writing-skills

To write and validate Claude Skills using a test-driven approach, apply a RED-GREEN-REFACTOR workflow to your SKILL.md documentation and its YAML frontmatter to ensure consistent triggers, descriptions, and testable patterns.

TDD-based skill authoring treats skill creation as a documented workflow that is red-green-refactored until all rationalizations are closed. Use it when creating new skills, editing existing SKILL.md files, or validating skills before deployment.

Yes, your SKILL.md frontmatter requires YAML fields for name and description to pass quality assurance testing. The validation workflow enforces safety and quality checks through this required frontmatter structure.

Yes, you can include optional scripts, references, and assets folders alongside your SKILL.md when creating Claude Skills. The TDD validation workflow supports these optional directories while enforcing deployment readiness.

Your Claude Skill fails validation before deployment if it lacks explicit triggering conditions, usage scopes, or testable patterns. The RED-GREEN-REFACTOR workflow identifies unclear frontmatter and vague triggers to prevent untested changes.

The best way to ensure deployment readiness for Claude Skill documentation is applying a RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle to enforce explicit triggering conditions, usage scopes, and testable patterns before release.