Back to catalog / Skill authoring
Write and check an agent skill
Create a minimal discoverable skill in the open format and check its metadata and directory boundaries.
Goal
Create a clearly scoped skill directory discoverable by the intended agent.
Steps
- Read the target agent's skill root and loading rules; decide which agent this package serves. [agentskills-home]
- Choose a short unique directory name and create
SKILL.mdinside it. [agentskills-spec] - Add the required YAML
nameanddescription; write the triggering situations, boundaries, and procedural guidance in the body. [agentskills-spec] - Check that the frontmatter name matches the directory and the description identifies concrete tasks rather than broad topics. [agentskills-spec]
- Try one matching and one non-matching request through the discovery flow to assess activation. [agentskills-spec]
- Review commands, external access, and file permissions; do not run bundled scripts without separate approval. [agentskills-spec]
How to verify
List or trigger the installed skill in the target agent and confirm it activates only for a relevant task; record the product version tested.
Troubleshooting
If it is not discovered, check the root directory, frontmatter indentation, and support for the open format. Do not mask the issue by copying duplicate names.
Permissions
Prerequisites
- A text editor
- The target agent's skill discovery rules
Permissions
- Writes only to the chosen directory; does not install or run skill scripts
Limitations
Agents may implement different subsets; check the target product separately.
Pinned upstream source
- Repository
- agentskills/agentskills
- File path
- docs/specification.mdx
- Pinned commit
69ef37e9424c0a7ea9dd2293b559e43ec8176379- Source checked
- 2026-10-13 · Reviewed against the pinned upstream source
Repository metrics
These values describe the upstream repository, not popularity or likes for an individual skill or playbook.
- Stars
- Not collected
- Forks
- Not collected
- Observed at
- Not collected
No metrics snapshot is available yet.
License: Apache-2.0
Main topic
Take a coding Agent change from context to verification