Skill Sync Checker
A utility skill that detects when skill content has drifted from its source documents. Any skill file that includes a <!-- source: path/to/file --> marker can be checked for freshness and updated accordingly.
When to Use This Skill
User-Initiated (Agent Requested)
Use this skill when the user:
- Asks to check if a skill's content is up to date
- Has modified source documentation and wants to sync derived skills
- Is preparing a skill for publishing and wants to verify freshness
- Asks "is this skill still accurate?" or "has the source changed?"
- Performs routine maintenance on skills
Auto-Triggered (via Cursor globs)
This skill is automatically injected into context when the user edits README.md (configurable via .cursor/rules/skill-sync-checker.mdc globs).
When auto-triggered, follow this lightweight flow:
- Scan
skills/**/SKILL.mdfor<!-- source: ... -->markers referencing the file being edited - If a match is found, briefly remind the user that a skill depends on this file and may need syncing
- Do not automatically run the full detection workflow or modify any files — just notify
Example notification:
Note: skills/reskill-usage/SKILL.md is derived from README.md (last synced: 2026-02-12). If your changes affect CLI commands, options, or usage examples, the skill may need updating. Run a sync check when you're done editing.
Source Marker Convention
Skill files that are derived from other documents should include source markers as HTML comments at the top of the file (before or after the YAML frontmatter):
markdown<!-- source: README.md --> <!-- synced: 2026-02-11 --> --- name: my-skill description: ... --- # My Skill ...
Marker Format
| Marker | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
<!-- source: <path> --> | Yes | Relative path to the source file (from project root) |
<!-- synced: <date> --> | No | ISO date of last sync (YYYY-MM-DD) |
A file can have multiple source markers if it derives from several documents:
markdown<!-- source: README.md --> <!-- source: docs/cli-spec.md --> <!-- synced: 2026-02-11 -->
Where to Place Markers
- Place source markers at the very top of the file
- If the file has YAML frontmatter (
---), markers can go before or after it - Markers are HTML comments and will not render in the skill content
Detection Workflow
When asked to check a skill for sync status, follow these steps:
Step 1: Find Source Markers
Scan all .md files in the target skill directory. For each file, look for <!-- source: ... --> comments. Files without source markers are original content and can be skipped.
Step 2: Read Source Files
For each source marker, read the referenced file. If the source file does not exist, report it as an error — the source may have been moved or deleted.
Step 3: Compare Content
Compare the skill file against its source document(s). Focus on structural and factual differences, not formatting:
Key things to check:
- Commands, options, or features mentioned in the source but missing from the skill
- Commands, options, or features in the skill that no longer exist in the source
- Changed default values, paths, or configuration formats
- New sections in the source that should be reflected in the skill
- Deprecated or removed functionality still mentioned in the skill
Ignore:
- Minor wording differences (the skill may rephrase for agent consumption)
- Formatting differences (tables vs lists, heading levels)
- Content the skill intentionally omits (internal details, development docs)
- Order of sections
Step 4: Report Results
Present findings in a clear summary:
Sync Check: skills/reskill-usage/SKILL.md Source: README.md Last synced: 2026-02-11 Status: ⚠ Out of sync Differences found: 1. New command `find` added in source (missing from skill) 2. Option `--registry` added to `install` command 3. New agent "Gemini" added to Multi-Agent Support table Recommendation: Update the skill to reflect these changes.
If everything is in sync:
Sync Check: skills/reskill-usage/SKILL.md Source: README.md Last synced: 2026-02-11 Status: ✓ In sync No significant differences found.
If the <!-- synced: ... --> marker is absent, report "Last synced: unknown":
Sync Check: skills/example/SKILL.md Source: docs/example-spec.md Last synced: unknown Status: ⚠ Out of sync ...
Update Workflow
When differences are detected and the user confirms they want to update:
Step 1: Show Differences
Present each difference with the relevant content from the source file so the user can review what changed.
Step 2: Update Skill Content
After user confirmation, update the skill file to reflect the source changes. Preserve the skill's structure and agent-specific content (When to Use, Workflows, Troubleshooting) — only update the sections that correspond to source material.
Step 3: Update Synced Date
Update the <!-- synced: ... --> marker to today's date:
markdown<!-- synced: 2026-02-12 -->
Detecting Potentially Relevant New Documents
When checking a skill, also scan the project for new documentation that might be relevant but is not yet tracked:
Heuristic Rules
| File Pattern | Likely Relevant | Action |
|---|---|---|
*-spec.md, *-summary.md | Yes — user-facing specs | Suggest adding as source |
README.md, README.*.md | Yes — user-facing docs | Suggest adding as source |
API.md, docs/*.md | Yes — user-facing docs | Suggest adding as source |
CHANGELOG.md | No — auto-generated | Skip |
CONTRIBUTING.md | No — contributor guide | Skip |
*-design.md | No — internal design | Skip |
*-plan.md, *-implementation-plan.md | No — internal plans | Skip |
*-migration-plan.md | No — internal migration | Skip |
*-adaptation.md | No — internal adaptation | Skip |
When a potentially relevant new document is found, notify the user:
New document detected: docs/new-feature-spec.md This looks like a user-facing spec that might be relevant to the skill. Would you like to review it for inclusion?
Never automatically add new sources or modify skill content without user confirmation.
Example: Checking reskill-usage
Here is a complete example of checking the reskill-usage skill:
User: "Check if the reskill-usage skill is up to date" Agent steps: 1. Read skills/reskill-usage/SKILL.md 2. Find marker: <!-- source: README.md --> 3. Read README.md 4. Compare commands table, source formats, configuration, etc. 5. Report: "The skill is missing the new `find` command that was added to README.md. Would you like me to update it?"
After user confirms:
Agent steps: 1. Add `find` command to the Commands table in SKILL.md 2. Update <!-- synced: 2026-02-12 --> 3. Report: "Updated SKILL.md — added `find` command, synced date updated to 2026-02-12"
Batch Checking
To check all skills in a project at once:
User: "Check all skills for sync status" Agent steps: 1. Find all SKILL.md files in the project (skills/, .cursor/skills/, etc.) 2. For each file with source markers, run the detection workflow 3. Present a summary of all results: Sync Check Summary: ✓ skills/find-skills/SKILL.md — no source markers (original content) ⚠ skills/reskill-usage/SKILL.md — 2 differences found (source: README.md) ✓ skills/skill-sync-checker/SKILL.md — no source markers (original content)
Limitations
- This skill guides the agent through a manual comparison process — it does not run automated diffing tools
- The agent uses judgment to determine what constitutes a "significant" difference
- Source markers are a convention, not enforced — files without markers are simply skipped
- The heuristic rules for new document detection are suggestions, not definitive classifications
