managing-skills

To create a Claude skill, run the initialization script to generate a standardized directory structure containing a SKILL.md template with required frontmatter, scripts, and a references folder for detailed documentation.

Progressive Disclosure in Claude skill design minimizes token usage by keeping concise instructions in the main skill body while moving detailed documentation and supporting content into a dedicated references directory.

You validate SKILL.md frontmatter using provided verification scripts and checklists that enforce required fields like name and description, ensuring consistent directory structure and safe prompt surface area for skill discovery.

No external dependencies are required to design and maintain Claude skills, as the workflow relies solely on standard shell scripts to initialize, scaffold, and verify skill directories and their frontmatter.

The best way to organize detailed documentation is placing it in a references directory separate from the SKILL.md body, preventing excessive context usage while keeping the core skill instructions concise and compliant.

Claude skill validation fails when SKILL.md templates lack required frontmatter fields like name and description, or violate the enforced consistent directory structure defined by the verification scripts.