How do I install the Install Skills skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add patinaproject/install-skills 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 Install Skills safe to use?

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

Which AI agents work with Install Skills?

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 Install Skills free to use?

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

Who published Install Skills?

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

Install Skills by patinaproject — Agent Skill

Name: Install Skills
Author: patinaproject

File contents

Install project skills

Project-local skills belong to the repository. The lockfile records their sources, and the committed .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/ entries make them available in a fresh checkout.

If skills-lock.json has not changed and the user only wants to restore the committed skill directories, run:

pnpm skills:install

When adding, removing, renaming, or refreshing a lockfile entry, read the skill list change instructions. They define the order of work, the check for skills renamed or removed upstream, the pull request summary, and required verification.

Before installing

Read AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, and any repository instructions for agent skills or shared tools.
Inspect the current installed list. Prefer a repository script such as pnpm skills:list. Otherwise run:
```
test -f skills-lock.json && npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest list --json
```
Resolve the requested source and skill names. If either is unclear, list the source before installing:
```
npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --list
```

Install

Run installs from the repository root. Never use --global.

Install one or more named skills from one source:

npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --skill <skill-a> <skill-b> --agent '*' --yes

Install every skill from a source only when the user asks for all of them:

npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --skill '*' --agent '*' --yes

GitHub lock entries contain source and skillPath. The restore command clones the source's default branch, so another run may install newer upstream content. The source must be publicly readable. Use a source with a git ref when the user requires a fixed version.

After changing the lockfile, restore every locked skill:

pnpm skills:install

This command reads skills-lock.json, writes real skill directories under .agents/skills/, and maintains matching relative links under .claude/skills/.

For Patina Project skills, use patinaproject/skills and install only the requested names. Common repository defaults are:

scaffold-repository
using-github
install-skills
grill-to-spec
design-by-contract
grill-system-design
review-system-design
writing-for-pstack

Verify

Run:

npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest list --json
git status --short

Follow every additional check in catalog-change.md. Report the installed skills, their source, and the changed lockfile or skill directories. Stop before committing unless the user asked to finish the branch.

---name: install-skillsdescription: Install or refresh project-local agent skills recorded in skills-lock.json. Use when the user names a skill source to add to the repository or asks to update its locked skills.---# Install project skillsProject-local skills belong to the repository. The lockfile records theirsources, and the committed `.agents/skills/` and `.claude/skills/` entries makethem available in a fresh checkout.If `skills-lock.json` has not changed and the user only wants to restore thecommitted skill directories, run:```bashpnpm skills:install```When adding, removing, renaming, or refreshing a lockfile entry, read[the skill list change instructions](./catalog-change.md). They define theorder of work, the check for skills renamed or removed upstream, the pullrequest summary, and required verification.## Before installing1. Read `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md`, and any repository instructions for agent skills or shared tools.2. Inspect the current installed list. Prefer a repository script such as `pnpm skills:list`. Otherwise run: ```bash test -f skills-lock.json && npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest list --json ```3. Resolve the requested source and skill names. If either is unclear, list the source before installing: ```bash npm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --list ```## InstallRun installs from the repository root. Never use `--global`.Install one or more named skills from one source:```bashnpm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --skill <skill-a> <skill-b> --agent '*' --yes```Install every skill from a source only when the user asks for all of them:```bashnpm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest add <source> --skill '*' --agent '*' --yes```GitHub lock entries contain `source` and `skillPath`. The restore command clonesthe source's default branch, so another run may install newer upstream content.The source must be publicly readable. Use a source with a git ref when the userrequires a fixed version.After changing the lockfile, restore every locked skill:```bashpnpm skills:install```This command reads `skills-lock.json`, writes real skill directories under`.agents/skills/`, and maintains matching relative links under`.claude/skills/`.For Patina Project skills, use `patinaproject/skills` and install only therequested names. Common repository defaults are:- `scaffold-repository`- `using-github`- `install-skills`- `grill-to-spec`- `design-by-contract`- `grill-system-design`- `review-system-design`- `writing-for-pstack`## VerifyRun:```bashnpm_config_ignore_scripts=true npx --yes skills@latest list --jsongit status --short```Follow every additional check in `catalog-change.md`. Report the installedskills, their source, and the changed lockfile or skill directories. Stop beforecommitting unless the user asked to finish the branch.

Frequently asked questions

Install Skills