skill-development

To structure a Claude Code plugin skill, create a SKILL.md file with required frontmatter fields and a lean body, then organize reusable resources into references/, examples/, and scripts/ folders to support safe activation and on-demand loading.

Progressive disclosure in Claude Code skills places detailed guidance in references/ and working examples in examples/ for on-demand loading, keeping the SKILL.md body lean while providing practical documentation when users need it.

To create a new skill directory under a plugin, navigate to plugin-name/skills/ and add a properly formatted SKILL.md file, then optionally include references/ and examples/ folders to support practical usage and reusable workflows.

The required frontmatter fields for a SKILL.md file are name and description, which ensure the skill is properly identified and can be reliably activated when users trigger matching phrases during plugin development tasks.

Yes, you can update existing plugin skills by refining trigger phrases and instructions in the SKILL.md file, ensuring the core guidelines are captured clearly while maintaining organized references and examples for reusable activation.

You should organize bundled resources into optional folders such as scripts/, references/, and assets/ to support reusable workflows, detailed documentation, and output generation within your Claude Code plugin skill.