feat(install): add --minimal binary-only install mode

AGENTS.md

@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ claude --plugin-dir ./apps/hook
 | `PLANNOTATOR_GLIMPSE_HEIGHT` | Height in pixels for the Glimpse native window. Default: `900`. |
 | `PLANNOTATOR_VERIFY_ATTESTATION` | **Read by the install scripts only**, not by the runtime binary. Set to `1` / `true` to have `scripts/install.sh` / `install.ps1` / `install.cmd` run `gh attestation verify` on every install. Off by default. Can also be set persistently via `~/.plannotator/config.json` (`{ "verifyAttestation": true }`) or per-invocation via `--verify-attestation`. Requires `gh` installed and authenticated. |
 | `PLANNOTATOR_SKIP_AGENT_TERMINAL_INSTALL` | Set to `1` / `true` to skip installing the managed Node/WebTUI runtime used by compiled Bun builds for the annotate-mode agent terminal. Read by `plannotator install-runtime agent-terminal`, which the installers call automatically. |
+| `PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL` | **Read by the install scripts only**, not by the runtime binary. Set to `1` / `true` / `yes` to have `scripts/install.sh` / `install.ps1` / `install.cmd` install **only** the `plannotator` binary — skipping the sem sidecar, the agent-terminal runtime, and all per-agent skills, hooks, slash commands, and config. Equivalent to the `--minimal` (aliased `--binary-only`) flag; `--no-minimal` overrides it. Off by default. |
+| `PLANNOTATOR_SKIP_SEM_INSTALL` | **Read by the install scripts only.** Set to `1` / `true` to skip installing the optional `sem` semantic-diff sidecar (used by code review). Off by default. |
 
 **Config-only settings (`~/.plannotator/config.json`)**: Some settings have no env-var equivalent and are toggled by editing the config file directly:
 

README.md

@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@ curl -fsSL https://plannotator.ai/install.sh | bash
 irm https://plannotator.ai/install.ps1 | iex
 ```
 
+Want just the binary and nothing else? Pass `--minimal` (or export `PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL=1`) to install only the `plannotator` binary to `~/.local/bin`, skipping every skill, hook, slash command, and per-agent config:
+
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://plannotator.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --minimal
+```
+
 Then finish the step for your agent:
 
 | Agent | After the installer | Details |

apps/marketing/src/content/docs/getting-started/installation.md

@@ -62,6 +62,27 @@ Version pinning is fully supported from **v0.17.2 onwards**. v0.17.2 is the firs
 
 </details>
 
+<details>
+<summary><strong>Binary-only install (nothing but the CLI)</strong></summary>
+
+Pass `--minimal` (aliased `--binary-only`) to install **only** the `plannotator` binary — no sem semantic-diff sidecar, no agent-terminal runtime, and none of the per-agent skills, hooks, slash commands, or config for Claude, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini, or Kiro. The only thing installed is the binary (the Windows PowerShell installer also adds the install directory to your user `PATH`), and because it skips the sparse checkout, **minimal mode does not require `git`**.
+
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://plannotator.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --minimal
+```
+
+```powershell
+& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://plannotator.ai/install.ps1))) -Minimal
+```
+
+```cmd
+curl -fsSL https://plannotator.ai/install.cmd -o install.cmd && install.cmd --minimal && del install.cmd
+```
+
+For `curl … | bash` pipelines you can set `PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL=1` in the environment instead of passing the flag; pass `--no-minimal` to force a full install even when that variable is set.
+
+</details>
+
 Every release includes SHA256 checksums (verified automatically) and optional [SLSA build provenance](/docs/reference/verifying-your-install/) attestations.
 
 ## Claude Code

apps/marketing/src/content/docs/reference/environment-variables.md

@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ When running your own paste service binary, these variables configure it:
 | Variable | Default | Description |
 |----------|---------|-------------|
 | `PLANNOTATOR_VERIFY_ATTESTATION` | off | Set to `1` or `true` to have the install script run `gh attestation verify` on the downloaded binary. Requires `gh` CLI installed and authenticated. Can also be set via `~/.plannotator/config.json` (`{ "verifyAttestation": true }`) or per-invocation via `--verify-attestation`. |
+| `PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL` | off | Set to `1` / `true` / `yes` to install **only** the `plannotator` binary — no sem sidecar, agent-terminal runtime, skills, hooks, slash commands, or per-agent config. Equivalent to passing `--minimal` (aliased `--binary-only`); pass `--no-minimal` to override. Read by the install scripts only, not the runtime binary. |
+| `PLANNOTATOR_SKIP_SEM_INSTALL` | off | Set to `1` / `true` to skip installing the optional `sem` semantic-diff sidecar used by code review. Read by the install scripts only. |
 | `CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR` | `~/.claude` | Custom Claude Code config directory. The install script places hooks here instead of the default location. |
 
 ## Remote mode behavior

scripts/install.cmd

@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ set "EXTRAS_FLAG="
 set "MODEL_INVOCABLE_FLAG="
 set "NON_INTERACTIVE=0"
 set "RECONFIGURE=0"
+REM Binary-only mode. Installs just plannotator.exe and no persistent state
+REM elsewhere. Set by --minimal (1) / --no-minimal (0); -1 = neither flag given
+REM (fall through to the PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL env var, resolved after :args_done).
+set "MINIMAL_FLAG=-1"
 
 :parse_args
 if "%~1"=="" goto args_done
@@ -92,6 +96,33 @@ if /i "%~1"=="--reconfigure" (
     shift
     goto parse_args
 )
+if /i "%~1"=="--minimal" (
+    if "!MINIMAL_FLAG!"=="0" (
+        echo --minimal and --no-minimal are mutually exclusive >&2
+        exit /b 1
+    )
+    set "MINIMAL_FLAG=1"
+    shift
+    goto parse_args
+)
+if /i "%~1"=="--binary-only" (
+    if "!MINIMAL_FLAG!"=="0" (
+        echo --binary-only and --no-minimal are mutually exclusive >&2
+        exit /b 1
+    )
+    set "MINIMAL_FLAG=1"
+    shift
+    goto parse_args
+)
+if /i "%~1"=="--no-minimal" (
+    if "!MINIMAL_FLAG!"=="1" (
+        echo --no-minimal and --minimal are mutually exclusive >&2
+        exit /b 1
+    )
+    set "MINIMAL_FLAG=0"
+    shift
+    goto parse_args
+)
 REM Reject any other dash-prefixed token as an unknown option, so a typoed
 REM flag like --verify-attesttion fails fast instead of being interpreted as
 REM a version tag (which would 404 on releases/download/v--verify-attesttion/...).
@@ -106,7 +137,7 @@ REM unquoted arg containing `&` would re-trigger metacharacter interpretation.
 set "CURRENT_ARG=%~1"
 if "!CURRENT_ARG:~0,1!"=="-" (
     echo Unknown option: "%~1" >&2
-    echo Usage: install.cmd [--version ^<tag^>] [--verify-attestation ^| --skip-attestation] [--extras ^| --no-extras] [--model-invocable ^<list^>] [--non-interactive] [--reconfigure] >&2
+    echo Usage: install.cmd [--version ^<tag^>] [--verify-attestation ^| --skip-attestation] [--extras ^| --no-extras] [--model-invocable ^<list^>] [--minimal ^| --no-minimal] [--non-interactive] [--reconfigure] >&2
     exit /b 1
 )
 REM Positional form: install.cmd vX.Y.Z (legacy interface).
@@ -122,6 +153,15 @@ shift
 goto parse_args
 :args_done
 
+REM Resolve binary-only mode. Precedence: --minimal / --no-minimal flag >
+REM PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL env var > default (off). Mirrors install.sh / install.ps1.
+set "MINIMAL=0"
+if /i "%PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL%"=="1"    set "MINIMAL=1"
+if /i "%PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL%"=="true" set "MINIMAL=1"
+if /i "%PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL%"=="yes"  set "MINIMAL=1"
+if "!MINIMAL_FLAG!"=="1" set "MINIMAL=1"
+if "!MINIMAL_FLAG!"=="0" set "MINIMAL=0"
+
 set "REPO=backnotprop/plannotator"
 set "SEM_REPO=Ataraxy-Labs/sem"
 set "SEM_VERSION=v0.8.0"
@@ -388,23 +428,22 @@ move /y "!TEMP_FILE!" "!INSTALL_PATH!" >nul
 echo.
 echo plannotator !TAG! installed to !INSTALL_PATH!
 
+REM Binary-only mode stops here (see the MINIMAL resolution after :args_done):
+REM the binary is installed, so print PATH advice and exit before any sidecar
+REM download, agent integration, skill checkout, or config write runs. No
+REM persistent state is written outside !INSTALL_DIR!.
+if "!MINIMAL!"=="1" (
+    call :PrintPathAdvice
+    echo.
+    echo Minimal install complete - only the plannotator binary was installed.
+    echo No skills, hooks, agent integrations, or config files were written.
+    exit /b 0
+)
+
 call :InstallSemSidecar
 call :InstallAgentTerminalRuntime
 
-REM Check if install directory is in PATH
-echo !PATH! | findstr /i /c:"!INSTALL_DIR!" >nul
-if !ERRORLEVEL! neq 0 (
-    echo.
-    echo !INSTALL_DIR! is not in your PATH.
-    echo.
-    echo Add it permanently with:
-    echo.
-    echo   setx PATH "%%PATH%%;!INSTALL_DIR!"
-    echo.
-    echo Or add it for this session only:
-    echo.
-    echo   set PATH=%%PATH%%;!INSTALL_DIR!
-)
+call :PrintPathAdvice
 
 REM Validate plugin hooks.json if plugin is already installed
 if defined CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR (
@@ -959,6 +998,27 @@ if exist "!PLUGIN_HOOKS!" if exist "!CLAUDE_SETTINGS!" (
 echo.
 exit /b 0
 
+REM ======================================================================
+REM Print the PATH-setup hint if INSTALL_DIR isn't already on PATH. Called by
+REM both the --minimal early exit and the normal flow (mirrors install.sh's
+REM print_path_advice).
+REM ======================================================================
+:PrintPathAdvice
+echo !PATH! | findstr /i /c:"!INSTALL_DIR!" >nul
+if !ERRORLEVEL! neq 0 (
+    echo.
+    echo !INSTALL_DIR! is not in your PATH.
+    echo.
+    echo Add it permanently with:
+    echo.
+    echo   setx PATH "%%PATH%%;!INSTALL_DIR!"
+    echo.
+    echo Or add it for this session only:
+    echo.
+    echo   set PATH=%%PATH%%;!INSTALL_DIR!
+)
+goto :eof
+
 REM ======================================================================
 REM Optional annotate agent terminal runtime install. Non-fatal: Plannotator
 REM remains installed if Node/npm or npm install is unavailable.

scripts/install.ps1

@@ -7,7 +7,10 @@ param(
     [switch]$NoExtras,
     [string]$ModelInvocable = "",
     [switch]$NonInteractive,
-    [switch]$Reconfigure
+    [switch]$Reconfigure,
+    [Alias("BinaryOnly")]
+    [switch]$Minimal,
+    [switch]$NoMinimal
 )
 
 $ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
@@ -23,6 +26,22 @@ if ($Extras -and $NoExtras) {
     [Console]::Error.WriteLine("-Extras and -NoExtras are mutually exclusive. Pass one or the other.")
     exit 1
 }
+if ($Minimal -and $NoMinimal) {
+    [Console]::Error.WriteLine("-Minimal and -NoMinimal are mutually exclusive. Pass one or the other.")
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# Binary-only mode. Installs just the plannotator binary and no persistent state
+# elsewhere — no sem sidecar, agent-terminal runtime, skills, hooks, or per-agent
+# config. Precedence: -Minimal / -NoMinimal switch > PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL env var
+# > default (off). Mirrors install.sh's --minimal / --no-minimal.
+$minimal = $false
+if ($env:PLANNOTATOR_MINIMAL -match '^(1|true|yes)$') {
+    $minimal = $true
+}
+if ($Minimal) { $minimal = $true }
+if ($NoMinimal) { $minimal = $false }
+
 $repo = "backnotprop/plannotator"
 $semRepo = "Ataraxy-Labs/sem"
 $semVersion = "v0.8.0"
@@ -330,18 +349,37 @@ Move-Item -Force $tmpFile "$installDir\plannotator.exe"
 Write-Host ""
 Write-Host "plannotator $latestTag installed to $installDir\plannotator.exe"
 
-Install-SemSidecar
-Install-AgentTerminalRuntime
+# Add $installDir to the user PATH if not already there. Extracted so both the
+# -Minimal early exit and the normal flow reuse it (mirrors install.sh's
+# print_path_advice).
+function Show-PathAdvice {
+    $userPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
+    if ($userPath -notlike "*$installDir*") {
+        Write-Host ""
+        Write-Host "$installDir is not in your PATH. Adding it..."
+        [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$userPath;$installDir", "User")
+        Write-Host "Added to PATH. Restart your terminal for changes to take effect."
+    }
+}
 
-# Add to PATH if not already there
-$userPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "User")
-if ($userPath -notlike "*$installDir*") {
+# Binary-only mode stops here (see the $minimal resolution near the top): the
+# binary is installed, so add it to PATH and exit before any sidecar download,
+# agent integration, skill checkout, config write, or cleanup runs. Only the
+# binary and its PATH entry are added — none of the sem sidecar, agent-terminal
+# runtime, or per-agent skills, hooks, or config.
+if ($minimal) {
+    Show-PathAdvice
     Write-Host ""
-    Write-Host "$installDir is not in your PATH. Adding it..."
-    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$userPath;$installDir", "User")
-    Write-Host "Added to PATH. Restart your terminal for changes to take effect."
+    Write-Host "Minimal install complete - only the plannotator binary was installed."
+    Write-Host "No skills, hooks, agent integrations, or config files were written."
+    exit 0
 }
 
+Install-SemSidecar
+Install-AgentTerminalRuntime
+
+Show-PathAdvice
+
 # Validate plugin hooks.json if plugin is already installed
 $pluginHooks = if ($env:CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR) { "$env:CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR\plugins\marketplaces\plannotator\apps\hook\hooks\hooks.json" } else { "$env:USERPROFILE\.claude\plugins\marketplaces\plannotator\apps\hook\hooks\hooks.json" }
 if (Test-Path $pluginHooks) {