example-skill

name	example-skill
description	A short, retrievable description used for BM25/keyword matching.
when_to_use	List the kinds of tasks this skill fits (one line or short list).
agents	["*"]

Example skill

This file demonstrates the folder skill shape (a directory containing a SKILL.md). Use a folder skill when your recipe ships reference material — extra docs, example scripts, fixtures.

Duplicate this directory under a real name (e.g. skills/deseq2-r/) and edit. The directory name becomes the skill id unless the name: frontmatter overrides it.

Body

The body is what the agent reads when this skill is pulled into a turn. Keep it focused — one procedure per skill, not three. Cross-link to reference material via @references/<file>:

See @references/conventions.md for the lab-standard color palette.

The agent will inline the contents of references/conventions.md at turn time when it reads this skill.

Subdirectories

skills/example-skill/
├── SKILL.md           ← this file (the entry point)
├── references/        ← supporting docs (resolved via @)
│   └── conventions.md
└── scripts/           ← optional code the agent may run
    └── helper.R

ABA discovers folder skills by looking for <dir>/SKILL.md. Anything else in the directory is just there for the skill's body to reference.

Frontmatter fields explained

• name: canonical id (default: folder name). Use kebab-case.
• description: 1-line summary used for retrieval. Make it specific.
• when_to_use: example task patterns; helps the agent decide not to pull the wrong skill.
• agents: which agents see this skill. ["*"] = all, ["aba"] = ABA only, ["claude-code"] = CC only, omitted = all.

Flat vs folder

A flat skill (skills/<name>.md) is the same idea without the directory. Use flat skills when there's no reference material; the file is self-contained.

For an example flat skill, see skills/flat-example.md.