How do I install the Refs skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/refs 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.

What does the Refs skill do?

Sync and search local reference repositories (curated awesome-* lists) to support planning/design decisions. Use when this capability is needed. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Refs?

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.

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

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

Refs by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Refs
Author: tomevault-io

File contents

/sdlc:refs - Local Reference Repos (Awesome Lists)

Use this skill to keep curated awesome-* repos available locally so other SDLC skills and agents can Read/Grep them during planning and design.

Sync / Update

${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/awesome/sync.sh

This also writes a lock file (commit SHAs per repo):

${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/awesome/LOCK.json

How To Search

rg -n "observability" "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/awesome/repos"
rg -n "threat model" "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/awesome/repos"
rg -n "architecture decision record|ADR" "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/awesome/repos"

Optional: Build/Search A Catalog

This builds a small SQLite catalog (FTS) from the local README files:

${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/awesome/catalog.py build
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/awesome/catalog.py search "OpenTelemetry"
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/awesome/catalog.py search "\"feature flags\"" --limit 10
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/awesome/catalog.py search "OpenTelemetry" --no-social

Where The Seed List Lives

${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/awesome/seeds.tsv

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Frequently asked questions

Refs