| description | Install, find, update, and manage agent skills. Use when the user wants to add a new skill, search for skills that do something, check if skills are up to date, or update existing skills. Triggers on: install skill, add skill, get skill, find skill, search skill, update skill, check skills, list skills. |
| metadata | {"github-path":"skills/managing-skills","github-ref":"refs/tags/v1.0.0","github-repo":"https://github.com/recallnet/recall-skills","github-tree-sha":"224639ab8ad639eb115b148f379faa03fb323acd"} |
| name | managing-skills |
Manage agent skills via the `npx skills` CLI. Handle installing skills from GitHub repos, searching for available skills, checking for updates, and updating installed skills.
<quick_start>
Determine which operation the user wants and run the appropriate command. Always include --yes to skip confirmations. Default to project-level install and the current agent type unless told otherwise.
Primary commands:
npx skills add {source} --yes --agent {agent-type}
npx skills find {keyword} --yes
npx skills check --yes
npx skills update --yes
npx skills add --list --yes
</quick_start>
Detect the agent you are running as. Map to the correct `--agent` flag value.
You can see the list of avialable agents at https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-agents
If unsure, check for config directories (e.g., .claude/, .codex/, .cursor/, .pi).
Only include additional agent types if the user explicitly requests it (e.g., "install for all agents" or "also install for codex").
</agent_type>
<install_scope>
- Project (default): Installs to
./<agent>/skills/ in the current project.
- Global (
-g): Installs to ~/<agent>/skills/. Only use when the user says "global", "globally", or "for all projects".
</install_scope>
User says: install, add, get, set up a skill
1. Identify the skill source. Accepts:
- `owner/repo` — installs all skills from the repo
- Full GitHub/GitLab URL to a repo, directory, or SKILL.md file (e.g., `https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/skills/foo`)
- Local filesystem path
- Use `-s skill-name` to cherry-pick a specific skill by name from a multi-skill repo
2. Determine scope: project (default) or global (`-g`).
3. Determine agent type(s) to target.
4. Run:
```bash
npx skills add {source} --yes --agent {agent-type}
```
Add `-g` if global. Add multiple `--agent` flags if targeting multiple agents.
"Install the recallnet/recall-skills skills" →
`npx skills add recallnet/recall-skills --yes --agent claude-code`
"Install just the recall-commit skill from that repo" →
npx skills add recallnet/recall-skills --yes -s recall-commit --agent claude-code
"Install this skill: github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/skills/foo" →
npx skills add https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/skills/foo --yes --agent claude-code
"Globally install foo/bar for all agents" →
npx skills add foo/bar --yes -g --all
"Install a private skill from our org's GitHub repo" →
npx skills add git@github.com:recallnet/recall-skills.git --yes --agent pi
User says: find, search, discover, look for, browse skills
1. If user gave a keyword, pass it directly.
2. Run:
```bash
npx skills find {keyword} --yes
```
3. Present results to the user. If they pick one, follow the install operation.
User says: check for updates, are my skills up to date
Run:
```bash
npx skills check --yes
```
Report which skills have updates available. Offer to update if any are found.
User says: update skills, upgrade skills
Run:
```bash
npx skills update --yes
```
Report what was updated.
User says: list skills, show installed skills, what skills do I have
Run:
```bash
npx skills add --list --yes
```
- Always use `--yes` to skip confirmation prompts.
- Default to project scope unless the user explicitly says global.
- Default to the current agent type only. Add others only if the user asks.
- If a command fails, show the error output and suggest fixes (e.g., check the source URL, network).
- If attempting to install from a private repo, always use the git path (e.g., `git@github.com:recallnet/recall-skills.git`).
- After installing, confirm success and mention where the skill was installed.
<success_criteria>
- The requested skill operation completed successfully.
- Output was shown to the user confirming what happened.
- Scope and agent targeting matched user intent (project/global, correct agent).
</success_criteria>
