[FEATURE] /doctor should suggest npm install -g claude for missing installations

Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jan 16, 2026 by cjzellmer Closed Jan 20, 2026

Preflight Checklist

  • [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
  • [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Description:

When Claude Code's global npm package is missing (e.g., after cache clearing), /doctor only shows diagnostics without actionable solutions.

Current behavior:
> /doctor
Diagnostics
└ Currently running: npm-global (1.0.117)
└ Auto-updates enabled: default (true)
└ Update permissions: Yes

But npm list -g claude shows (empty) - the installation is actually broken.

Expected behavior:
Missing Installation
└ Run: npm install -g claude

Why this matters:
Users waste time troubleshooting when the fix is simple. The diagnostic should include the remedy, not just the symptoms.

Reproduction:

  1. Clear npm cache or delete global packages
  2. Run /doctor
  3. See diagnostics but no fix suggestion

Proposed Solution

Description:

When Claude Code's global npm package is missing (e.g., after cache clearing), /doctor only shows diagnostics without actionable solutions.

Current behavior:
> /doctor
Diagnostics
└ Currently running: npm-global (1.0.117)
└ Auto-updates enabled: default (true)
└ Update permissions: Yes

But npm list -g claude shows (empty) - the installation is actually broken.

Expected behavior:
Missing Installation
└ Run: npm install -g claude

Why this matters:
Users waste time troubleshooting when the fix is simple. The diagnostic should include the remedy, not just the symptoms.

Reproduction:

  1. Clear npm cache or delete global packages
  2. Run /doctor
  3. See diagnostics but no fix suggestion

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

Low - Nice to have

Feature Category

Configuration and settings

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

Description:

When Claude Code's global npm package is missing (e.g., after cache clearing), /doctor only shows diagnostics without actionable solutions.

Current behavior:
> /doctor
Diagnostics
└ Currently running: npm-global (1.0.117)
└ Auto-updates enabled: default (true)
└ Update permissions: Yes

But npm list -g claude shows (empty) - the installation is actually broken.

Expected behavior:
Missing Installation
└ Run: npm install -g claude

Why this matters:
Users waste time troubleshooting when the fix is simple. The diagnostic should include the remedy, not just the symptoms.

Reproduction:

  1. Clear npm cache or delete global packages
  2. Run /doctor
  3. See diagnostics but no fix suggestion

View original on GitHub ↗

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