template-skill

name	template-skill
description	A starter template for creating new Claude Skills with best practices and example structure

Template Skill

This is a starter template for building your own Claude Skills. Use this as a foundation for creating custom tools that extend Claude's capabilities.

Purpose

This skill demonstrates the proper structure and format for Claude Skills, including:

• YAML frontmatter with required metadata
• Clear instructions and guidelines
• Example usage patterns
• Helper scripts and resources
• Best practices for skill development

When to Use

Use this skill as a reference when:

• Creating a new custom skill for your workflow
• Learning about skill structure and organization
• Understanding how to bundle resources and documentation
• Building skills for team collaboration

Key Features

1. Well-Organized Structure - Follows the recommended directory layout with clear separation of concerns
2. Progressive Disclosure - Bundles helper scripts and documentation that Claude loads as needed
3. Example Usage - Provides concrete examples of how the skill should be invoked
4. Flexible and Extensible - Easily customize for your specific use case

Directory Structure

template-skill/
├── SKILL.md                 # Main skill definition (this file)
├── scripts/
│   ├── helper.py           # Python helper script
│   └── utilities.sh         # Bash utilities
├── references/
│   └── best-practices.md    # Supporting documentation
└── assets/
    ├── templates/          # Template files
    └── examples/           # Example data

Instructions

When you activate this skill, Claude will:

1. Follow the guidelines outlined below
2. Use helper scripts from the scripts/ directory when appropriate
3. Reference documentation from the references/ directory for detailed information
4. Apply templates from the assets/ directory to structure outputs
5. Provide clear examples based on the patterns demonstrated here

Guidelines

• Keep your SKILL.md file concise (under 5,000 words) to avoid overwhelming Claude's context window
• Use progressive disclosure - provide basic instructions in SKILL.md and detailed docs in separate files
• Include concrete examples and expected outputs to clarify your intent
• Organize helper files logically in subdirectories (scripts/, references/, assets/)
• Document any dependencies or prerequisites clearly
• Make skills modular and composable with other skills

Examples

Example 1: Basic Invocation

When you want to use this skill, simply activate it and describe your task:

Activate the template-skill and help me create a new custom skill for handling batch data processing.

Example 2: With Specific Parameters

Use the template-skill to generate a skill that integrates with our internal API and follows our team's coding standards.

Example 3: Extending the Template

Based on the template-skill structure, help me create a skill that automates our documentation workflow.

Helper Resources

This skill includes the following helper files:

• scripts/helper.py - Python utilities for common tasks
• scripts/utilities.sh - Bash functions for file and text processing
• references/best-practices.md - Detailed guidelines for skill development
• assets/templates/ - Ready-to-use templates for common skill patterns
• assets/examples/ - Real-world examples of well-structured skills

Tips for Creating Your Own Skill

1. Start with a clear purpose - Define what problem your skill solves
2. Keep instructions concise - Users should understand your skill in seconds
3. Provide examples - Show concrete use cases and expected outputs
4. Organize resources - Use subdirectories (scripts/, references/, assets/) to stay organized
5. Test thoroughly - Verify that Claude correctly interprets your skill instructions
6. Document dependencies - Clearly list any prerequisites or external tools required
7. Iterate based on feedback - Refine your skill based on how Claude uses it

Related Resources

• Claude Code Documentation: https://docs.claude.com/claude-code/skills
• Skill Authoring Best Practices: https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/agent-skills/best-practices
• Anthropic Skills Repository: https://github.com/anthropics/skills

Support

For questions about creating skills or issues with this template:

1. Review the guidelines and examples above
2. Check the supporting documentation in references/best-practices.md
3. Examine the helper scripts in the scripts/ directory
4. Consult the Anthropic skills repository for additional examples