-review
skills/ken-review/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.
ken
skills/ken/SKILL.md
>
Raw SKILL.md
SKILL.md content is not in this snapshot. Open the raw file to copy it from the source repository.

File inventory

.agents/plugins/marketplace.json

file

386 bytes

04bf266cbb176641…

.claude-plugin/marketplace.json

file

548 bytes

8faaaea5f316a3af…

.claude-plugin/plugin.json

file

322 bytes

236ee2148b328c3b…

.clinerules

file

163,777 bytes

0a3c52383d991fa3…

.clinerules/ken.md

file

3,554 bytes

f013cec93cdffaa1…

.codex-plugin/plugin.json

plugin-manifest

1,180 bytes

06478661b81f6667…

.cursor/rules/ken.mdc

file

3,716 bytes

60bc673325678cd0…

.openclaw/skills/ken-audit/SKILL.md

skill

1,490 bytes

b95d8d09c602b700…

.openclaw/skills/ken-debt/SKILL.md

skill

1,453 bytes

8b792b1e48e02006…

.openclaw/skills/ken-gain/SKILL.md

skill

1,493 bytes

4689e97901910277…

.openclaw/skills/ken-help/SKILL.md

skill

3,182 bytes

fd56b8064ed12684…

.openclaw/skills/ken-review/SKILL.md

skill

2,336 bytes

d39da5432f5dc4dc…

.openclaw/skills/ken/SKILL.md

skill

6,843 bytes

f58ca082e9e8d780…

.opencode/plugins/ken-frontmatter.cjs

file

1,039 bytes

c353312b547b56c3…

.opencode/plugins/ken.mjs

file

3,679 bytes

9bbe3c90612f0a33…

.windsurf/rules/ken.md

file

3,554 bytes

f013cec93cdffaa1…

AGENTS.md

file

3,554 bytes

f013cec93cdffaa1…

assets/logo.svg

asset

336 bytes

8003480edc5cd180…

commands/ken-audit.toml

file

745 bytes

700e207f9aa7c669…

commands/ken-debt.toml

file

692 bytes

2a1a77f6ee7b9dbb…

commands/ken-gain.toml

file

933 bytes

3b7e65422befe77f…

commands/ken-help.toml

file

1,156 bytes

6c807fb3c86da654…

commands/ken-review.toml

file

799 bytes

d157b59e545a534c…

commands/ken.toml

file

736 bytes

3f6d1599e0669359…

gemini-extension.json

file

215 bytes

6fd9275180f60ed2…

hooks/claude-codex-hooks.json

file

936 bytes

f8546740afd14a8d…

hooks/copilot-hooks.json

file

519 bytes

d141efc872cb0af0…

hooks/ken-activate.js

file

3,872 bytes

11da342970b55183…

hooks/ken-config.js

file

5,652 bytes

7329a28c64eaeebb…

hooks/ken-instructions.js

file

5,893 bytes

1721a4d08774e81b…

hooks/ken-mode-tracker.js

file

5,159 bytes

b81f27a910c85ab1…

hooks/ken-runtime.js

file

3,196 bytes

0664f436fecde574…

hooks/ken-statusline.sh

file

682 bytes

e879b4d145847af7…

hooks/ken-subagent.js

file

2,578 bytes

6500de0fc15996c2…

hooks/qoder-hooks.json

file

669 bytes

289e9d61c250c09d…

LICENSE

file

1,660 bytes

e36f95ccbe8c0a7f…

opencode.json

file

96 bytes

e55216bc7aec858b…

package.json

file

1,290 bytes

e5ee66857aac1a54…

plugin.json

file

20 bytes

3aa15091bcec859f…

README.md

file

7,174 bytes

41d9aec8a07bead7…

SECURITY.md

file

326 bytes

d5032644bc711004…

skills/ken-audit/SKILL.md

skill

1,708 bytes

9500f7a24bbc5b70…

skills/ken-debt/SKILL.md

skill

1,645 bytes

36d44c9e165809e6…

skills/ken-gain/SKILL.md

skill

1,593 bytes

617dc75b55da5a53…

skills/ken-help/SKILL.md

skill

3,242 bytes

10611cda37bab980…

skills/ken-review/SKILL.md

skill

2,651 bytes

9eea0ce06482f862…

skills/ken/SKILL.md

skill

7,340 bytes

4a9d2adc538cca36…

ken — Frequently asked questions

What is ken?: ken is an AI plugin in the HOL registry. Thompson-mode coding discipline for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, pi, and any AGENTS.md-reading agent: think first, build bottom-up, brute force until measured, and rewrite a thrice-patched unit instead of patching it a fourth time.
How do I install ken?: Install ken in your harness: Codex — codex plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken; Claude Code — /plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken; Antigravity CLI — npx [email protected] add rajnandan1/ken. Full step-by-step guidance is on the HOL plugin page.
How do I install ken in HOL Guard?: To install ken in HOL Guard, start with hol-guard plugin install raj-nandan-sharma/ken --apply. The complete step-by-step install guide for HOL Guard is on the HOL plugin page.
How do I install ken in Codex?: To install ken in Codex, start with codex plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken. The complete step-by-step install guide for Codex is on the HOL plugin page.
How do I install ken in Claude Code?: To install ken in Claude Code, start with /plugin marketplace add rajnandan1/ken. The complete step-by-step install guide for Claude Code is on the HOL plugin page.
How is the Trust Score for ken computed?: ken has a HOL Trust Score of 72 out of 100. The score is a weighted sum of six components from a static scan of the source, capped for high-severity findings and adjusted by two disclosed policies. Memberships and payments are not inputs, and a scan is not a safety guarantee. Full breakdown: https://hol.org/registry/plugins/raj-nandan-sharma%2Fken/trust
Who publishes ken?: ken is published by Raj Nandan Sharma and listed on HOL.

Directory acceptance

Listed in 0 of 5 directory lists

Read from the list each directory publishes on GitHub. Being listed means the directory accepted the plugin; it is not a HOL security rating.

Claude Code official marketplaceNot listed
Plugins Anthropic maintains or selected for the marketplace Claude Code ships with.
Claude community directoryNot listed
Plugins submitted through claude.ai that passed Anthropic’s review; the list is a nightly mirror.
Codex curated marketplaceNot listed
Plugins OpenAI lists in the marketplace Codex ships with.
Cursor official pluginsNot in public list
Plugins Cursor publishes itself. Cursor does not publish its list of third-party Marketplace plugins.
Awesome Codex Plugins (HOL)Not listed
The community Codex plugin list HOL maintains on GitHub.

Lists last read Nov 11, 2026. HOL re-reads them every day.

Submitting it? Check it against each directory's rules

Install signal

HOL cannot see every install. These are separate signals from different sources, so they are not added together. Counts under each floor show as <N.

Install commands issued here: <5; HOL Guard install commands issued from this listing, last 28 days.
Opt-in install reports: <10; Machines that reported installing it through HOL Guard in week 2026-W45. Reporting is opt-in, so most installs are not counted.
HOL Guard workspaces: <5; Workspaces that approved it or include it in an approved-plugin feed, as of today.

Reviews and similar plugins

User reviews

No reviews yet. Write the first review

Is ken a fit?

Works with

Before you install

Check before relying on it

What is ken?

Registry snapshot

Trust and security

Trust & reputation

HOL Trust Score

Provenance

Security posture

Published advisories

Findings

Install guidance

Install in Claude Code

Did setup work in Claude Code?

Plugin manifest

Marketplace source

Skills

File inventory

ken — Frequently asked questions

Directory acceptance

Install signal

Related plugins

Alternatives in Development & Workflow

Reviews and similar plugins

User reviews

Similar plugins