Create log entries with timestamps

VerifiedSafe

Creates timestamped log entries to document discoveries, meetings, code reviews, articles, or significant events. Structures information with a summary, event type, sources, and tags, then saves the file to `docs/log/` with a date-based filename and descriptive slug.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
DocumentationBeginner
6/2/2026
Claude CodeCursorWindsurfCopilotCodex
#logging#documentation#note-taking#timestamps

Recommended for

Automated summary

Creates timestamped log entries for documenting discoveries, research findings, meetings, code reviews, and other significant events during development.

Strengths

  • Standardized structure with metadata (event type, sources, tags)
  • Automatic file naming based on date and a descriptive slug
  • Predefined event types covering common activities

Limitations

  • Requires a pre-existing `docs/log/` directory
  • Tags and sources are limited in number (10 tags, 5 sources)
  • Does not include automatic search or visualization features
When to use it

When you need to record a discovery, meeting, research, or any event that deserves a consistent, timestamped format.

When not to use it

For very short informal notes or when the project does not require structured event documentation.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score85/100

The skill only instructs creating structured Markdown log files in a docs/log/ directory. There are no commands for code execution, network access, destructive actions, or handling of secrets. It uses no external tools beyond file writing, which is a standard safe operation for documentation.

No concerns found

How this analysis is made

Examples

Log research findings
Log a research entry about comparing authentication frameworks. Use sources from https://example.com/auth-comparison and https://example.com/jwt-guide. Tags: authentication, security, oauth2.
Log meeting notes
Create a log entry for today's sprint planning meeting. Event type: meeting. Include tags: sprint, planning, team. Save it with a meaningful slug.
Log code review
Log a code review of the pull request #42. Event type: code review. Summary: Reviewed the new API endpoint implementation. Tags: api, code-review.

name: log description: Create log entries with timestamps. Use this when documenting discoveries, research findings, meetings, code reviews, articles, videos, or significant events during development.

Log Entry Skill

Instructions

When creating a log entry, follow these steps:

  1. Determine the event type - Choose from: deep dive, meeting, research, code, code review, article, video
  2. Write a summary - Create a brief, clear summary of the entry
  3. Gather sources - List relevant references, links, or sources (up to 5)
  4. Add tags - Tag the entry for easy discovery and organization (up to 10)
  5. Create the file - The file will be named with a date and reference slug: YYYY-MM-DD_reference-slug.md

Log Entry Structure

Log entries follow this format:

---
summary: A brief summary of the log entry
event_type: deep dive | meeting | research | code | code review | article | video
sources:
  - source1
  - source2
  - source3
  - source4
  - source5
tags:
  - tag1
  - tag2
  - tag3
  - tag4
  - tag5
  - tag6
  - tag7
  - tag8
  - tag9
  - tag10
---

[Your detailed entry content here]

Event Types

  • deep dive - In-depth exploration or analysis of a topic
  • meeting - Notes from meetings or discussions
  • research - Research findings or investigations
  • code - Code changes, implementations, or technical work
  • code review - Review notes and feedback on code changes
  • article - Summary of an article or blog post
  • video - Notes from a video or presentation

File Naming

Log entries are saved in docs/log/ with date and reference slug:

Format: YYYY-MM-DD_reference-slug.md

Examples:

  • 2025-12-30_authentication-research.md
  • 2025-12-30_meeting-notes.md
  • 2025-12-30_performance-review.md

The slug should be:

  • Lowercase
  • Hyphen-separated words
  • Descriptive and meaningful (e.g., auth-framework, performance-review, bug-investigation)

This format ensures chronological ordering while keeping entries discoverable by their descriptive slug.

Content Guidelines

After the YAML frontmatter, include:

  • Clear, concise description of the log entry
  • Key findings or decisions
  • Next steps if applicable
  • Related decisions or references to ADRs

Example

---
summary: Evaluated authentication frameworks for the project
event_type: research
sources:
  - https://example.com/auth-comparison
  - https://example.com/jwt-guide
  - https://example.com/oauth2-tutorial
tags:
  - authentication
  - security
  - framework-evaluation
  - oauth2
  - jwt
---

# Authentication Framework Research

Researched three main authentication approaches...

## Key Findings
- Option A provides the best developer experience
- Security model aligns with our requirements
- ...

## Next Steps
- Prototype with Option A
- Get team review

Template Reference

The project uses a standardized template located at docs/log/TEMPLATE.md for reference.

From the file to a first result

The download contains exactly the content displayed on this page. This copy may differ from the latest version in the source repository.

View the source and supporting files

This download contains SKILL.md only. Any scripts, references, templates and dependencies are not included. Get the required files from the source, preserving their directory structure, before continuing.

1. Download the file

Download SKILL.md

From the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md, or use the command below. This folder is for inspecting the skill before installation.

Command for macOS/Linux or WSL: requires a POSIX shell and curl. On Windows without WSL, use the download button and create the folder manually.

mkdir -p '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/download' --output '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md'

2. Check prerequisites

Read SKILL.md before using it. If it references scripts or external services, inspect them and prepare the required access in your test environment.

No recognized prerequisites section in this file. This does not mean it is self-contained: libraries, tools and access requirements may be mentioned elsewhere in the content or source repository.

The platforms on this page are catalog indications. The paths below follow tool documentation; they do not prove this skill has been run in those tools. No minimum tool version is confirmed for this listing.

3. Load the skill

After inspection, copy the complete folder into your project using one of the commands below, then open a new tool session. The command stops if a folder with the same name already exists: compare the files before replacing it.

Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/log' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw' '.claude/skills/log'

Cursor
test -f '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.cursor/skills' && test ! -e '.cursor/skills/log' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw' '.cursor/skills/log'

Codex
test -f '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.agents/skills' && test ! -e '.agents/skills/log' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw' '.agents/skills/log'

OpenSkills

OpenSkills must already be installed. The local install/read procedure is checked with OpenSkills 1.5.0, which requires Node.js ≥ 20.6.0. Catalog slugs are not resolved automatically.

Official OpenSkills installation
openskills install './.skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw'

openskills read 'create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw'

Reading should display the installed file content and its base directory. It does not run the skill or install its dependencies.

For an agent that reads AGENTS.md, then sync the index. This command changes AGENTS.md: review the diff before using it.

openskills sync

Manual method or another tool: attach SKILL.md to a conversation, or open it in an agent that can read files. Include any required supporting resources. No universal folder is recognized by every tool.

4. Try a first task

Use a short, synthetic input: an API endpoint, a small document or an interface brief. In a new conversation, attach the file or give the agent its path, then adapt this request:

Read .skill-downloads/create-log-entries-with-timestamps-mmlj2onw/SKILL.md and apply its instructions to this example: [describe a test input]. Identify any missing files, dependencies or access. Produce the result requested by the skill without inventing data or running unreviewed scripts.

Expected result: output matching the skill instructions, or a precise list of missing prerequisites. A read confirmation alone does not validate a first use. If an external resource is unavailable, that path remains untested.

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