Guide: Getting Started with Claude Code Skills

Claude Code skills are instruction files that specialize Claude in a specific domain. This guide walks you through installation to daily usage.

What is a Skill?

A skill is a Markdown file (typically SKILL.md) containing structured instructions for Claude Code. It can include:

• A name and description for identification
• Trigger rules (when Claude should use it)
• Detailed instructions (how Claude should behave)
• Examples of use cases

Installation

Method 1: Via the Skills Guides Catalog

1. Browse our skills catalog
2. Find the skill you're interested in
3. Click "Install" and follow the instructions

Method 2: From GitHub

# Clone the skill into your project
curl -o .claude/skills/skill-name.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/user/repo/main/SKILL.md

Method 3: Write Your Own Skill

Create a file .claude/skills/my-skill.md with the following structure:

---
name: My Skill
description: Short description of what the skill does
platforms: [claude-code]
difficulty: beginner
tags: [my-tag]
---

# My Skill

Detailed instructions for Claude...

Structure of a Good Skill

The Frontmatter (YAML Header)

---
name: Skill Name
description: When and why to use this skill
platforms: [claude-code, cursor]
difficulty: beginner | intermediate | advanced
tags: [tag1, tag2]
---

The Content

A good skill follows this structure:

1. Objective: What does this skill do?
2. Trigger: When should Claude use it?
3. Instructions: The rules to follow
4. Examples: Concrete cases
5. Anti-patterns: What NOT to do

Best Practices

Be Specific

❌ "Write good code" ✅ "Use descriptive variable names, prefer pure functions, and add TypeScript types"

Give Examples

❌ "Format commits correctly" ✅ "Format: type(scope): description — Example: feat(auth): add OAuth2 login flow"

Define Boundaries

Tell Claude what NOT to do as much as what to do.

Recommended Skills for Beginners

1. Playwright Skill — If you write tests
2. Frontend Design — If you do frontend
3. Git Workflow Automation — For everyone
4. SEO Content Optimizer — If you create web content

Resources

• Complete skills catalog
• Official Claude Code documentation
• GitHub: awesome-claude-skills