create-skill

Guide creation of Cursor Skill Units with SKILL.md frontmatter and directory structure.

1|Updated Nov 17, 2025

Search Tags:#workflow #documentation #skill-creation #cursor #skill-authoring #markdown-frontmatter

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/YanxiChen-gh/Dotfiles --skill create-skill-yanxichen-gh

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: create-skill
Source: https://github.com/YanxiChen-gh/Dotfiles/tree/main/cursor/skills/create-skill
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/YanxiChen-gh/Dotfiles --skill create-skill-yanxichen-gh

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This guide helps teams design and publish Skill Units for Cursor by ensuring consistent structure, mandatory frontmatter, and clear metadata so skills are easy to discover and apply.

Core Features & Use Cases

Enforces the mandatory SKILL.md frontmatter (name and description) at Skill Unit root.
Documents the recommended directory structure (scripts/, references/, assets/) and how to use them.
Provides a reusable Discovery -> Design -> Verification workflow for creating new skills across personal or project scopes.

Quick Start

Create a new Skill Unit by adding SKILL.md with proper frontmatter and scaffolding optional directories as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions about create-skill

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I create a custom skill in Cursor?▼

To create a custom skill in Cursor, you author a SKILL.md file with mandatory frontmatter (name and description) at the root of your Skill Unit. You can then scaffold optional directories like scripts/, references/, and assets/ as needed.

What is the required frontmatter format for a SKILL.md file?▼

The required frontmatter format for a SKILL.md file must include name and description fields at the Skill Unit root. This mandatory markdown frontmatter ensures skills are easy to discover and apply across personal or project scopes.

What is the recommended directory structure for Cursor skill authoring?▼

The recommended directory structure for Cursor skill authoring includes optional scripts/, references/, and assets/ directories organized around your SKILL.md root. This structure coordinates supplementary resources according to your skill's design phases.

How does the Discovery to Verification workflow help with skill creation?▼

The Discovery to Verification workflow streamlines skill creation by providing a reusable three-phase process. It guides you from conceptualizing the skill's purpose, through designing its structure, to verifying its function and documentation.

Can I use this skill creation process for both personal and project scopes?▼

Yes, you can use this skill creation process for both personal and project scopes. The SKILL.md format and the Discovery to Verification workflow are designed to ensure consistent structure and clear metadata regardless of the skill's intended scope.

What are the limitations when documenting best practices for skill authoring?▼

When documenting best practices for skill authoring, limitations arise if mandatory SKILL.md frontmatter is ignored or if optional directories like scripts/ and references/ are poorly coordinated, which reduces skill discoverability and application.