How do I install the Apm Usage skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add microsoft/apm-usage in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Apm Usage safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: reads secrets. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Apm Usage?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Apm Usage free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Apm Usage?

Microsoft (@microsoft) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Apm Usage by microsoft — Agent Skill

Name: Apm Usage
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: Microsoft

File contents

APM Usage

APM (Agent Package Manager) is the open-source package manager for AI coding agents. It lets teams install, share, and govern reusable instructions, prompts, agents, skills, and MCP server configurations across projects.

When to activate

User mentions apm or "Agent Package Manager"
Questions about installing or managing AI-agent packages
Setting up instructions, prompts, agents, skills, or chatmodes
Configuring MCP servers through apm.yml
Authentication for private repos (GitHub, ADO, GHES, Artifactory)
Policy enforcement or apm audit
Package authoring or publishing
Compiling agent context (apm compile)
Troubleshooting apm errors

Key rules

Commit these files: apm.yml, apm.lock.yaml, .apm/, deployed harness directories including .grok/, and AGENTS.md
Never commit: apm_modules/ (add to .gitignore)
Team sync: after git clone, run apm install to restore dependencies
Update deps: apm install --update refreshes to latest refs
Pin versions: use tags (#v1.0.0) in production, branches for development
ASCII only: all CLI output and source must stay within printable ASCII

Reference

For detailed guidance, see the following resources:

Installation -- install and update APM
Workflow -- core workflow, apm.yml format, what to commit
Commands -- full CLI command reference
Dependencies -- all dependency formats and version pinning
Authentication -- token setup for private repos
Governance -- policy engine and audit checks
Package Authoring -- creating APM packages
Troubleshooting -- common errors and fixes

---name: apm-usagedescription: Activate when the user asks about APM (Agent Package Manager): installing, configuring, authoring, or troubleshooting AI-agent packages, dependencies, compilation, MCP servers, policy, or any `apm` CLI command.---# APM UsageAPM (Agent Package Manager) is the open-source package manager for AI codingagents. It lets teams install, share, and govern reusable instructions, prompts,agents, skills, and MCP server configurations across projects.## When to activate- User mentions `apm` or "Agent Package Manager"- Questions about installing or managing AI-agent packages- Setting up instructions, prompts, agents, skills, or chatmodes- Configuring MCP servers through apm.yml- Authentication for private repos (GitHub, ADO, GHES, Artifactory)- Policy enforcement or `apm audit`- Package authoring or publishing- Compiling agent context (`apm compile`)- Troubleshooting apm errors## Key rules- **Commit these files:** apm.yml, apm.lock.yaml, .apm/, deployed harness directories including .grok/, and AGENTS.md- **Never commit:** apm_modules/ (add to .gitignore)- **Team sync:** after `git clone`, run `apm install` to restore dependencies- **Update deps:** `apm install --update` refreshes to latest refs- **Pin versions:** use tags (`#v1.0.0`) in production, branches for development- **ASCII only:** all CLI output and source must stay within printable ASCII## ReferenceFor detailed guidance, see the following resources:- [Installation](./installation.md) -- install and update APM- [Workflow](./workflow.md) -- core workflow, apm.yml format, what to commit- [Commands](./commands.md) -- full CLI command reference- [Dependencies](./dependencies.md) -- all dependency formats and version pinning- [Authentication](./authentication.md) -- token setup for private repos- [Governance](./governance.md) -- policy engine and audit checks- [Package Authoring](./package-authoring.md) -- creating APM packages- [Troubleshooting](./troubleshooting.md) -- common errors and fixes

Frequently asked questions

Apm Usage