creating-agent-skills

Building a router-pattern skill involves creating a SKILL.md with intake questions, routing logic, and dedicated workflow files to direct tasks. This approach manages complex workflows by splitting logic into separate, maintainable files.

Progressive disclosure in skill design keeps SKILL.md concise by using one-level references for deeper details. It ensures users access comprehensive documentation only when needed, preventing information overload during initial skill execution.

Validating and testing custom workflows requires applying strict XML structure checks and verification patterns. This ensures consistent, scalable skills by catching structural errors and maintaining accuracy over time through dedicated maintenance practices.

Yes, YAML frontmatter with required name and description fields is needed to publish a Claude Code Skill. Clear frontmetadata supports skill discovery and governance, ensuring your tool is properly indexed and maintainable.

The best way to structure reusable references is linking one-level deep dives from SKILL.md. This reduces duplication and ensures consistency by keeping executable scripts and detailed documentation in separate, linked files.

You should avoid single-file skills when workflows require complex routing logic, intake questions, or multiple dedicated workflow files. Router-pattern skills handle these advanced structures better, preventing SKILL.md from becoming unmanageably large.