allenai · rodneykinney · Jun 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
diff --git a/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json b/.claude-plugin/marketplace.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
       "name": "asta",
       "source": "./plugins/asta",
       "description": "Paper search, metadata, document management, and theory generation for scientific research",
-      "version": "0.18.0",
+      "version": "0.18.1",
       "author": {
         "name": "Ai2 Asta Team"
       },
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
       "name": "asta-preview",
       "source": "./plugins/asta-preview",
       "description": "Paper search, metadata, document management, literature reports, experiments, and theory generation for scientific research",
-      "version": "0.18.0",
+      "version": "0.18.1",
       "author": {
         "name": "Ai2 Asta Team"
       },

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/hooks/sync-cli-version.sh b/plugins/asta-preview/hooks/sync-cli-version.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # Check if asta CLI version matches the plugin version and auto-install/update if needed
 
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
+PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.1
 INSTALL_URL="git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION"
 
 # Check if asta is installed

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/asta-cli/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/asta-cli/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+---
+name: asta-cli
+description: "Install or update the `asta` CLI to the version pinned by this plugin. Invoke whenever `asta` is not on PATH (e.g. `command not found` for `asta`) or when a subcommand/flag appears missing — that signals a stale install needing an update."
+allowed-tools: Bash(command -v asta) Bash(asta --version) Bash(uv tool install*)
+---
+
+# Asta CLI Installer
+
+Installs the `asta` CLI for agents that don't install it automatically via a plugin hook.
+
+## When to invoke
+
+- `asta` is not on `PATH` (e.g., `command -v asta` returns nothing, or running `asta ...` reports "command not found")
+- A subcommand, option, or output field that should exist according to another skill is missing — that signals an outdated install
+
+## Install or update
+
+**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/).
+
+```bash
+PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.1
+INSTALL_URL="git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION"
+
+if ! command -v asta &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "📦 Installing Asta CLI $PLUGIN_VERSION..."
+  uv tool install "$INSTALL_URL"
+else
+  CLI_VERSION=$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')
+  if [ "$CLI_VERSION" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
+    echo "🔄 Updating Asta CLI from $CLI_VERSION to $PLUGIN_VERSION..."
+    uv tool install --force "$INSTALL_URL"
+  fi
+fi
+```
+
+If `asta` is still not on PATH after install, run `uv tool update-shell` (or open a new shell) so `~/.local/bin` is on PATH.
+
+## After install
+
+Re-run the original command. If it still fails, the problem is not the CLI version — surface the actual error to the user instead of reinstalling again.
diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/asta-documents/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/asta-documents/SKILL.md
@@ -39,20 +39,6 @@ asta documents add "file://${REPORT_PATH}" \
   --mime-type="text/markdown"
 ```
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Quick Command Reference
 
 Add `--json` flag to any command for machine-readable output.

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/autodiscovery/workflows/remote.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/autodiscovery/workflows/remote.md
@@ -2,20 +2,6 @@
 
 Create, configure, and monitor AutoDiscovery runs via the hosted service using the `asta autodiscovery` commands. Runs execute on Asta infrastructure and consume credits.
 
-## Installation
-
-This workflow requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.17.1
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Authentication
 
 AutoDiscovery uses the shared Asta authentication. If you get an auth error, run `asta auth login` first.

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/experiment/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/experiment/SKILL.md
@@ -12,20 +12,6 @@ this skill will write and run the necessary software and generate a report on th
 
 This skill can also be used to analyze experimental data and generate a research report from it, even if the experiment itself was not run by Asta. In that case, the user can provide the experimental data as a file input, and Asta will analyze it and generate a report.
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Environment Variables
 
 `asta experiment` (Panda) reads its model choice and credentials from the environment. These are not exposed as CLI flags, so set them before invoking the skill if you want to override the defaults.

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/find-literature/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/find-literature/SKILL.md
@@ -72,21 +72,6 @@ Output deltas vs `find`: the `interactive` JSON adds `thread_id` and `narrative`
 `citationContexts` or `publicationDate` per paper; for those, use `find` or the
 `asta papers` commands.
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
-
 ## Tools Available
 
 ### Paper Finder

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/local-paper-index/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/local-paper-index/SKILL.md
@@ -10,21 +10,6 @@ allowed-tools: Bash(asta pdf-extraction *) Bash(asta documents *) Bash(python3 *
 
 Build a searchable Asta document index from a collection of local PDF files. Each PDF is converted to markdown, split into ~2000-character chunks, and written as documents to an asta-documents YAML index — enabling semantic search across the full text of the collection.
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
-
 ## Assets
 
 This skill includes standalone scripts in the `assets/` directory:

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/pdf-extraction/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/pdf-extraction/SKILL.md
@@ -13,21 +13,6 @@ Extract high-quality text from PDFs using two OCR engines:
 - **`asta pdf-extraction olmocr`** — cloud-based extraction via [olmOCR](https://github.com/allenai/olmOCR) (best for large batches, S3, and complex layouts)
 - **`asta pdf-extraction remote`** — quick single-file extraction via the Asta remote OCR API
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
-
 ## Quick Start
 
 ### olmocr (cloud batch extraction)

diff --git a/plugins/asta-preview/skills/semantic-scholar/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta-preview/skills/semantic-scholar/SKILL.md
@@ -56,20 +56,6 @@ search/exploration (e.g. the first user turn is "find papers on X"), default to
 Reach for `asta papers` when the session is about something else and a quick metadata or
 citation lookup is just one step inside it.
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Available Commands
 
 ### Get Paper Details

diff --git a/plugins/asta/hooks/sync-cli-version.sh b/plugins/asta/hooks/sync-cli-version.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # Check if asta CLI version matches the plugin version and auto-install/update if needed
 
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
+PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.1
 INSTALL_URL="git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION"
 
 # Check if asta is installed

diff --git a/plugins/asta/skills/asta-cli/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta/skills/asta-cli/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+---
+name: asta-cli
+description: "Install or update the `asta` CLI to the version pinned by this plugin. Invoke whenever `asta` is not on PATH (e.g. `command not found` for `asta`) or when a subcommand/flag appears missing — that signals a stale install needing an update."
+allowed-tools: Bash(command -v asta) Bash(asta --version) Bash(uv tool install*)
+---
+
+# Asta CLI Installer
+
+Installs the `asta` CLI for agents that don't install it automatically via a plugin hook.
+
+## When to invoke
+
+- `asta` is not on `PATH` (e.g., `command -v asta` returns nothing, or running `asta ...` reports "command not found")
+- A subcommand, option, or output field that should exist according to another skill is missing — that signals an outdated install
+
+## Install or update
+
+**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/).
+
+```bash
+PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.1
+INSTALL_URL="git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION"
+
+if ! command -v asta &> /dev/null; then
+  echo "📦 Installing Asta CLI $PLUGIN_VERSION..."
+  uv tool install "$INSTALL_URL"
+else
+  CLI_VERSION=$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')
+  if [ "$CLI_VERSION" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
+    echo "🔄 Updating Asta CLI from $CLI_VERSION to $PLUGIN_VERSION..."
+    uv tool install --force "$INSTALL_URL"
+  fi
+fi
+```
+
+If `asta` is still not on PATH after install, run `uv tool update-shell` (or open a new shell) so `~/.local/bin` is on PATH.
+
+## After install
+
+Re-run the original command. If it still fails, the problem is not the CLI version — surface the actual error to the user instead of reinstalling again.
diff --git a/plugins/asta/skills/asta-documents/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta/skills/asta-documents/SKILL.md
@@ -39,20 +39,6 @@ asta documents add "file://${REPORT_PATH}" \
   --mime-type="text/markdown"
 ```
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Quick Command Reference
 
 Add `--json` flag to any command for machine-readable output.

diff --git a/plugins/asta/skills/semantic-scholar/SKILL.md b/plugins/asta/skills/semantic-scholar/SKILL.md
@@ -56,20 +56,6 @@ search/exploration (e.g. the first user turn is "find papers on X"), default to
 Reach for `asta papers` when the session is about something else and a quick metadata or
 citation lookup is just one step inside it.
 
-## Installation
-
-This skill requires the `asta` CLI:
-
-```bash
-# Install/reinstall at the correct version
-PLUGIN_VERSION=0.18.0
-if [ "$(asta --version 2>/dev/null | grep -oE '[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+')" != "$PLUGIN_VERSION" ]; then
-  uv tool install --force git+https://github.com/allenai/asta-plugins.git@v$PLUGIN_VERSION
-fi
-```
-
-**Prerequisites:** Python 3.11+ and [uv package manager](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
-
 ## Available Commands
 
 ### Get Paper Details

diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "asta"
-version = "0.18.0"
+version = "0.18.1"
 description = "Asta CLI for scientific literature review"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"