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Self Learning

Community
philschmid
self-learning

Autonomous skill generator that learns new technologies from the web. Use when, users want to learn about a new library/framework/tool, need to create a skill for an unfamiliar technology, want to research and document a technology's usage patterns, or invoke with `/learn <topic>`. This skill uses web search and browser tools to discover, extract, and synthesize documentation into a reusable skill.

Overview

Publisherphilschmid
Repositoryself-learning-skill
Skill nameself-learning
Stars
97
Forks
12
Bundled files
1
LicenseApache-2.0
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.

  • 1 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

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

Installation

Install the Self Learning 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/philschmid/self-learning-skill/tree/main/skills/self-learning
  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/philschmid/self-learning-skill.git /tmp/self-learning-skill
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/self-learning-skill/skills/self-learning .claude/skills/self-learning
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Self Learning 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 Self Learning 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 Self Learning 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.

Self-Learning Skill Generator

Autonomously research and learn new technologies from the web, then generate a reusable skill.

Usage

/learn <topic>

If <topic> is missing, show usage. If topic is ambiguous, ask to clarify:

  • "react" → "React for web, React Native, or a specific library like react-query?"
  • "apollo" → "Apollo GraphQL client, Apollo Server, or Apollo Federation?"
  • "aws" → "Which AWS service? (S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, etc.)"

Normalize to kebab-case for filenames.

2. Discover Sources (Web Search)

Use web search tool to find authoritative documentation:

Search queries to try:

  1. <topic> official documentation
  2. <topic> getting started guide
  3. <topic> API reference
  4. <topic> GitHub repository

Source prioritization:

  1. Official docs sites (e.g., docs.*, *.dev)
  2. Official GitHub repositories (README, /docs)
  3. Official blogs/announcements

Select 3–5 high-quality URLs maximum.

If no credible sources found, ask user to provide a URL.


3. Extract Content (URL Reading)

For each selected URL, read the content:

Extract only relevant sections:

  • Installation / setup
  • Core concepts
  • API reference / key functions
  • Common patterns / examples
  • Version information

Skip irrelevant content:

  • Navigation, ads, login prompts
  • Unrelated sidebar content
  • Comments, forums

If reading the content fails (JavaScript-heavy sites), fall back to browser agent:

Task: Navigate to <URL> and extract the main content including:
- Installation instructions
- Core concepts and API reference
- Code examples
Return the extracted content as markdown.

Record scrape timestamp for each source (use current date: YYYY-MM-DD format).


4. Generate Skill

Skills are modular, self-contained packages. Every skill consists of a required SKILL.md file and optional bundled resources:

skill-name/
├── SKILL.md (required)
│   ├── YAML frontmatter metadata (required)
│   │   ├── name: (required)
│   │   └── description: (required)
│   └── Markdown instructions (required)
└── Bundled Resources (optional)
    ├── scripts/          - Executable code (Python/Bash/etc.)
    ├── references/       - Documentation intended to be loaded into context as needed
    └── assets/           - Files used in output (templates, icons, fonts, etc.)
  1. Read references/skill_creation_guide.md to understand the format and principles.
  2. Synthesize the learned and extracted information into a new skill.
    • Trigger: Write a description that clearly defines when to use it.
    • Workflow: Create step-by-step instructions.
    • Format: Ensure valid YAML frontmatter and proper file structure.

5. Save the Skill

Antigravity supports two types of skills, save a global-workspace if asked.

  • .agent/skills/<skill-folder>/ Workspace-specific
  • ~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/<skill-folder>/ Global (all workspaces)

Create directory if it doesn't exist, warn user before overwriting existing skill.


6. Confirm to User

Report:

✓ Created skill: <topic>
  Sources scraped: <N>
  Saved to: .agent/skills/<topic>/SKILL.md
  This skill will auto-trigger when working with <topic>.

Tool Reference

  • search_web: Discover documentation URLs
  • read_url_content: Extract content from static pages
  • browser_subagent: Extract content from JavaScript-heavy sites
  • write_to_file: Save the generated skill

Critical Rules

  1. Never hallucinate documentation: Only include information from scraped sources.
  2. Never invent APIs: If documentation is unclear, ask the user what to do.
  3. Ask for URLs: If automated discovery fails, ask user for specific URLs.
  4. Verify sources: Prefer official sources over third-party tutorials.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Self Learning AI skill do?

Autonomous skill generator that learns new technologies from the web. Use when, users want to learn about a new library/framework/tool, need to create a skill for an unfamiliar technology, want to research and document a technology's usage patterns, or invoke with `/learn <topic>`. This skill uses web search and browser tools to discover, extract, and synthesize documentation into a reusable skill.

Why use Self Learning on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Self Learning 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 Self Learning in TypingMind?

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

Which AI models can use Self Learning?

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 Self Learning?

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

Is the Self Learning AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by philschmid under the Apache-2.0 license. 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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