writing-skills

Test-driven development for skills follows the RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle: write baseline tests for your skill's behavior first, execute them against draft documentation to identify gaps, then iterate your SKILL.md content until tests pass. This ensures skills are bulletproof before deployment and agents follow instructions reliably.

An effective SKILL.md combines frontmatter metadata, a clear overview of the skill's purpose, concrete code examples, and anti-rationalization tables that explicitly counter agent excuses. Optimal structure improves both discoverability and enforcement of your skill's logic by Claude agents.

Claude Search Optimization (CSO) uses rich descriptions, comprehensive keyword coverage, and efficient token use in your skill's overview and metadata. Strategic keyword placement and clear use-case framing ensure Claude agents find and select your skill when matching user problems.

Anti-rationalization techniques build explicit tables and red-flags lists that close loopholes agents might exploit to skip your skill's steps. They enforce discipline by preempting agent excuses and ensuring reliable automation of your skill's core task.

Apply TDD to skills when creating new ones, editing existing skills, testing under pressure scenarios, or validating readiness before deployment. Testing early catches ambiguities in documentation and prevents skills from failing in production agent workflows.

Yes. Skills with no dependencies benefit most, but the TDD and anti-rationalization patterns apply universally. Baseline tests verify behavior regardless of downstream dependencies, and anti-rationalization tables clarify when agents should invoke external tools versus skip steps.