diff --git a/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh b/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh
index 45c7727..522dd7c 100755
--- a/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh
+++ b/hooks-handlers/session-start.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ build_context() {
     if [[ "$(buddymon_starter_chosen)" == "false" ]]; then
         ctx="## 🐾 Buddymon — First Encounter!\n\n"
         ctx+="Thrumble here! You don't have a Buddymon yet. Three starters are waiting.\n\n"
-        ctx+='Run `/buddymon-start` to choose your starter and begin collecting!\n\n'
+        ctx+='Run `/buddymon start` to choose your starter and begin collecting!\n\n'
         ctx+='**Starters available:** 🔥 Pyrobyte (Speedrunner) · 🔍 Debuglin (Tester) · ✂️  Minimox (Cleaner)'
         echo "${ctx}"
         return
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ build_context() {
     # ── No buddy assigned to this session ─────────────────────────────────
     if [[ -z "${ACTIVE_ID}" ]]; then
         ctx="## 🐾 Buddymon\n\n"
-        ctx+="No buddy assigned to this session. Run \`/buddymon-assign <name>\` to assign one.\n"
-        ctx+="Run \`/buddymon\` to see your roster."
+        ctx+="No buddy assigned to this session. Run \`/buddymon assign <name>\` to assign one.\n"
+        ctx+="Run \`/buddymon roster\` to see your roster."
         echo "${ctx}"
         return
     fi
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fc9947e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Buddymon install script
+# Registers the plugin with Claude Code via symlink (dev-friendly — edits are live).
+#
+# Usage:
+#   bash install.sh          # install
+#   bash install.sh --uninstall  # remove
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PLUGIN_NAME="buddymon"
+MARKETPLACE="local"
+VERSION="0.1.0"
+REPO_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+
+PLUGINS_DIR="${HOME}/.claude/plugins"
+CACHE_DIR="${PLUGINS_DIR}/cache/${MARKETPLACE}/${PLUGIN_NAME}/${VERSION}"
+INSTALLED_FILE="${PLUGINS_DIR}/installed_plugins.json"
+SETTINGS_FILE="${HOME}/.claude/settings.json"
+PLUGIN_KEY="${PLUGIN_NAME}@${MARKETPLACE}"
+
+# ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+die() { echo "❌ $*" >&2; exit 1; }
+info() { echo "   $*"; }
+ok() { echo "✓  $*"; }
+
+require_python3() {
+    python3 -c "import json" 2>/dev/null || die "python3 required"
+}
+
+json_get() {
+    python3 -c "
+import json, sys
+try:
+    d = json.load(open('$1'))
+    keys = '$2'.split('.')
+    for k in keys:
+        d = d[k] if isinstance(d, dict) else d[int(k)]
+    print(json.dumps(d) if isinstance(d, (dict,list)) else d)
+except (KeyError, IndexError, FileNotFoundError):
+    print('')
+" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+# ── Uninstall ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+uninstall() {
+    echo "🗑  Uninstalling ${PLUGIN_KEY}..."
+
+    # Remove symlink / dir from cache
+    if [[ -L "${CACHE_DIR}" ]] || [[ -d "${CACHE_DIR}" ]]; then
+        rm -rf "${CACHE_DIR}"
+        ok "Removed cache entry"
+    fi
+
+    # Remove from installed_plugins.json
+    if [[ -f "${INSTALLED_FILE}" ]]; then
+        python3 << PYEOF
+import json
+f = '${INSTALLED_FILE}'
+d = json.load(open(f))
+key = '${PLUGIN_KEY}'
+if key in d.get('plugins', {}):
+    del d['plugins'][key]
+    json.dump(d, open(f, 'w'), indent=2)
+    print("   Removed from installed_plugins.json")
+PYEOF
+    fi
+
+    # Remove from settings.json enabledPlugins
+    if [[ -f "${SETTINGS_FILE}" ]]; then
+        python3 << PYEOF
+import json
+f = '${SETTINGS_FILE}'
+d = json.load(open(f))
+key = '${PLUGIN_KEY}'
+if key in d.get('enabledPlugins', {}):
+    del d['enabledPlugins'][key]
+    json.dump(d, open(f, 'w'), indent=2)
+    print("   Removed from enabledPlugins")
+PYEOF
+    fi
+
+    echo ""
+    echo "✓  ${PLUGIN_KEY} uninstalled. Restart Claude Code to apply."
+}
+
+# ── Install ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+install() {
+    echo "🐾 Installing ${PLUGIN_KEY}..."
+    echo ""
+
+    require_python3
+
+    # Validate plugin structure
+    [[ -f "${REPO_DIR}/.claude-plugin/plugin.json" ]] \
+        || die "Missing .claude-plugin/plugin.json — run from the buddymon repo root"
+    [[ -f "${REPO_DIR}/hooks/hooks.json" ]] \
+        || die "Missing hooks/hooks.json"
+
+    # Create cache parent dir
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "${CACHE_DIR}")"
+
+    # Symlink repo into cache (idempotent)
+    if [[ -L "${CACHE_DIR}" ]]; then
+        existing=$(readlink "${CACHE_DIR}")
+        if [[ "${existing}" == "${REPO_DIR}" ]]; then
+            info "Cache symlink already points to ${REPO_DIR}"
+        else
+            rm "${CACHE_DIR}"
+            ln -s "${REPO_DIR}" "${CACHE_DIR}"
+            ok "Updated cache symlink → ${REPO_DIR}"
+        fi
+    elif [[ -d "${CACHE_DIR}" ]]; then
+        die "${CACHE_DIR} exists as a real directory. Remove it first or run --uninstall."
+    else
+        ln -s "${REPO_DIR}" "${CACHE_DIR}"
+        ok "Created cache symlink → ${REPO_DIR}"
+    fi
+
+    # Register in installed_plugins.json
+    python3 << PYEOF
+import json, os
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+f = '${INSTALLED_FILE}'
+try:
+    d = json.load(open(f))
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    d = {"version": 2, "plugins": {}}
+
+key = '${PLUGIN_KEY}'
+now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.000Z')
+
+d.setdefault('plugins', {})[key] = [{
+    "scope": "user",
+    "installPath": '${CACHE_DIR}',
+    "version": '${VERSION}',
+    "installedAt": now,
+    "lastUpdated": now,
+    "gitCommitSha": "local",
+}]
+
+json.dump(d, open(f, 'w'), indent=2)
+print("   Registered in installed_plugins.json")
+PYEOF
+
+    # Enable in settings.json
+    python3 << PYEOF
+import json, os
+
+f = '${SETTINGS_FILE}'
+try:
+    d = json.load(open(f))
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    d = {}
+
+key = '${PLUGIN_KEY}'
+d.setdefault('enabledPlugins', {})[key] = True
+json.dump(d, open(f, 'w'), indent=2)
+print("   Enabled in settings.json")
+PYEOF
+
+    # Init state dir
+    BUDDYMON_DIR="${HOME}/.claude/buddymon"
+    mkdir -p "${BUDDYMON_DIR}"
+    ok "Created ${BUDDYMON_DIR}/"
+
+    # Write initial state files if missing
+    python3 << PYEOF
+import json, os
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+d = os.path.expanduser('~/.claude/buddymon')
+now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')
+
+files = {
+    'roster.json': {"_version": 1, "owned": {}, "starter_chosen": False},
+    'encounters.json': {"_version": 1, "history": [], "active_encounter": None},
+    'active.json': {"_version": 1, "buddymon_id": None, "challenge": None, "session_xp": 0},
+    'session.json': {
+        "_version": 1, "started_at": now, "xp_earned": 0, "tools_used": 0,
+        "files_touched": [], "languages_seen": [], "errors_encountered": [],
+        "commits_this_session": 0, "challenge_accepted": False, "challenge_completed": False,
+    },
+}
+
+for name, default in files.items():
+    path = os.path.join(d, name)
+    if not os.path.exists(path):
+        json.dump(default, open(path, 'w'), indent=2)
+        print(f"   Created {name}")
+    else:
+        print(f"   {name} already exists — kept")
+PYEOF
+
+    echo ""
+    echo "✓  ${PLUGIN_KEY} installed!"
+    echo ""
+    echo "   Restart Claude Code, then run: /buddymon start"
+    echo ""
+    echo "   State: ~/.claude/buddymon/"
+    echo "   Logs:  hooks write to ~/.claude/buddymon/ JSON — inspect anytime"
+    echo ""
+    echo "   To uninstall: bash ${REPO_DIR}/install.sh --uninstall"
+}
+
+# ── Entry point ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+case "${1:-}" in
+    --uninstall|-u) uninstall ;;
+    --help|-h)
+        echo "Usage: bash install.sh [--uninstall]"
+        echo ""
+        echo "  (no args)    Install buddymon plugin (symlink, dev-friendly)"
+        echo "  --uninstall  Remove plugin and clean up settings"
+        ;;
+    *) install ;;
+esac