How do I install the Hook Templates skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/hook-templates 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 Hook Templates 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 Hook Templates?

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 Hook Templates free to use?

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

Who published Hook Templates?

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

Hook Templates by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Hook Templates
Author: tomevault-io

Hook Templates

Comprehensive Claude Code hook patterns for automation, state management, and external integration. Use when implementing hooks for validation, workflow gates, MCP integration, or state machines. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io 4c74a63 2 files · 4.1 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Hook Patterns

Production-tested patterns for Claude Code hooks (1.0.40+).

Hook Roles (Beyond Just Validation)

Role	Hook Event	Example
Gate	PreToolUse	Block dangerous commands, require prerequisites
Side Effect	PostToolUse	Auto-format, auto-commit, lint
State Manager	PostToolUse	Create/delete state files, track workflow phase
External Integrator	Any	MCP calls, HTTP APIs, WebSocket
Context Injector	SessionStart	Load project context, activate services

Event Reference

Event	Trigger	Can Block	Use For
SessionStart	Session begins	No	Context loading, service activation
UserPromptSubmit	User sends message	Yes	Prompt validation, skill suggestion
PreToolUse	Before tool	Yes	Validation, workflow gates
PostToolUse	After tool	No	State updates, side effects
Stop	Claude stops	Yes	Quality gates, cleanup
SubagentStop	Subagent stops	Yes	Subagent quality gates

Exit Codes

Code	PreToolUse/Stop	Others
0	Allow	Continue
2	Block (stderr→Claude)	Logged
1, 3+	Block	Logged

JSON Response (Advanced)

{
  "decision": "approve|block",
  "reason": "Shown to user/Claude",
  "continue": true,
  "suppressOutput": false
}

Quick Registration

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [{
      "matcher": "Edit|Write",
      "hooks": [{ "type": "command", "command": "script.sh", "timeout": 5 }]
    }]
  }
}

Pattern Selection

Need	Pattern	Reference
Force skill/agent activation	Orchestration	orchestration-templates.md
Block dangerous actions	Gate Pattern	gate-patterns.md
Auto-format/lint/commit	Side Effect Pattern	side-effect-patterns.md
Full working examples	Examples	full-examples.md

Orchestration Patterns (NEW)

Hook-based skill/agent activation with reliability stats:

Pattern	Success	Use Case
Forced Evaluation	84%	Force Claude to evaluate and use skills
Agent Router	100%	Route to plugin agents via Task tool
Context Injection	100%	Load project context at session start

See orchestration-templates.md for templates.

Debugging

Common issues and solutions in debugging-guide.md.

Quick checklist:

Hook executable? (chmod +x)
Using INPUT=$(cat) to read stdin?
Using exit 2 for blocking (not exit 1)?
Debug to stderr (>&2), output to stdout?
New session after settings.json change?

Common Mistakes

Missing nested hooks array
Missing "type": "command"
Using exit 1 instead of exit 2 for blocking
Object matcher (not supported) - use script parsing instead

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: hook-templatesdescription: Comprehensive Claude Code hook patterns for automation, state management, and external integration. Use when implementing hooks for validation, workflow gates, MCP integration, or state machines. Use when this capability is needed.---# Hook PatternsProduction-tested patterns for Claude Code hooks (1.0.40+).## Hook Roles (Beyond Just Validation)| Role | Hook Event | Example ||------|------------|---------|| **Gate** | PreToolUse | Block dangerous commands, require prerequisites || **Side Effect** | PostToolUse | Auto-format, auto-commit, lint || **State Manager** | PostToolUse | Create/delete state files, track workflow phase || **External Integrator** | Any | MCP calls, HTTP APIs, WebSocket || **Context Injector** | SessionStart | Load project context, activate services |## Event Reference| Event | Trigger | Can Block | Use For ||-------|---------|-----------|---------|| SessionStart | Session begins | No | Context loading, service activation || UserPromptSubmit | User sends message | Yes | Prompt validation, skill suggestion || PreToolUse | Before tool | **Yes** | Validation, workflow gates || PostToolUse | After tool | No | State updates, side effects || Stop | Claude stops | Yes | Quality gates, cleanup || SubagentStop | Subagent stops | Yes | Subagent quality gates |## Exit Codes| Code | PreToolUse/Stop | Others ||------|-----------------|--------|| 0 | Allow | Continue || 2 | **Block** (stderr→Claude) | Logged || 1, 3+ | **Block** | Logged |## JSON Response (Advanced)```json{ "decision": "approve|block", "reason": "Shown to user/Claude", "continue": true, "suppressOutput": false}```## Quick Registration```json{ "hooks": { "PreToolUse": [{ "matcher": "Edit|Write", "hooks": [{ "type": "command", "command": "script.sh", "timeout": 5 }] }] }}```## Pattern Selection| Need | Pattern | Reference ||------|---------|-----------|| **Force skill/agent activation** | Orchestration | [orchestration-templates.md](references/orchestration-templates.md) || Block dangerous actions | Gate Pattern | [gate-patterns.md](references/gate-patterns.md) || Auto-format/lint/commit | Side Effect Pattern | [side-effect-patterns.md](references/side-effect-patterns.md) || Full working examples | Examples | [full-examples.md](references/full-examples.md) |## Orchestration Patterns (NEW)Hook-based skill/agent activation with reliability stats:| Pattern | Success | Use Case ||---------|---------|----------|| Forced Evaluation | **84%** | Force Claude to evaluate and use skills || Agent Router | **100%** | Route to plugin agents via Task tool || Context Injection | 100% | Load project context at session start |See [orchestration-templates.md](references/orchestration-templates.md) for templates.## DebuggingCommon issues and solutions in [debugging-guide.md](references/debugging-guide.md).Quick checklist:- Hook executable? (`chmod +x`)- Using `INPUT=$(cat)` to read stdin?- Using `exit 2` for blocking (not exit 1)?- Debug to stderr (`>&2`), output to stdout?- New session after settings.json change?## Common Mistakes- Missing nested `hooks` array- Missing `"type": "command"`- Using exit 1 instead of exit 2 for blocking- Object matcher (not supported) - use script parsing instead---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/chkim-su) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions