create-skill

name	create-skill
description	Create new Agent Skills for this project. Use when asked to create a skill, document a workflow, or teach Copilot a new capability. Skills are stored in .github/skills/ and can include instructions, scripts, examples, and resources.

Skill: Creating Agent Skills

This skill teaches how to create Agent Skills for this project following the VS Code Agent Skills standard.

What Are Agent Skills?

Agent Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that AI agents (Copilot, Claude, etc.) can load when relevant to perform specialized tasks. They are:

• Portable: Work across VS Code, Copilot CLI, and GitHub Copilot coding agent
• On-demand: Only loaded when relevant to the current task
• Composable: Multiple skills can work together
• Resource-rich: Can include scripts, examples, templates, and documentation

When to Create a Skill

Create a skill when you need to:

• Document a repeatable workflow or process
• Teach domain-specific knowledge that applies to multiple tasks
• Provide scripts, templates, or examples for common operations
• Define specialized capabilities that go beyond coding standards

Don't create a skill when you just need:

• Coding standards or style guidelines → Use custom instructions instead
• One-time documentation → Use regular markdown files
• File-specific rules → Use glob-based instructions

Skill Directory Structure

.github/skills/
└── your-skill-name/
    ├── SKILL.md           # Required: Skill definition
    ├── script.sh          # Optional: Helper scripts
    ├── template.ts        # Optional: Code templates
    └── examples/          # Optional: Example files
        └── example-1.md

SKILL.md Format

Every skill must have a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter:

---
name: skill-name
description: Clear description of what the skill does and when to use it
---

# Skill Title

Detailed instructions, guidelines, and examples...

Frontmatter Fields

Field	Required	Description
name	Yes	Unique identifier, lowercase with hyphens (max 64 chars)
description	Yes	What it does and when to use it (max 1024 chars)

Writing Effective Descriptions

The description determines when Copilot loads your skill. Be specific about:

• What the skill accomplishes
• When it should be used (triggers)
• What kind of tasks it helps with

Adding a New Skill

1. Create directory: .github/skills/your-skill-name/
2. Create SKILL.md with frontmatter and instructions
3. Add any supporting files (scripts, templates, examples)
4. Test by asking Copilot a question the skill should handle
5. Verify the skill was loaded (check if instructions were followed)

Best Practices

Do

• Write clear, specific descriptions that trigger on relevant prompts
• Include concrete examples with code
• Reference external files for large templates or scripts
• Document common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Keep instructions actionable and step-by-step

Don't

• Make descriptions too vague or too broad
• Duplicate content already in custom instructions
• Include huge code blocks (use external files instead)
• Forget to document when NOT to use the skill
• Create skills for one-off tasks