Why is the imperative form recommended for skill instructions?

Using verb-first, objective language (e.g., 'Perform X' instead of 'You should do X') provides clearer, more authoritative guidance that improves model following and consistency.

What is the anatomy of a Claude Code Skill?

A skill consists of a required SKILL.md file with YAML metadata and instructions, and optional directories for scripts (executable code), references (documentation), and assets (templates or static files).

When should I use a script instead of writing instructions in SKILL.md?

Scripts should be used for tasks that require deterministic reliability, complex logic that the AI might otherwise rewrite incorrectly, or repetitive operations that are token-intensive.

How does progressive disclosure benefit skill development?

It manages the AI's context window by only loading essential metadata initially, then loading the skill body or external resources only when Claude determines they are needed for the current task.

Claude Skill Development

Name: Claude Skill Development
Author: troykelly

bytroykelly

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Developer Tools

Provides a standardized framework for creating, organizing, and optimizing modular skills to enhance Claude Code's domain-specific capabilities.

This skill serves as a comprehensive guide for developers looking to extend Claude Code's functionality through custom skills. It implements an opinionated, GitHub-native workflow that covers the entire development lifecycle—from conceptualization and planning reusable resources to implementing progressive disclosure design principles. By following this skill's guidance, developers can build context-efficient, modular packages that include specialized workflows, tool integrations, and domain expertise, transforming Claude into a specialized agent for any technical environment.

Key Features

015 GitHub stars

02Guidelines for imperative, verb-first instruction writing for AI consumption

03Best practices for defining high-quality skill discovery trigger phrases

04Progressive disclosure design patterns for efficient context window management

05Management workflows for scripts, references, and static assets

06Standardized skill directory structure and YAML metadata templates

Use Cases

01Optimizing plugin performance by moving large documentation into reference files

02Standardizing AI behavior across a development team with shared skill repositories

03Building custom domain-specific automation skills for private internal workflows

What are Skills?·How to Install

Install with 🐟 Skill.Fish

npx skillfish add troykelly/claude-skills skill-development

For use in Claude.ai and ChatGPT

Download Skill