skills

name	skills
description	Create, install, and manage agent skills to extend capabilities
trigger	on-demand

Skill Management

Create, install, and manage skills that extend agent capabilities.

IMPORTANT: Use Dedicated Skill Tools

NEVER create skills with bash commands (mkdir, echo, etc.)

Use the dedicated skill tools — they handle directory creation, SKILL.md generation, and database setup:

Tool	Description
skill_init	Create a new skill
skill_edit	Edit skill instructions
skill_add_script	Add a script to a skill
skill_list	List all installed skills
skill_test	Test a skill
skill_install	Install from ClawHub, GitHub URL, or local path
skill_defaults_list	List bundled default skills
skill_defaults_install	Install bundled defaults
skill_remove	Remove an installed skill
get_skill_instructions	Load full instructions for a skill

Communication Guidelines

When creating skills for users:

1. NEVER show technical tool syntax in chat responses
2. ALWAYS ask: "Do you want this skill to have a database for storing structured data (contacts, tasks, etc.)?"
3. Explain the options:
   • With database: persistent data, structured queries, ideal for CRM, tasks, contacts
   • Without database: uses memory/vault, ideal for API integrations, automations

Architecture

                      Agent Context
                           |
        +------------------+------------------+
        |                  |                  |
        v                  v                  v
+---------------+  +---------------+  +---------------+
|   CREATE      |  |   DISCOVER    |  |   MANAGE      |
+---------------+  +---------------+  +---------------+
| skill_init    |  | skill_install |  | skill_list    |
| skill_edit    |  | skill_        |  | skill_test    |
| skill_add_    |  |  defaults_    |  | skill_remove  |
|  script       |  |  list/install |  |               |
+---------------+  +---------------+  +---------------+

Skill Structure

./skills/my-skill/           # Skills are created in the project's skills/ directory
  SKILL.md                   # Instructions for the agent
    ---
    name: my-skill
    description: "What this skill does"
    trigger: automatic
    ---
    # Markdown content
  scripts/                   # Executable scripts (optional)
  references/                # Reference docs (optional)

Database Tools

Tool	Action	Description
skill_db_create_table	Create	Create a table for storing data
skill_db_insert	Create	Insert a new record
skill_db_query	Read	Query records with filters
skill_db_update	Update	Update a record by ID
skill_db_delete	Delete	Delete a record by ID
skill_db_list_tables	Read	List tables for a skill
skill_db_describe	Read	View table structure
skill_db_drop_table	Delete	Permanently drop a table

Creating Skills

Initialize

skill_init(name="my-api-client", description="Interact with MyAPI service")

Initialize with Database

skill_init(
    name="crm",
    description="Contact and lead management",
    with_database=true,
    database_table="contacts",
    database_schema={
        "name": "TEXT NOT NULL",
        "email": "TEXT",
        "phone": "TEXT",
        "status": "TEXT DEFAULT 'novo'"
    }
)

When with_database=true, the skill automatically gets a database table for storing structured data. The SKILL.md includes usage instructions for skill_db_* tools.

Edit Instructions

skill_edit(name="my-api-client", content="# MyAPI Client\n\n## Authentication\nUse vault(action=get, name='MYAPI_KEY')")

Add Script

skill_add_script(skill_name="my-api-client", script_name="fetch_users", content='#!/bin/bash\n...')

Test

skill_test(name="my-api-client", input="fetch all users")

Installing Skills

From ClawHub or GitHub

skill_install(source="github-integration")
skill_install(source="https://github.com/user/skill-repo")

Bundled Defaults

skill_defaults_list()
skill_defaults_install(names=["github", "jira"])
skill_defaults_install(names=["all"])

Managing Skills

List

skill_list()

Remove

skill_remove(name="old-skill")

Common Patterns

Create Custom Integration

# 1. Initialize
skill_init(name="company-api", description="CompanyAPI client")

# 2. Add instructions
skill_edit(name="company-api", content="# CompanyAPI\n\nUse vault(action=get, name='COMPANY_API_KEY')")

# 3. Add script
skill_add_script(skill_name="company-api", script_name="get_employee", content='...')

# 4. Test
skill_test(name="company-api", input="get employee 123")

Create Skill with Database (CRM Example)

# 1. Initialize with database
skill_init(
    name="crm",
    description="Customer relationship management",
    with_database=true,
    database_table="contacts",
    database_schema={
        "name": "TEXT NOT NULL",
        "email": "TEXT",
        "company": "TEXT",
        "status": "TEXT DEFAULT 'lead'"
    }
)

# 2. Use the database
skill_db_insert(skill_name="crm", table_name="contacts", data={
    "name": "John Smith",
    "email": "[e-mail]"
})

# 3. Query data
skill_db_query(skill_name="crm", table_name="contacts", where={"status": "lead"})

Tips

• Use descriptive names
• Test after creation
• Use vault for secrets in scripts
• Keep skills focused
• Use with_database=true for skills that need to store data
• Query with filters to avoid loading all data

Related Skills

• skill-db - Database system for storing structured data in skills

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Correct Approach
Hardcoding API keys	Use vault(action=get) in scripts
Vague description	Be specific about capabilities
Not testing	Always skill_test(name=..., input=...) after creation