Canifi Skill Generator

Canifi Skill Generator

Overview

The Skill Generator is a meta-skill that enables Canifi to create new skills for itself and automatically install them to the global skills directory. This transforms Canifi from a static assistant into a self-evolving system that can expand its own capabilities on demand.

Why This Skill is Required:

• Enables Canifi to learn new workflows without manual skill creation
• Allows real-time capability expansion during conversations
• Creates a feedback loop where Canifi improves itself over time
• Reduces dependency on pre-built skills for niche use cases

Privacy & Authentication

Your credentials, your choice. Canifi LifeOS respects your privacy.

Option 1: Manual Browser Login (Recommended)

If you prefer not to share credentials with Claude Code:

1. Complete the Browser Automation Setup using CDP mode
2. Login to the service manually in the Playwright-controlled Chrome window
3. Claude will use your authenticated session without ever seeing your password

Option 2: Environment Variables

If you're comfortable sharing credentials, you can store them locally:

canifi-env set SERVICE_EMAIL "your-email"
canifi-env set SERVICE_PASSWORD "your-password"

Note: Credentials stored in canifi-env are only accessible locally on your machine and are never transmitted.

Global Skills Directory

Skills are installed to: ~/.claude/skills/

Each skill lives in its own directory:

~/.claude/skills/
├── canifi/
│   └── SKILL.md
├── canifi-skill-generator/
│   └── SKILL.md
├── my-new-skill/
│   └── SKILL.md
└── ...

Capabilities

1. Create New Skills on Demand

When a user requests a capability that doesn't exist, or when Canifi identifies a repeated pattern that could be automated:

User: "I need to interact with Airtable regularly"
Canifi: "I don't have an Airtable skill yet. Would you like me to create one?"
User: "Yes, please"
Canifi: [Creates and installs airtable skill]

2. Auto-Generate Skills from Patterns

When Canifi notices it's performing the same complex workflow repeatedly:

Canifi: "I've noticed we've done this Slack → Notion workflow 5 times.
        Should I create a skill for this so it's faster next time?"

3. Modify Existing Skills

Update skills based on user feedback or changed requirements:

User: "The github skill should also support GitLab"
Canifi: [Updates the skill to support both platforms]

4. Research-Driven Skill Creation

For unfamiliar services, Canifi can:

1. Research the service's API/documentation
2. Identify common use cases
3. Generate a comprehensive skill
4. Test basic functionality
5. Install and activate

Skill Template

When generating a new skill, use this template structure:

---
name: {skill-id}
description: {One-line description}
category: {category}
version: 1.0.0
author: Canifi LifeOS (Auto-Generated)
---

# {Skill Name}

## Overview

{2-3 sentence description of what this skill does and why it's useful}

---

## Privacy & Authentication

**Your credentials, your choice.** Canifi LifeOS respects your privacy.

### Option 1: Manual Browser Login (Recommended)
If you prefer not to share credentials with Claude Code:
1. Complete the [Browser Automation Setup](/setup/automation) using CDP mode
2. Login to {SERVICE_NAME} manually in the Playwright-controlled Chrome window
3. Claude will use your authenticated session without ever seeing your password

### Option 2: Environment Variables
If you're comfortable sharing credentials:
```bash
canifi-env set {SERVICE}_EMAIL "your-email"
canifi-env set {SERVICE}_PASSWORD "your-password"
# OR for API-based services:
canifi-env set {SERVICE}_API_KEY "your-api-key"

Note: Credentials stored in canifi-env are only accessible locally on your machine.

Setup

{Required setup steps, environment variables, API keys, etc.}

Capabilities

{List of what this skill enables}

Usage Examples

{Common use case examples}

Workflow

{Step-by-step workflow when using this skill}

Troubleshooting

{Common issues and solutions}

---

## Skill Generation Workflow

### Step 1: Identify Need

Triggers for skill creation:
- User explicitly requests a new capability
- User asks about a service Canifi doesn't have a skill for
- Canifi identifies a repeated manual workflow
- User shares API documentation or service details

### Step 2: Research (if needed)

For unfamiliar services:
1. Use Gemini Deep Research via Playwright MCP
2. Find official API documentation
3. Identify authentication methods
4. Discover common use cases
5. Note any rate limits or restrictions

### Step 3: Generate Skill Content

Create the SKILL.md file with:
- Accurate metadata (name, description, category)
- Clear setup instructions
- Privacy & Authentication section (REQUIRED)
- Comprehensive capabilities list
- Practical usage examples
- Troubleshooting guidance

### Step 4: Install Skill

```bash
# Create skill directory
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}

# Write SKILL.md
cat > ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/SKILL.md << 'EOF'
{skill content}
EOF

Step 5: Verify Installation

# Check skill exists
ls -la ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/

# Verify content
cat ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/SKILL.md

Step 6: Confirm to User

Skill "{skill-name}" has been created and installed.

Location: ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/SKILL.md
Category: {category}

You can now use this skill by {activation instructions}.

Would you like me to demonstrate it?

Category Reference

Use these categories when generating skills:

Auto-Generation Triggers

Canifi should proactively offer to create skills when:

Explicit Requests

• "Can you help me with [Service]?"
• "I need to integrate [Platform]"
• "How do I automate [Workflow]?"

Implicit Patterns

• User mentions a service 3+ times in conversation
• User describes a multi-step workflow manually
• User asks "Is there a skill for...?"

Capability Gaps

• When Canifi says "I don't have direct access to..."
• When a task requires manual user intervention
• When existing skills don't cover a use case

Example: Creating a Skill

User Request

"I want Canifi to help me manage my Todoist tasks"

Canifi Response

I don't have a Todoist skill yet. Let me create one for you.

[Researching Todoist API and best practices...]
[Generating skill content...]
[Installing to ~/.claude/skills/todoist/]

Done! I've created and installed the Todoist skill.

**Capabilities:**
- List tasks and projects
- Create new tasks with due dates
- Complete/uncomplete tasks
- Organize tasks into projects
- Set priorities and labels

**Setup Required:**
You'll need to get a Todoist API token from:
https://todoist.com/app/settings/integrations/developer

Then set it with:
```bash
canifi-env set TODOIST_API_KEY "your-token-here"

Would you like me to demonstrate by listing your current tasks?

---

## Skill Quality Guidelines

When generating skills, ensure:

### 1. Completeness
- All sections from template are included
- Privacy & Authentication section is ALWAYS present
- Setup steps are clear and actionable
- Examples cover common use cases

### 2. Accuracy
- API endpoints and methods are correct
- Authentication flows match service requirements
- Rate limits and restrictions are noted
- Error handling is addressed

### 3. Usability
- Instructions are beginner-friendly
- Commands can be copy-pasted
- Examples show expected outputs
- Troubleshooting covers common issues

### 4. Safety
- Never hardcode credentials
- Always use environment variables
- Include privacy warnings where appropriate
- Note any data handling considerations

---

## Managing Installed Skills

### List All Skills
```bash
ls ~/.claude/skills/

View Skill Content

cat ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/SKILL.md

Update a Skill

# Edit directly or regenerate
cat > ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/SKILL.md << 'EOF'
{updated content}
EOF

Remove a Skill

rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}

Troubleshooting

Skill Not Recognized

• Verify the skill directory exists: ls ~/.claude/skills/{skill-id}/
• Check SKILL.md has correct frontmatter with name field
• Restart Claude Code to reload skills

Permission Errors

• Ensure write access: chmod -R u+w ~/.claude/skills/
• Check directory ownership: ls -la ~/.claude/

Skill Not Working

• Verify all required environment variables are set
• Check service API is accessible
• Review troubleshooting section of the specific skill

Universal Rules for Generated Skills

1. Privacy First - Always include Privacy & Authentication section
2. Never Hardcode - All credentials use environment variables
3. Clear Setup - Users should be able to follow setup without confusion
4. Practical Examples - Show real use cases, not abstract concepts
5. Error Guidance - Include troubleshooting for common issues
6. Version Track - Include version in metadata for updates
7. Attribution - Mark auto-generated skills with author: Canifi LifeOS (Auto-Generated)