hermes-agent-skill-authoring

Hermes skill authoring requires a SKILL.md file to define the skill's metadata and documentation. It uses YAML frontmatter for validator parsing and ensures the skill is discoverable in the repository.

You create a valid SKILL.md by placing it in skills/<category>/<skill-name>/ and including YAML frontmatter with name and description fields. The body should follow a structured layout like Overview, When to Use, and a Verification Checklist to pass validation.

The validator requires YAML frontmatter enclosed in --- delimiters with non-empty name and description fields. The description must adhere to length constraints, and the body must be non-empty to pass validation checks.

Yes, you can use this process for any software development workflow by placing the skill under skills/software-development. It aligns naming, description constraints, and peer-matched formatting for reusable workflow skills.

Validation fails when the SKILL.md file has incorrect YAML frontmatter delimiters, exceeds the maximum description size, or contains an empty body. Use the provided verification checklist to confirm all validator readiness requirements are met.

The recommended structure includes Overview, When to Use, Pitfalls, and a Verification Checklist sections. This peer-matched layout keeps skills readable and maintainable while adhering to repository size targets.