writing-skills

Structure skill documentation by creating a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter containing mandatory name and description fields, followed by a body with operational instructions. This enforces discoverability and standardizes validation.

Validate reusable skills by applying test-driven documentation checklists and safety checks against the SKILL.md template. This prevents toxic content and insecure configurations while verifying mandatory frontmatter fields.

Add scripts and references to skill documentation by utilizing optional resources directories. This supports richer skills documentation by allowing you to attach assets alongside the core SKILL.md file.

Yes, you can use YAML frontmatter to enforce mandatory fields in skill templates. The validation process checks this frontmatter to ensure that both name and description fields are present for proper skill discovery.

Skill discovery fails when SKILL.md frontmatter is missing mandatory name and description fields. Validation checks enforce this structure to ensure operational instructions remain discoverable and standardized across edits.

Common mistakes that break skill validation checklists include omitting mandatory YAML frontmatter, missing operational instructions in the body, and failing safety checks for toxic content or insecure configurations.