How do I install the Flow Dev Setup skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add onflow/flow-dev-setup in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

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Is Flow Dev Setup free to use?

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Who published Flow Dev Setup?

onflow (@onflow) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Flow Dev Setup by onflow — Agent Skill

Name: Flow Dev Setup
Author: onflow

Flow Dev Setup

Guide for setting up a local Flow blockchain development environment from scratch. Covers installing and configuring the Flow CLI, emulator, Cadence MCP server, dev wallet, Cadence VS Code extension, testing framework, frontend SDKs (FCL/React), and EVM tooling (Hardhat/Foundry). Each tool has its own reference with self-contained install and setup instructions. TRIGGER when: setting up Flow development tools, installing Flow CLI, starting emulator for the first time, "how do I install flow", "set up my dev environment", "flow dev setup", "install flow-cli", "cadence extension", "set up emulator", "flow testing setup", "FCL install", "EVM on Flow", "Hardhat with Flow", "Foundry with Flow", "new to Flow development", "getting started with Flow", "cadence MCP", "set up MCP for Cadence", "flow mcp". DO NOT TRIGGER when: configuring flow.json or deployments (use flow-project-setup), writing Cadence code (use cadence-lang), querying on-chain data (use flow-cli-query), building token contracts (use cadence-tokens),

onflow 2f0c684 9 files · 22.4 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Flow Dev Environment Setup

Install and configure the tools needed for Flow blockchain development. Each reference below is self-contained — read only the ones relevant to your task.

Tool Overview

Tool	Purpose	Required?
Flow CLI	Core tool — project init, contract deploy, transactions, testing, emulator	Yes — everything depends on this
Flow Emulator	Local Flow blockchain for development (bundled with CLI)	Yes — for local development
Cadence VS Code Extension	Syntax highlighting, code completion, type checking for `.cdc` files	Recommended for VS Code users
Flow Testing Framework	Cadence-native tests with coverage and fork testing	Yes — for writing/running tests
Flow Dev Wallet	Mock FCL-compatible wallet for local frontend auth testing	Only for frontend development
FCL / React SDK	Frontend libraries for wallet auth, transactions, and queries	Only for frontend development
Cadence MCP Server	MCP server giving AI agents Cadence type checking, code review, and on-chain queries	Recommended for AI-assisted development
EVM Tooling	Hardhat, Foundry, or Remix for Solidity development on Flow	Only for EVM/Solidity development

Navigation Map

Task	Reference
Install Flow CLI (brew, script, Windows), verify, upgrade	flow-cli.md
Start and configure the Flow Emulator (ports, persistence, fork mode)	emulator.md
Install Cadence VS Code extension for editor support	vscode-extension.md
Set up testing framework, run tests, coverage, fork testing	testing.md
Set up dev wallet for local frontend auth testing	dev-wallet.md
Install FCL or React SDK for frontend integration	frontend-sdk.md
Set up Cadence MCP server for AI-assisted development	cadence-mcp.md
Set up Hardhat, Foundry, or Remix for Solidity on Flow EVM	evm-tooling.md

Typical Setup Order

For most Cadence projects: Flow CLI → Emulator → VS Code Extension → Cadence MCP → Testing.

Add Dev Wallet + Frontend SDK when building a frontend. Add EVM Tooling only for Solidity work.

---name: flow-dev-setupdescription: Guide for setting up a local Flow blockchain development environment from scratch. Covers installing and configuring the Flow CLI, emulator, Cadence MCP server, dev wallet, Cadence VS Code extension, testing framework, frontend SDKs (FCL/React), and EVM tooling (Hardhat/Foundry). Each tool has its own reference with self-contained install and setup instructions. TRIGGER when: setting up Flow development tools, installing Flow CLI, starting emulator for the first time, "how do I install flow", "set up my dev environment", "flow dev setup", "install flow-cli", "cadence extension", "set up emulator", "flow testing setup", "FCL install", "EVM on Flow", "Hardhat with Flow", "Foundry with Flow", "new to Flow development", "getting started with Flow", "cadence MCP", "set up MCP for Cadence", "flow mcp". DO NOT TRIGGER when: configuring flow.json or deployments (use flow-project-setup), writing Cadence code (use cadence-lang), querying on-chain data (use flow-cli-query), building token contracts (use cadence-tokens),---# Flow Dev Environment SetupInstall and configure the tools needed for Flow blockchain development. Each reference below is self-contained — read only the ones relevant to your task.## Tool Overview| Tool | Purpose | Required? ||------|---------|-----------|| **Flow CLI** | Core tool — project init, contract deploy, transactions, testing, emulator | Yes — everything depends on this || **Flow Emulator** | Local Flow blockchain for development (bundled with CLI) | Yes — for local development || **Cadence VS Code Extension** | Syntax highlighting, code completion, type checking for `.cdc` files | Recommended for VS Code users || **Flow Testing Framework** | Cadence-native tests with coverage and fork testing | Yes — for writing/running tests || **Flow Dev Wallet** | Mock FCL-compatible wallet for local frontend auth testing | Only for frontend development || **FCL / React SDK** | Frontend libraries for wallet auth, transactions, and queries | Only for frontend development || **Cadence MCP Server** | MCP server giving AI agents Cadence type checking, code review, and on-chain queries | Recommended for AI-assisted development || **EVM Tooling** | Hardhat, Foundry, or Remix for Solidity development on Flow | Only for EVM/Solidity development |## Navigation Map| Task | Reference ||------|-----------|| Install Flow CLI (brew, script, Windows), verify, upgrade | [flow-cli.md](references/flow-cli.md) || Start and configure the Flow Emulator (ports, persistence, fork mode) | [emulator.md](references/emulator.md) || Install Cadence VS Code extension for editor support | [vscode-extension.md](references/vscode-extension.md) || Set up testing framework, run tests, coverage, fork testing | [testing.md](references/testing.md) || Set up dev wallet for local frontend auth testing | [dev-wallet.md](references/dev-wallet.md) || Install FCL or React SDK for frontend integration | [frontend-sdk.md](references/frontend-sdk.md) || Set up Cadence MCP server for AI-assisted development | [cadence-mcp.md](references/cadence-mcp.md) || Set up Hardhat, Foundry, or Remix for Solidity on Flow EVM | [evm-tooling.md](references/evm-tooling.md) |## Typical Setup OrderFor most Cadence projects: **Flow CLI** → **Emulator** → **VS Code Extension** → **Cadence MCP** → **Testing**.Add **Dev Wallet** + **Frontend SDK** when building a frontend. Add **EVM Tooling** only for Solidity work.

Frequently asked questions