Skill Creator

Core Workflow

1. Define skill purpose: Clear name, description, and use cases
2. Determine category: Place in correct folder (foundation, frontend, backend, etc.)
3. Create SKILL.md: Main skill file with frontmatter and content
4. Add references: Optional templates.md, conventions.md, or patterns.md
5. Include examples: Production-ready code samples
6. Write checklist: Output verification checklist

Skill Categories

foundation/

frontend/

backend/

ai-engineering/

architecture/

ci-cd/

database-management/

testing/

security/

performance/

SKILL.md Template

---
name: skill-name-in-kebab-case
description: One-line description of what the skill does and when to use it. Include trigger phrases like "use when users request X, Y, or Z".
---

# Skill Title

Brief tagline explaining the skill's value proposition.

## Core Workflow

1. **Step one**: Description
2. **Step two**: Description
3. **Step three**: Description
   ...

## [Main Content Sections]

### Section with Code Examples

\`\`\`typescript
// Production-ready code example
\`\`\`

### Patterns / Templates

Document reusable patterns with examples.

## Best Practices

- Practice one
- Practice two
- Practice three

## Output Checklist

Every output should include:

- [ ] Item one
- [ ] Item two
- [ ] Item three

Reference Files Structure

skill-name/
├── SKILL.md              # Main skill file (required)
└── references/            # Optional reference materials
    ├── templates.md       # Code/file templates
    ├── conventions.md     # Standards and conventions
    └── patterns.md        # Reusable patterns

Frontmatter Requirements

---
name: kebab-case-skill-name # Must match folder name
description: >
  Clear description including:
  - What the skill does
  - When to use it
  - Trigger phrases ("use when X", "create Y", "generate Z")
---

Content Guidelines

Code Examples

• Must be production-ready, not pseudocode
• Include TypeScript types where applicable
• Show complete, working examples
• Use modern syntax and best practices

Sections to Include

1. Core Workflow: Numbered steps for using the skill
2. Main Content: Patterns, templates, examples
3. Best Practices: Industry-proven recommendations
4. Output Checklist: Verification items

Writing Style

• Active voice, imperative mood
• Concise, scannable formatting
• Tables for structured comparisons
• Code blocks for all technical content

Skill Quality Criteria

Completeness

• Solves a specific, well-defined problem
• Includes working code examples
• Has clear trigger phrases in description
• Provides output verification checklist

Consistency

• Follows naming conventions (kebab-case)
• Uses standard section headings
• Matches existing skill format
• Placed in correct category folder

Usefulness

• Examples are copy-paste ready
• Covers common use cases
• Anticipates edge cases
• References external docs where helpful

Example: Creating a New Skill

Step 1: Define the Skill

Name: api-rate-limiter
Category: backend
Purpose: Implement rate limiting for APIs
Triggers: "add rate limiting", "protect API", "throttle requests"

Step 2: Create Folder Structure

mkdir -p backend/api-rate-limiter
touch "backend/api-rate-limiter/SKILL.md"

Step 3: Write SKILL.md

---
name: api-rate-limiter
description: Implements rate limiting for APIs using token bucket, sliding window, or fixed window algorithms. Use when users request "add rate limiting", "protect API from abuse", or "throttle requests".
---

# API Rate Limiter

Protect your APIs from abuse with production-ready rate limiting.

## Core Workflow

...

Step 4: Add References (if needed)

mkdir -p backend/api-rate-limiter/references
touch backend/api-rate-limiter/references/algorithms.md

Output Checklist

• Skill name is kebab-case
• Description includes trigger phrases
• Placed in correct category folder
• SKILL.md follows template structure
• Code examples are production-ready
• Includes Core Workflow section
• Has Output Checklist section
• Reference files added if needed