general

Create SKILL.md files with YAML frontmatter and Markdown instructions.

8|3|Updated Mar 11, 2026

Search Tags:#prompt engineering #AI development #metadata #skill authoring #SKILL.md #agentskills.io

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/ucdavis/ai-skills-registry --skill general-ucdavis

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: general
Source: https://github.com/ucdavis/ai-skills-registry/tree/main/.claude/skills/skill-authoring-general
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ucdavis/ai-skills-registry --skill general-ucdavis

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill streamlines the creation and validation of AI agent skills, ensuring they adhere to the agentskills.io specification and best practices.

Core Features & Use Cases

Skill Scaffolding: Provides templates and guidance for structuring new skills.
Metadata Definition: Helps define essential name and description fields for discoverability.
Instruction Writing: Offers best practices for writing clear, actionable instructions within SKILL.md.
Use Case: When you need to create a new skill for your AI assistant, use this skill to ensure it's correctly formatted, discoverable, and easy for the AI to understand and execute.

Quick Start

Use the general skill to create a new skill directory structure and SKILL.md file.

Frequently Asked Questions about general

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

FAQPage Schema

How do I create an AI agent skill that follows the agentskills.io specification?▼

To create an AI agent skill compliant with the agentskills.io specification, use a Skill scaffolding template to generate a self-contained directory with a correctly formatted SKILL.md file containing YAML frontmatter and Markdown instructions.

What metadata is required in a SKILL.md file for agentic coding assistants?▼

A SKILL.md file requires essential metadata in its YAML frontmatter, specifically the name and description fields, to ensure the skill is discoverable and easy for agentic coding assistants to understand and execute.

What is the best way to format instructions for AI assistants in a SKILL.md file?▼

The best way to format instructions for AI assistants is to write clear, actionable Markdown instructions within the SKILL.md file, adhering to agentskills.io best practices for optimal execution and discoverability.

Do I need any dependencies to author compliant AI skills?▼

No dependencies are required to author compliant AI skills. The skill provides built-in templates and guidance to define metadata and structure instructions for self-contained execution independently.

Why are my AI agent skills not being discovered or executed correctly?▼

AI agent skills may fail discovery or execution if the SKILL.md file lacks clear naming conventions, accurate descriptions, or properly structured YAML frontmatter, which are required for agentskills.io compliance.

Can I use the general skill to scaffold a new skill directory structure?▼

Yes, you can use the general skill to scaffold a new skill directory structure and automatically generate a SKILL.md file with correct YAML frontmatter and Markdown instructions.