Guide users through creating Agent Skills for Claude Code. Use when the user wants to create, write, author, or design a new Skill, or needs help with SKILL.md files, frontmatter, or skill structure.
npxskills add pytorch/pytorch--skill skill-writerLoading…
This Skill helps you create well-structured Agent Skills for Claude Code that follow best practices and validation requirements.
Use this Skill when:
First, understand what the Skill should do:
Ask clarifying questions:
Keep it focused: One Skill = one capability
Determine where to create the Skill:
Personal Skills (~/.claude/skills/):
Project Skills (.claude/skills/):
Create the directory and files:
# Personal
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/skill-name
# Project
mkdir -p .claude/skills/skill-name
For multi-file Skills:
skill-name/
├── SKILL.md (required)
├── reference.md (optional)
├── examples.md (optional)
├── scripts/
│ └── helper.py (optional)
└── templates/
└── template.txt (optional)
Create YAML frontmatter with required fields:
---
name: skill-name
description: Brief description of what this does and when to use it
---
Field requirements:
name:
pdf-processor, git-commit-helperPDF_Processor, Git Commits!description:
Optional frontmatter fields:
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob
The description is critical for Claude to discover your Skill.
Formula: [What it does] + [When to use it] + [Key triggers]
Examples:
✅ Good:
description: Extract text and tables from PDF files, fill forms, merge documents. Use when working with PDF files or when the user mentions PDFs, forms, or document extraction.
✅ Good:
description: Analyze Excel spreadsheets, create pivot tables, and generate charts. Use when working with Excel files, spreadsheets, or analyzing tabular data in .xlsx format.
❌ Too vague:
description: Helps with documents
description: For data analysis
Tips:
Use clear Markdown sections:
# Skill Name
Brief overview of what this Skill does.
## Quick start
Provide a simple example to get started immediately.
## Instructions
Step-by-step guidance for Claude:
1. First step with clear action
2. Second step with expected outcome
3. Handle edge cases
## Examples
Show concrete usage examples with code or commands.
## Best practices
- Key conventions to follow
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- When to use vs. not use
## Requirements
List any dependencies or prerequisites:
```bash
pip install package-name
For complex scenarios, see reference.md.
### Step 7: Add supporting files (optional)
Create additional files for progressive disclosure:
**reference.md**: Detailed API docs, advanced options
**examples.md**: Extended examples and use cases
**scripts/**: Helper scripts and utilities
**templates/**: File templates or boilerplate
Reference them from SKILL.md:
```markdown
For advanced usage, see [reference.md](reference.md).
Run the helper script:
\`\`\`bash
python scripts/helper.py input.txt
\`\`\`
Check these requirements:
✅ File structure:
name✅ YAML frontmatter:
--- on line 1--- before contentname follows naming rulesdescription is specific and < 1024 chars✅ Content quality:
✅ Testing:
Restart Claude Code (if running) to load the Skill
Ask relevant questions that match the description:
Can you help me extract text from this PDF?
Verify activation: Claude should use the Skill automatically
Check behavior: Confirm Claude follows the instructions correctly
If Claude doesn't use the Skill:
Make description more specific:
Check file location:
ls ~/.claude/skills/skill-name/SKILL.md
ls .claude/skills/skill-name/SKILL.md
Validate YAML:
cat SKILL.md | head -n 10
Run debug mode:
claude --debug
---
name: code-reader
description: Read and analyze code without making changes. Use for code review, understanding codebases, or documentation.
allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob
---
---
name: data-processor
description: Process CSV and JSON data files with Python scripts. Use when analyzing data files or transforming datasets.
---
# Data Processor
## Instructions
1. Use the processing script:
\`\`\`bash
python scripts/process.py input.csv --output results.json
\`\`\`
2. Validate output with:
\`\`\`bash
python scripts/validate.py results.json
\`\`\`
---
name: api-designer
description: Design REST APIs following best practices. Use when creating API endpoints, designing routes, or planning API architecture.
---
# API Designer
Quick start: See [examples.md](examples.md)
Detailed reference: See [reference.md](reference.md)
## Instructions
1. Gather requirements
2. Design endpoints (see examples.md)
3. Document with OpenAPI spec
4. Review against best practices (see reference.md)
Before finalizing a Skill, verify:
Skill doesn't activate:
Multiple Skills conflict:
Skill has errors:
See the documentation for complete examples:
When creating a Skill, I will:
The result will be a complete, working Skill that follows all best practices and validation rules.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
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CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Create or update AgentSkills. Use when designing, structuring, or packaging skills with scripts, references, and assets.
Set up and use 1Password CLI (op). Use when installing the CLI, enabling desktop app integration, signing in (single or multi-account), or reading/injecting/running secrets via op.
CLI to manage emails via IMAP/SMTP. Use `himalaya` to list, read, write, reply, forward, search, and organize emails from the terminal. Supports multiple accounts and message composition with MML (MIME Meta Language).