| name | skill-authoring |
| description | Creates and structures SKILL.md files for AI coding agents, including YAML frontmatter, trigger phrases, directive instructions, decision trees, code examples, and verification checklists. Use when the user asks to write a new skill, create a skill file, author agent capabilities, generate skill documentation, or define a skill template for Claude Code agents. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| triggers | ["write a skill","create skill","author skill","skill template","how to write skills"] |
| tags | ["meta","authoring","skills","writing"] |
| difficulty | intermediate |
| estimatedTime | 20 |
| relatedSkills | [] |
Skill Authoring Guide
You are authoring a SKILL.md for an AI coding agent. A well-written skill provides clear, actionable guidance that agents can follow consistently.
Core Principle
A skill's description triggers it; the body teaches it.
The description tells the agent WHEN to use the skill. The content tells the agent HOW to execute it.
Skill Anatomy
SKILL.md Structure
---
name: [lowercase-hyphenated-name]
description: [Concrete actions + "Use when..." clause]
version: [Semantic version]
triggers:
- [keyword 1]
- [keyword 2]
tags:
- [tag 1]
---
# [Skill Title]
[Introduction paragraph explaining purpose]
## Core Principle
**[Single most important rule in bold]**
## [Main Content Sections]
## [Decision Points]
## [Verification Checklist]
Frontmatter Fields
| Field | Required | Constraints |
|---|
| name | Yes | Lowercase alphanumeric + hyphens, 1–64 chars |
| description | Yes | Must include "Use when..." clause; 1–1024 chars |
| version | Yes | Semantic version (e.g. 1.0.0) |
| triggers | Recommended | Natural-language phrases that activate the skill |
| tags | Recommended | Categorization tags |
Writing Effective Triggers
Triggers should be phrases users naturally type.
Good triggers:
- "write tests first"
- "tdd"
- "test driven development"
Bad triggers:
- "testing methodology" (too vague)
- "red-green-refactor-cycle-for-test-driven-development" (too specific)
- "skill-123" (not natural language)
Trigger Guidelines
- Natural language — How would a human ask for this?
- Multiple variations — Different ways to say the same thing
