SKILL.md
Portable Agent Skill
Package one bounded, repeatable workflow with a discoverable trigger, explicit inputs and outputs, ordered instructions, edge-case handling, and validation. Keep supporting references and scripts inspectable.
Discoverability
Valid Skill frontmatter included
--- name: example-skill description: Performs one bounded, repeatable workflow. Use when the requested task matches the workflow described in this Skill. metadata: version: "0.1.0" ---
Fillable structure
Replace prompts with project evidence.
Remove any field that does not apply. A smaller maintained file is more useful than generic documentation that agents and reviewers cannot trust.
- 01
Trigger and outcome
Make it easy for an agent to decide when the Skill applies and what successful completion means.
Use when: List the user phrases, file types, or task conditions that should activate this Skill
Do not use when: Name nearby tasks that require a different workflow or human judgment
Outcome: Describe the verifiable artifact or state this Skill produces
- 02
Inputs and outputs
Declare required context and a stable return contract before the procedure.
Required inputs: List files, parameters, credentials, and assumptions the workflow needs
Output contract: Define files, structured fields, messages, or evidence returned
Dependencies: List optional scripts, references, assets, tools, and environment requirements
- 03
Procedure
Write ordered steps with decision points, checkpoints, and the smallest safe tool scope.
Prepare: Describe read-only discovery and precondition checks
Execute: List the ordered implementation steps and allowed tools
Verify: State the checks that must pass before returning the result
- 04
Failures and progressive disclosure
Keep the main file focused while making recovery and deeper material discoverable.
Edge cases: List ambiguous, malformed, missing, or unsafe inputs and the required response
Recovery: Explain retry limits, cleanup, rollback, and escalation
References: Link focused files under references, scripts, or assets using relative paths
Related field guides
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ARCHITECTURE.md · Agent system architecture