Create a New Agent Skill

Create a new Agent Skill for specialized tasks.

Arguments

$ARGUMENTS should contain: <skill-name> [description]

What is a Skill?

A Skill is a folder containing:

• SKILL.md - Main instructions with YAML frontmatter
• Optional scripts and resources
• Optional reference documentation

Skills use progressive disclosure: only the name and description are loaded initially. The full skill content is loaded when relevant.

Skill Creation Process

Step 1: Gather Information

Ask the user:

1. Skill name: Short, descriptive (e.g., "pdf-forms", "api-testing")
2. Purpose: What task does this skill help with?
3. When to use: What triggers should activate this skill?
4. Required tools: Any external dependencies?

Step 2: Create Skill Directory

skills/<skill-name>/
├── SKILL.md           # Main skill file
├── scripts/           # Optional helper scripts
│   └── helper.py
└── resources/         # Optional templates/examples
    └── template.md

Step 3: Generate SKILL.md

Create with this structure:

---
name: <skill-name>
description: <brief one-line description for discovery>
---

# <Skill Name>

## When to Use This Skill

<Clear description of when Claude should activate this skill>

## Prerequisites

<List any required tools, dependencies, or setup>

## Instructions

### Step 1: <First Step>
<Detailed instructions>

### Step 2: <Second Step>
<Detailed instructions>

...

## Reference Files

<Point to any additional documentation or scripts>

## Examples

### Example 1: <Common Use Case>
<Input/output examples>

## Verification

<How to verify the skill worked correctly>

Step 4: Progressive Disclosure Tips

Structure the SKILL.md for progressive disclosure:

1. Top section: Most commonly needed info
2. Middle sections: Detailed procedures
3. Bottom sections: Edge cases and examples
4. Separate files: Rarely-used reference material

Step 5: Test the Skill

1. Simulate a task that should trigger the skill
2. Verify Claude loads the skill appropriately
3. Check that instructions are clear and complete
4. Iterate based on observed behavior

Skill Best Practices

1. Keep it focused: One skill = one capability
2. Be specific: Clear trigger conditions
3. Include verification: How to check success
4. Use code wisely: Scripts can be tools OR documentation
5. Think from Claude's perspective: What info does Claude need?

Output

Create the skill directory and files, then provide:

• Summary of what was created
• How to test the skill
• Suggestions for improvement