skill-developer

Create a skill by defining YAML frontmatter with trigger keywords, specifying enforcement levels (block, suggest, warn), and structuring your skill logic within the 500-line limit. The skill-developer skill guides you through this entire authorship process, from trigger configuration to hook integration.

Hooks are trigger points in the Claude Code lifecycle. UserPromptSubmit hooks proactively suggest actions before user input, while PreToolUse hooks enforce guardrails before tool execution. Use them to implement progressive disclosure and critical rule enforcement across your skill workflows.

Verify your trigger patterns (keywords, intent, file paths, content matching), check enforcement level configuration, and confirm your skill structure adheres to YAML frontmatter standards and the 500-line rule. The skill-developer skill provides debugging best practices for activation issues.

Yes. Skills support keyword triggers, intent patterns, file path matching, and content pattern triggers. Combine trigger types in your YAML frontmatter to create flexible activation rules that respond to different user contexts and skill governance requirements.

Block enforcement prevents an action outright, suggest prompts the user to consider an alternative approach, and warn notifies the user of a potential issue without stopping execution. Choose the enforcement level based on how critical the rule is to your skill's governance model.

The 500-line rule ensures skills remain focused, maintainable, and performant within the Claude Code ecosystem. Adhering to this constraint forces clear architectural decisions, reduces cognitive load, and aligns with Anthropic's guidelines for effective skill design and progressive disclosure.