skills.rest
usecompai
usecompaiOFFICIAL
Explore all skills by this author →
GitHub

skill-authoring-standards

Outline standards for creating and editing canonical skills with YAML frontmatter.

24|8|Updated Mar 9, 2026
Search Tags:#skill development#quality assurance#writing guidelines#skill standards#Brain
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/usecompai/compound-operations-model --skill skill-authoring-standards
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: skill-authoring-standards
Source: https://github.com/usecompai/compound-operations-model/tree/main/skills/skill-authoring-standards
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/usecompai/compound-operations-model --skill skill-authoring-standards

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill ensures that canonical skills in the Brain are written and edited to high standards, improving the quality and effectiveness of the AI's skillset.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Frontmatter Guidelines: Provides YAML frontmatter structure requirements for SKILL.md files.
  • Description Best Practices: Ensures descriptions are clear, concise, and include trigger keywords.
  • Verification and Provenance: Requires evidence for skill output and documentation of where volatile facts come from.
  • Failure-Mode Taxonomy: Assists in identifying common mistakes in skill drafts.

Quick Start

To create a new skill, follow the guidelines outlined in this document and ensure each section is addressed: frontmatter, trigger quality, description, structure, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions about skill-authoring-standards

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

FAQPage Schema
What are the standards for writing canonical skills?▼

Canonical skill authoring standards require proper YAML frontmatter, clear descriptions with trigger keywords, and a defined structure to ensure quality and effectiveness in the Brain's skillset.

How do I structure a SKILL.md file for skill development?▼

To structure a SKILL.md file for skill development, follow frontmatter guidelines, ensure description clarity, verify output evidence, and document provenance for volatile facts.

What are common failure modes when creating skill guidelines?▼

Common failure modes in skill creation include missing trigger keywords in descriptions, poorly structured frontmatter, and lacking verification evidence for skill output or volatile fact provenance.

Why does skill quality assurance require trigger keywords?▼

Skill quality assurance requires trigger keywords because they ensure descriptions are clear and concise, directly improving the AI's ability to effectively identify and execute the correct skillset.

Can I use skill standards to edit existing canonical skills?▼

Yes, you can use these skill authoring standards to edit existing canonical skills by applying the failure-mode taxonomy to identify mistakes and updating frontmatter and trigger quality.

Related Skills

Explore More Software Engineering Skills→
rolopez23rolopez23

initialize

Write or update AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md with canonical skills references.

Community
Intermediate
dohernandezdohernandez

create-skill

Scaffold a Claude Code skill directory with canonical YAML files and a Stop hook.

Community
Intermediate
dikinidikini

bk-write-skill

Generate new bk-* skills with a Markdown template and quality criteria.

Community
Intermediate
usermaumusermaum

documentation

Define documentation standards and templates for README, API docs, and change logs.

Community
Intermediate