ck:template-skill

To create a valid skill scaffold, you need a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter containing the required name and description fields for discovery, followed by an instruction body placeholder. This structure ensures the AI agent can load operational instructions from the per-skill directory.

YAML frontmatter is a metadata block at the top of a SKILL.md file containing fields like name and description. It is required for skill discovery because the agent toolkit scans these specific fields to identify and load available skills from the directory.

You add prompt instructions by locating the placeholder section below the YAML frontmatter in the SKILL.md file and replacing the template text with your actual operational instructions that the AI should follow.

You should use a skill template when bootstrapping a brand-new skill for an ecosystem, ensuring you have a ready-to-edit starting point with correct entry metadata rather than building the required structure from scratch.

No specific dependencies are required to load metadata correctly. The skill scaffold relies solely on the correct YAML frontmatter fields within the SKILL.md file to ensure standard onboarding and discovery within the agent toolkit.

The best way to standardize new skills is using a template that enforces correct YAML frontmatter for discovery and provides a clear insertion point for operational instructions, ensuring consistent loading behavior across the per-skill directory.