# Skill Sync

> Sync and install skills from a GitHub skills repository into a local or global AI skill root. Use when the user asks to install skills, update skills, sync skills from GitHub, load a skill library, or ensure cross-AI skill roots are up to date.

- Skill: `onfire7777/skill-sync` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add onfire7777/skill-sync`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/onfire7777/skill-sync/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: onfire7777 (https://skillmd.com/u/onfire7777)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/onfire7777/skill-sync

---


# Skill Sync

Sync all skills from a GitHub repository into `/home/ubuntu/skills/` with version tracking, validation, and change detection.

## Quick Start

Run the sync script:

```bash
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py
```

Default repo: `onfire7777/universal-ai-skills-library`. The script handles everything automatically.

## Commands

```bash
# Full sync (clone/pull + install/update all skills)
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py

# Sync from a different repo
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py --repo user/repo-name

# Preview changes without installing
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py --dry-run

# Only sync skills matching keywords
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py --filter "security,audit"

# Force overwrite locally modified skills
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py --force

# Validate all currently installed skills
python3 /home/ubuntu/skills/skill-sync/scripts/sync_skills.py --validate-only
```

## How It Works

1. **Clone or pull** the repo into `~/.skill-sync-cache/` (uses `gh` CLI with `git clone` fallback)
2. **Discover** all directories containing a valid `SKILL.md` (supports both `repo/skill-name/` and `repo/skills/skill-name/` layouts)
3. **Compare** each skill's content hash against the last sync state
4. **Install** new skills, **update** changed skills, **skip** unchanged ones
5. **Validate** every SKILL.md has proper YAML frontmatter (`name` + `description`)
6. **Save state** with commit hash and per-skill content hashes for next sync

## Change Detection

The script tracks content hashes to avoid unnecessary overwrites:

- **Source unchanged, dest unchanged** - skipped (already up-to-date)
- **Source changed, dest unchanged** - updated from repo
- **Source unchanged, dest changed** - skipped (local changes preserved)
- **Both changed** - skipped unless `--force` is used

## State File

Sync state is stored at `~/.skill-sync-cache/sync_state.json`. Contains last sync timestamp, commit hash, and per-skill content hashes. Delete this file to force a full re-sync.

## Configuration

Paths can be overridden via environment variables or CLI flags:

| Setting | Default | Override |
|---|---|---|
| Skills directory | `/home/ubuntu/skills` | `SKILL_ROUTER_SKILLS_DIR` or `--skills-dir` |
| Cache directory | `/home/ubuntu/.skill-sync-cache` | `SKILL_ROUTER_SYNC_CACHE` or `--cache-dir` |

## After Syncing

Skills are immediately available to compatible AI clients after syncing. Agents route skills from the target skill root using the `name` and `description` in each `SKILL.md` frontmatter.