name: skill-creator description: This skill guides creating Claude skills—modular packages that extend capabilities with specialized knowledge and workflows. Use when creating new skills, packaging skills for distribution, or understanding skill architecture.

Skill Creator

Overview

Skills are modular packages that extend Claude's capabilities with specialized knowledge, workflows, and tool integrations.

Skill Structure

my-skill/
├── SKILL.md          # Required - metadata and instructions
├── scripts/          # Optional - deterministic code
├── references/       # Optional - documentation loaded on-demand
└── assets/           # Optional - templates and boilerplate

SKILL.md Format

---
name: my-skill-name
description: Brief description and trigger conditions. "Use this skill when..."
allowed-tools: Tool1, Tool2  # Optional - restrict tool access
---

# Skill Name

## Instructions
Imperative instructions for Claude (not second person).

## Examples
Concrete usage examples.

Six-Step Creation Process

1. Understand - Gather concrete use cases and validate understanding
2. Plan - Identify scripts, references, and assets needed
3. Initialize - Create directory structure with SKILL.md
4. Develop - Write instructions in imperative form (1,500-2,000 words max)
5. Validate - Test skill triggers correctly
6. Iterate - Refine based on real-world usage

Progressive Disclosure Model

Skills use three-level loading:

1. Metadata (~100 words) - Always available
2. SKILL.md body - Loads when skill triggers
3. Resources - Load as needed

Writing Requirements

• Use imperative form: "To accomplish X, do Y" (not "You should...")
• Description uses third person: "This skill should be used when..."
• Keep SKILL.md between 1,500-2,000 words
• Move detailed content to references/ subdirectory

Resource Types

Plugin Integration

Skills auto-discover in plugin skills/ directories. No separate packaging needed—users receive skills when installing plugins.