# Skill Self Refiner

> Use when an existing SKILL.md failed or drifted in a real run and must be patched from evidence. Not for blank-slate authoring or one-off trajectory packaging.

- Skill: `cassidyrice/skill-self-refiner` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cassidyrice/skill-self-refiner`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cassidyrice/skill-self-refiner/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cassidyrice (https://skillmd.com/u/cassidyrice)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cassidyrice/skill-self-refiner

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# Skill Self-Refiner

Patch existing skills from **runtime failure**, not vibes.

## When to Use
- A loaded skill gave wrong steps, missing gates, or stale commands
- Fresh-context dry run failed a checklist item
- User corrected the agent mid-skill and the fix should stick

**Not for:** creating a skill with no prior file → `writing-skills` or `trajectory-to-packaged-skill`.  
**Not for:** prose-only polish → `punchy-insight-refiner`.

## Process
1. Load current `SKILL.md` + failure evidence (log, user correction, test output).
2. Name the broken contract line (when_to_use / step N / NEVER / produces).
3. Patch **minimum** text that would have prevented the failure.
4. Add or tighten a Verification bullet that catches the same miss.
5. Write a 3–5 item regression checklist; run it once in fresh wording.
6. Record diff summary (before → after) in the response.

## NEVER
- Rewrite the whole skill when one step failed
- Invent new capabilities not proven in the failure run
- Drop `produces` / `requires` during polish

## Collision parents

`trajectory-to-packaged-skill`, `writing-skills`, `punchy-insight-refiner`