How Tools Connect to Your AIs

When you run ldm install, it automatically figures out what a tool supports and installs everything for you. No manual configuration needed. Point it at a tool and it does the rest.

What Gets Detected

Type	How it’s found	Where it goes
CLI	`package.json` has `bin` entries	`npm install -g`
Connection Point	Has `mcp-server.mjs` or `mcp-server.js`	Registered with your AI apps
Background Integration	Has `openclaw.plugin.json`	`~/.ldm/extensions/` + `~/.openclaw/extensions/`
Skill	Has `SKILL.md` or `skills/` directory	`~/.openclaw/skills/`
Automation Hook	Has `guard.mjs` or `claudeCode.hook` in package.json	`~/.claude/settings.json`
Module	Has `main` or `exports` in package.json	Importable by other tools

The Seven Ways a Tool Can Work

Different AIs speak different languages. Some run commands. Some import code. Some use connections. Some read instructions. The beauty of this system is that every tool can offer multiple ways in to the same core logic:

Way In	What it is	Who uses it
CLI	Shell command	You and any AI with a terminal
Module	Code import	Other tools, scripts
Connection Point	JSON-RPC over stdio	Claude Code, Cursor, any MCP-compatible AI
Background Integration	Lifecycle hooks + tools	OpenClaw AIs
Skill	Written instructions (SKILL.md)	Any AI that reads files
Automation Hook	Events before/after actions	Claude Code
App Package	Distributable bundle (skills, hooks, connections)	Claude Code marketplace

Not every tool needs all seven. Build what makes sense. But the more ways you offer, the more AIs can use your tool.

Catalog

Tools are defined in catalog.json at the LDM OS root. Each entry has:

{
  "id": "memory-crystal",
  "name": "Memory Crystal",
  "description": "Persistent memory for your AI.",
  "npm": "@wipcomputer/memory-crystal",
  "repo": "wipcomputer/memory-crystal",
  "registryMatches": ["memory-crystal"],
  "cliMatches": ["crystal"],
  "recommended": true,
  "status": "stable"
}

Stacks

Stacks group tools for team installs. Defined in catalog.json:

{
  "stacks": {
    "core": {
      "name": "WIP Core",
      "components": ["memory-crystal", "wip-ai-devops-toolbox", "wip-1password", "wip-markdown-viewer"],
      "mcpServers": []
    },
    "web": {
      "name": "Web Development",
      "components": [],
      "mcpServers": [
        { "name": "playwright", "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest"] }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Stacks are composable via the includes field.

Your Installed Tools

~/.ldm/extensions/registry.json tracks what’s installed, versions, paths, and enabled/disabled state. Updated after every install.

Process Monitor

process-monitor.sh runs every 3 minutes. Cleans up stuck processes older than 30 seconds and removes stale lockfiles. Logs to ~/.ldm/logs/process-monitor.log.

​How Tools Connect to Your AIs

​What Gets Detected

​The Seven Ways a Tool Can Work

​Catalog

​Stacks

​Your Installed Tools

​Process Monitor