Create Skill

Create Skill

Create or update standalone Dexto skill bundles. Treat .agents/skills/<id>/ as the canonical workspace location unless the user explicitly asks for a global skill.

Core Flow

1. Search for overlap first.

   • Use skill_list to inspect standalone skills on disk.
   • Use skill_search to inspect loaded skills that may already cover the request.

2. Propose the minimum viable skill shape.

   • Suggest a kebab-case id.
   • Draft a one-sentence description.
   • Default scope to workspace.

3. Create or update the skill bundle.

   • Use skill_create for new skills and skill_update for existing ones.
   • The creator tools now scaffold handlers/, scripts/, mcps/, and references/ automatically.
   • Treat content as the markdown body below the generated title and frontmatter. Do not include your own # <Title> line.
   • If you edit SKILL.md or bundled files with non-creator tools, use skill_load to reread the current skill before you rely on it in the current session.

4. Keep SKILL.md lean.

   • Focus on trigger conditions, workflow, bundled resource navigation, and output expectations.
   • Keep most actionable instructions directly in SKILL.md so the agent can act without opening extra files.
   • Use references/ sparingly for large copied docs, schemas, examples, policies, or linked external material.

5. Add bundled files only when they materially improve the workflow.

   • references/: large docs, copied external references, schemas, examples, or policies that would bloat SKILL.md
   • scripts/: deterministic helpers
   • handlers/: reusable workflow logic or helper code
   • mcps/: MCP configs the skill should carry with it
   • When a skill needs a real bundled MCP server, prefer the SDK-based stdio pattern in references/mcp-server-pattern.md.

6. Reuse before duplicating.

   • Extend nearby skills or references when the problem is already mostly solved.
   • If borrowing a pattern from another skill, adapt it instead of copying large blocks blindly.

7. Be precise about MCP status.

   • Creating mcps/*.json only creates bundled MCP config.
   • Do not say you created a real MCP server unless the config points at a bundled runnable implementation or a verified external command/package.
   • If the user asked for a real MCP and you only scaffolded config, say that clearly and keep going until the server exists or the user redirects you.
   • For real bundled MCPs, prefer the official @modelcontextprotocol/sdk server APIs with StdioServerTransport. Avoid hand-rolled Content-Length framing unless the user explicitly asks for low-level protocol code.

SKILL.md Structure

• ## Purpose
• ## When To Use
• ## Workflow
• ## Bundled Resources
• ## Output Format

Notes

• Read references/skill-anatomy.md when you need the bundle layout or packaging checklist.
• Read references/mcp-server-pattern.md when the skill needs a bundled MCP server implementation.
• If you add MCP config files under mcps/, use skill_load after the edit so the running session rereads the current skill metadata. Configure runtime MCP servers through the normal MCP configuration path.
• If the user asked for a working MCP-backed skill, verify the configured MCP server and load the skill with skill_load before relying on it.
• If the user asks which tools can be referenced, use tool_catalog.