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Create Skill

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alexandru
create-skill

Guide for creating effective agent skills. Use when users want to create a new skill (or update an existing skill) that extends agent capabilities with specialized knowledge, workflows, or tool integrations.

Overview

Publisheralexandru
Repositoryskills
Skill namecreate-skill
Stars
51
Forks
3
Bundled files
Instructions only
Links
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by alexandru on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Create Skill AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
    https://github.com/alexandru/skills/tree/main/skills/tools/create-skill
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/alexandru/skills.git /tmp/skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/skills/skills/tools/create-skill .claude/skills/create-skill
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Create Skill in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Create Skill on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Create Skill is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Adding a Reusable Skill

Reference: https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agents-and-tools/agent-skills/best-practices

Agent Skills are modular capabilities that extend an AI agent's functionality. Each Skill packages instructions, metadata, and optional resources (scripts, templates) that the agent uses automatically when relevant.

Core principles (keep SKILL.md lean)

  • Be concise: SKILL.md is loaded into context; every token competes with the user's request.
  • Assume the agent is smart: only add context it wouldn't already know.
  • Use progressive disclosure: keep detailed explanations and examples in references/*.md.

Naming + metadata

  • name must be lowercase, numbers, hyphens only; prefer a clear action or domain name.
  • description must be third-person, specific, and include "when to use".

Invocation and arguments

  • Skills run in many harnesses: never assume an invocation syntax ("supplied after /command") or $ARGUMENTS substitution in the body. Where a harness injects arguments, its own configuration does it (e.g. an OpenCode command wrapper), not the skill.
  • Read the scope from the user's request, and define a default for when none is given.
  • Frontmatter beyond the portable core (name, description, and disable-model-invocation for user-invoked skills) is allowed only when inert elsewhere: harness-specific extras such as Claude Code's argument-hint are ignored by harnesses that don't support them, and the body must never depend on them.

Structure

  • skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md contains quick start, workflow, rules, and pointers to references.
  • skills/<skill-name>/references/*.md holds extended explanations and examples.
  • Keep references one level deep from SKILL.md (no nested references).
  • Add a table of contents for reference files longer than ~100 lines.
  • Cross-skill references are allowed, but must include install instructions (e.g., npx skills add https://github.com/alexandru/skills --skill <skill-name>).

Guidance quality

  • Prefer the smallest needed typeclass/constraint or API surface.
  • Avoid time-sensitive guidance; move outdated info to an "old patterns" section if needed.
  • Use consistent terminology across the skill.
  • Provide concrete examples only when they materially improve correctness.
  • Provide original sources (web links) in references; keep sources high-quality.

Versioning (skills.json)

  • Version uses semantic versioning (e.g., 1.0.0).
  • Increment patch for minor fixes (typos, code sample mistakes).
  • Increment minor when adding a new skill.
  • Increment major for more substantial skill changes.

Workflow for adding a skill

  1. Create skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter and concise instructions.
  2. Add reference docs under skills/<skill-name>/references/ as needed.
  3. Register the skill in skills.json (name, path, description, tags).
  4. Update README.md so the skill list and structure stay current.
  5. Test with representative prompts and refine.

Checklist

  • Name/description meet format rules and are specific.
  • SKILL.md is concise and directs to references.
  • Examples are in references, not SKILL.md.
  • No nested references; one level deep from SKILL.md.
  • skills.json version updated per semantic versioning rules.
  • skills.json updated with tags.
  • README.md updated.
  • Tested with at least a few real requests.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Create Skill AI skill do?

Guide for creating effective agent skills. Use when users want to create a new skill (or update an existing skill) that extends agent capabilities with specialized knowledge, workflows, or tool integrations.

Why use Create Skill on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Create Skill is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Create Skill in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/alexandru/skills/tree/main/skills/tools/create-skill. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Create Skill?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Create Skill?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Create Skill with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Create Skill AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by alexandru. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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