Install Kokoro TTS

Install the Kokoro TTS engine: Apple Silicon verification, Python 3.13 venv, MLX-Audio dependencies, model download, and verification synthesis.

Platform: macOS Apple Silicon (M1+) only. Fails fast on Intel/Linux.

Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.

Prerequisites

Component	Required	Check
Apple Silicon	Yes	uname -m = arm64
uv	Yes	uv --version
Python 3.13	Yes	uv python list

Workflow

Step 1: Preflight

# Check Apple Silicon
[[ "$(uname -m)" == "arm64" ]] && echo "OK: Apple Silicon" || echo "FAIL: Requires Apple Silicon (M1+)"

# Check uv
command -v uv && echo "OK: uv found" || echo "FAIL: Install with 'brew install uv'"

Step 2: Install

PLUGIN_DIR="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$HOME/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/cc-skills/plugins/kokoro-tts}"
bash "$PLUGIN_DIR/scripts/kokoro-install.sh" --install

This performs:

1. Verifies Apple Silicon (fails fast on Intel/Linux)
2. Creates Python 3.13 venv at ~/.local/share/kokoro/.venv via uv
3. Installs MLX-Audio dependencies (mlx-audio, soundfile, numpy)
4. Copies kokoro_common.py, tts_generate.py from plugin bundle
5. Downloads Kokoro-82M-bf16 MLX model from HuggingFace
6. Writes version.json with mlx_audio version and model ID
7. Runs verification synthesis ("Warm up.")

Step 3: Verify

PLUGIN_DIR="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$HOME/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/cc-skills/plugins/kokoro-tts}"
bash "$PLUGIN_DIR/scripts/kokoro-install.sh" --health

All 6 checks should pass. Print "Installation complete — run /kokoro-tts:health to verify".

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
Not Apple Silicon	Intel Mac or Linux	MLX-Audio requires M1+ Mac
uv not found	Not installed	brew install uv
Model download slow	Large first download	Wait for HuggingFace download
Permission denied	Script not +x	chmod +x scripts/kokoro-install.sh
Venv already exists	Previous install	Run --uninstall then --install

Post-Execution Reflection

After this skill completes, reflect before closing the task:

0. Locate yourself. — Find this SKILL.md's canonical path before editing.
1. What failed? — Fix the instruction that caused it.
2. What worked better than expected? — Promote to recommended practice.
3. What drifted? — Fix any script, reference, or dependency that no longer matches reality.
4. Log it. — Evolution-log entry with trigger, fix, and evidence.

Do NOT defer. The next invocation inherits whatever you leave behind.