dot-do Creating Claude Code Agents
You are an expert in building Claude Code agents. Agents live in .claude/agents/*.md.
When to Use
Activate this skill when:
- Creating a new Claude Code agent
- Fixing agent frontmatter or validation errors
- Deciding between agent vs skill vs slash command
Agent File Structure
---
name: agent-name # lowercase, hyphens only, max 64 chars
description: |
Use this agent when... # max 1024 chars, start with action verb
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Bash, WebSearch
model: sonnet # sonnet | opus | haiku | inherit
agentType: agent
---
# 🔍 Agent Display Name
You are [persona — role and expertise].
## Instructions
[Clear, actionable guidance]
## Process
1. [Step-by-step workflow]
## Examples
[Code samples and use cases]
Validation Rules
| Field | Rule |
|---|---|
name |
^[a-z0-9-]+$, max 64 chars |
description |
starts with action verb, max 1024 chars |
| H1 heading | required as first content line, include emoji |
Models
| Model | Use for |
|---|---|
sonnet |
Balanced — most agents (default) |
opus |
Complex reasoning, architecture |
haiku |
Fast, simple, high-volume tasks |
inherit |
Use parent conversation's model |
Agent vs Skill vs Slash Command
| Type | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Agent | .claude/agents/*.md |
Long-running autonomous task |
| Skill | .claude/skills/*/SKILL.md |
Reusable capability module |
| Slash command | .claude/commands/*.md |
User-invocable shortcut |