Instructions
Use this skill when the user wants to create a new skillset — a named, installable collection of related Claude skills.
Shared reference
Before doing anything, load ../assets/skill-anatomy.md and internalize it. Every decision about frontmatter, directory structure, and naming conventions must conform to that spec.
Bundled resources
assets/skillset-template.md — the output template for SKILLSET.md; load and use it exactly
Workflow
Understand the collection. Ask the user:
- What is the common theme or domain? (e.g., developer workflows, research tasks, writing, data analysis)
- What skills does the user have in mind? List them out; for each, ask for a one-line description of what it does.
- Who is the intended user of this skillset?
If the user has already described this in enough detail, skip questions you can answer. Never ask for information you already have.
Validate the skill list. For each proposed skill, check:
- Is it distinct enough from the others to be its own skill, or should it be merged?
- Is it in scope for the stated theme? Flag anything that seems out of place and ask if it belongs.
- Is the name clear and action-oriented? Suggest a better kebab-case name if not.
A good skillset has 2–6 skills. If the user proposes more than 6, ask whether some are stretch goals that could come later.
Identify shared assets. Look across the skills for common data, conventions, or references that multiple skills will need:
- A shared taxonomy or type system (e.g., commit types used by both a commit-writer and a changelog-generator)
- A shared audience or persona definition used by multiple explainer-type skills
- A shared output convention referenced by 3+ skills
If you find a genuine shared asset, note it and its proposed filename. If there are no shared assets, say so — do not invent one.
Choose the complexity tier for each skill. Apply the complexity tier logic from skill-anatomy.md to each skill. Note which skills will need assets/, references/, or scripts/ directories.
Draft the SKILLSET.md. Load assets/skillset-template.md and fill it in:
name — kebab-case; must match the intended directory name
description — 1–2 sentences describing the collection as a whole
version — "1.0.0" for new skillsets
tags — union of all skill tags, plus collection-level tags
- Body: title paragraph, Shared Assets section (if any), Skills section
Design each skill. For each skill in the set, produce a full SKILL.md using the same workflow as the skill-author skill:
- Write all frontmatter fields
- Write the full Instructions body (trigger sentence, sections, workflow, rules)
- Design and write out supporting files (
assets/, references/, scripts/) as needed
Present the complete package. Output:
- A directory tree of the entire skillset
SKILLSET.md in a fenced code block labeled with its path
- Each
SKILL.md and supporting file in labeled fenced code blocks, grouped by skill
- Any shared
assets/ files at the skillset level
Then ask: "Does this structure match what you had in mind? Are there any skills to add, remove, or rename?"
Rules
- Never create a skillset with only one skill — a single skill doesn't need a skillset wrapper; point the user toward
skill-author instead
- Never create shared assets that are only used by one skill — those belong in the skill's own
assets/ directory
- Never invent frontmatter fields not defined in
skill-anatomy.md
- The
name in each SKILL.md must exactly match its directory name; flag any mismatch
- The
name in SKILLSET.md must exactly match the skillset directory name
- Always write complete file contents — never output placeholder comments like
<!-- fill in here -->
- If a skill in the set is complex enough to benefit from a script, write a real script stub with the correct shebang and a comment block — not a placeholder
- Do not duplicate content between
SKILLSET.md and individual SKILL.md files — the manifest describes the collection; the skill files describe individual behavior
1---2name: skillset-author3description: Guides you through designing and packaging a complete skillset — determines what skills belong together, writes the SKILLSET.md manifest, identifies shared assets, and produces the full directory layout with all skill files ready to install.4---56## Instructions78Use this skill when the user wants to create a new skillset — a named, installable collection of related Claude skills.910### Shared reference1112Before doing anything, load `../assets/skill-anatomy.md` and internalize it. Every decision about frontmatter, directory structure, and naming conventions must conform to that spec.1314### Bundled resources1516- `assets/skillset-template.md` — the output template for `SKILLSET.md`; load and use it exactly1718### Workflow19201. **Understand the collection.** Ask the user:21 - What is the common theme or domain? (e.g., developer workflows, research tasks, writing, data analysis)22 - What skills does the user have in mind? List them out; for each, ask for a one-line description of what it does.23 - Who is the intended user of this skillset?2425 If the user has already described this in enough detail, skip questions you can answer. Never ask for information you already have.26272. **Validate the skill list.** For each proposed skill, check:28 - Is it distinct enough from the others to be its own skill, or should it be merged?29 - Is it in scope for the stated theme? Flag anything that seems out of place and ask if it belongs.30 - Is the name clear and action-oriented? Suggest a better kebab-case name if not.3132 A good skillset has 2–6 skills. If the user proposes more than 6, ask whether some are stretch goals that could come later.33343. **Identify shared assets.** Look across the skills for common data, conventions, or references that multiple skills will need:35 - A shared taxonomy or type system (e.g., commit types used by both a commit-writer and a changelog-generator)36 - A shared audience or persona definition used by multiple explainer-type skills37 - A shared output convention referenced by 3+ skills3839 If you find a genuine shared asset, note it and its proposed filename. If there are no shared assets, say so — do not invent one.40414. **Choose the complexity tier for each skill.** Apply the complexity tier logic from `skill-anatomy.md` to each skill. Note which skills will need `assets/`, `references/`, or `scripts/` directories.42435. **Draft the SKILLSET.md.** Load `assets/skillset-template.md` and fill it in:44 - `name` — kebab-case; must match the intended directory name45 - `description` — 1–2 sentences describing the collection as a whole46 - `version` — `"1.0.0"` for new skillsets47 - `tags` — union of all skill tags, plus collection-level tags48 - Body: title paragraph, Shared Assets section (if any), Skills section49506. **Design each skill.** For each skill in the set, produce a full `SKILL.md` using the same workflow as the `skill-author` skill:51 - Write all frontmatter fields52 - Write the full Instructions body (trigger sentence, sections, workflow, rules)53 - Design and write out supporting files (`assets/`, `references/`, `scripts/`) as needed54557. **Present the complete package.** Output:56 - A directory tree of the entire skillset57 - `SKILLSET.md` in a fenced code block labeled with its path58 - Each `SKILL.md` and supporting file in labeled fenced code blocks, grouped by skill59 - Any shared `assets/` files at the skillset level6061 Then ask: "Does this structure match what you had in mind? Are there any skills to add, remove, or rename?"6263### Rules6465- Never create a skillset with only one skill — a single skill doesn't need a skillset wrapper; point the user toward `skill-author` instead66- Never create shared assets that are only used by one skill — those belong in the skill's own `assets/` directory67- Never invent frontmatter fields not defined in `skill-anatomy.md`68- The `name` in each `SKILL.md` must exactly match its directory name; flag any mismatch69- The `name` in `SKILLSET.md` must exactly match the skillset directory name70- Always write complete file contents — never output placeholder comments like `<!-- fill in here -->`71- If a skill in the set is complex enough to benefit from a script, write a real script stub with the correct shebang and a comment block — not a placeholder72- Do not duplicate content between `SKILLSET.md` and individual `SKILL.md` files — the manifest describes the collection; the skill files describe individual behavior