# Update Skill

> Create, update, or manage universal-ai-config skill templates. Handles finding existing skills, deciding whether to create or modify, and writing the template. Use when this capability is needed.

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

---


# Manage Skill Templates

Skills are reusable actions or workflows invocable as slash commands or auto-triggered by the AI.

## Finding Existing Skills

List directories in `<%= skillTemplatePath() %>/` to discover existing skills. Each skill is a directory containing a `SKILL.md` file. Read the `SKILL.md` frontmatter to understand what each skill does.

## Additional Template Directories

This project may have additional template directories configured via `additionalTemplateDirs`. To find them, search the project root for **all** config files matching `universal-ai-config.*` (e.g. `universal-ai-config.config.ts`, `universal-ai-config.overrides.config.ts`, and any other variants) and read the `additionalTemplateDirs` field from each. If the user asks to update a template that doesn't exist in the main templates directory, or explicitly refers to shared/global/external templates:

1. Read all `universal-ai-config.*` config files in the project root to find `additionalTemplateDirs` paths
2. Search those directories for the relevant skill
3. **IMPORTANT:** Before editing any file outside the main `<%= config.templatesDir %>/` directory, ask the user for explicit confirmation — these are shared templates that may affect other projects

## Deciding What to Do

- **Create new**: when the task/workflow is distinct from existing skills
- **Update existing**: when a skill covers similar ground but needs changes — modify its `SKILL.md` or supporting files
- **Delete**: remove the entire skill directory when a skill is obsolete

## Creating a New Skill

1. Create a directory: `<%= skillTemplatePath() %>/{skill-name}/`
2. Create `SKILL.md` inside it with frontmatter and instructions
3. Optionally add supporting files (templates, scripts, examples) in the same directory

### Frontmatter Fields

See the **Skills** section in `<%= instructionPath('uac-template-guide') %>` for the complete field reference and per-target override syntax. Key fields: `name`, `description`, `disableAutoInvocation`, `userInvocable`, `allowedTools`, `model`, `hooks`.

### Supporting Files

Skills can include additional files in their directory. These are automatically copied to generated output during `uac generate`. `.md` extra files are rendered through EJS (with access to `target`, `config`, path helpers), while non-`.md` files are copied as-is.

```
my-skill/
├── SKILL.md          # Main instructions (required)
├── template.md       # Template for the AI to fill in (EJS rendered)
├── examples/
│   └── sample.md     # Example output (EJS rendered)
└── scripts/
    └── helper.sh     # Script the AI can execute (copied raw)
```

Reference supporting files from `SKILL.md` so the AI knows they exist.

### Example

```markdown
---
name: create-component
description: Scaffold a new React component with tests and styles
argumentHint: '[component-name]'
---

Create a new React component named $ARGUMENTS:

1. Create the component file in src/components/
2. Add unit tests
3. Add a Storybook story
4. Export from the components index
```

## After Changes

Run `uac generate` to regenerate target-specific config files and verify the output.

**Reminder:** Always edit templates in `<%= skillTemplatePath() %>/` — never edit generated target-specific files directly.

---
> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/fabis94) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-16 -->