skill-development

To create a Claude Code plugin skill, use a centralized SKILL.md template with frontmatter for name and description, then organize detailed content into references/ and examples/ folders to standardize documentation and optimize context loading.

Progressive disclosure in Claude Code skill development is the practice of keeping SKILL.md lean while moving detailed patterns, advanced techniques, and migration guides into references/ and examples/ directories to optimize context loading.

Structure a SKILL.md file by including frontmatter with the skill name and description, followed by a lean body describing usage and triggers, while relocating exhaustive content to references/, examples/, and scripts/ folders.

The best way to document plugin skills for reuse is applying a centralized blueprint that separates the lean SKILL.md entry point from detailed scaffolding in references/ and examples/, ensuring consistent organization across projects.

No dependencies are required to build a Claude Code plugin skill using this blueprint. You only need to create a skill directory, implement the core SKILL.md sections, and add optional folders for references and examples as needed.

Move content into the references folder during skill creation when it contains detailed patterns, advanced techniques, or migration guides that would otherwise bloat the SKILL.md file and degrade context loading efficiency.