skill-development

Structure a Claude Code plugin skill by writing YAML frontmatter with specific third-person trigger phrases in the name and description fields that match user intent. This ensures the skill is discoverable and reliably triggered by Claude Code.

Progressive disclosure in skill authoring is a layered loading approach where YAML metadata loads first, instructions load on trigger, and references, scripts, or assets load only when needed. This design keeps Claude Code skills lean while remaining comprehensive.

SKILL.md should contain core imperative and infinitive instructions along with YAML frontmatter. Optional bundled resources like scripts, references, and assets should be separated out to maintain a lean skill structure and loaded only when required by the task.

Write Claude Code skill instructions using imperative and infinitive verb forms to provide direct, actionable guidance. This authoring style ensures Claude processes the directives correctly and executes the intended tasks without ambiguity.

No dependencies are required to create a Claude Code skill. You can plan content, create the directory structure, write the SKILL.md body, and validate test readiness independently using standard YAML frontmatter and Markdown formatting.