skill-creator
Guide for creating effective skills. Use when creating a new skill or updating an existing skill that extends Claude's capabilities with specialized knowledge, workflows, or tool integrations.
Installation
Follow the repository instructions for this skill and your agent. Review the files and dependencies before adding it to your workflow.
View source ↗GuidesSkill instructions
Skill Creator
Create modular, self-contained packages that extend AI capabilities with specialized knowledge and workflows.
Core Principles
Concise is Key
Challenge each piece: "Does Claude really need this?" Prefer concise examples over verbose explanations.
Progressive Disclosure
- Metadata (~100 words) - Always loaded
- SKILL.md body (<500 lines) - When triggered
- Bundled resources - As needed
Skill Structure
skill-name/
├── SKILL.md (required)
│ ├── YAML frontmatter (name, description)
│ └── Markdown instructions
└── Bundled Resources (optional)
├── scripts/ - Executable code
├── references/ - Documentation
└── assets/ - Templates, icons
SKILL.md Format
---
name: my-skill
description: What it does AND when to use it (critical for triggering)
---
# Title
[Core instructions - imperative form]
## Sections as needed
Best Practices
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Clear, comprehensive description | Vague one-liner |
| Imperative form ("Create", "Run") | Passive voice |
| Concise examples | Verbose explanations |
| Reference files for details | Everything in SKILL.md |
| Test scripts by running them | Assume they work |
What NOT to Include
- README.md, CHANGELOG.md, INSTALLATION.md
- User-facing documentation
- Setup/testing procedures
Creation Process
- Understand - Get concrete usage examples
- Plan - Identify reusable scripts/references/assets
- Initialize - Create skill directory with SKILL.md
- Edit - Implement resources, write instructions
- Test - Verify with real usage
- Iterate - Refine based on feedback
Examples
Read the usage examples in the source repository.
View source ↗Source history
- Indexed on
- 2026-01-20
- Index updated
- 2026-02-02
- Branch
- main
Index and sync dates describe this directory. View the source repository for code history.
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