# Validate Skill

> Validate that a skill conforms to the ai-agent-skills repository standards

- Skill: `waldronlab/validate-skill` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add waldronlab/validate-skill`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/waldronlab/validate-skill/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: waldronlab (https://skillmd.com/u/waldronlab)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/waldronlab/validate-skill

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# validate-skill

Validate that a skill conforms to waldronlab standards. Uses generic validators (markdownlint, yamllint) for basic checks, then adds waldronlab-specific validation for platform-agnostic compliance and repository conventions.

## Usage

Invoke this skill to validate a skill file:
- "Validate this skill"
- "Check if skills/[skill-name]/SKILL.md meets standards"

## Prerequisites

- Target skill file exists at `skills/{skill-name}/SKILL.md`
- Optional: `markdownlint` and `yamllint` installed

## Process

1. **Locate Target Skill**: Determine the skill to validate from the user's prompt or current directory.
2. **Run Generic Validation (Optional)**: If available, run `markdownlint` on the file, and validate the YAML frontmatter syntax (e.g., by extracting the frontmatter and running `yamllint -d relaxed` on it).
3. **Validate Repository Standards**: Check the file against the requirements in [AGENTS.md](../../AGENTS.md) and [SKILL_STANDARD.md](../../SKILL_STANDARD.md).
   - Ensure the YAML frontmatter contains required fields and no prohibited fields (`platforms`, `triggers`).
   - Check that the structure matches the standard format.
   - Verify agent neutrality (no tool references or platform commands in instructions).
   - Confirm it describes a workflow, not just code snippets.
   - Ensure it does not duplicate content from SSOT documents.
4. **Generate Validation Report**: Produce a summary of passed and failed checks, categorized by CRITICAL, WARNING, and INFO.
5. **Suggest Next Steps**: Offer to help fix any identified issues.

## Output Format

Generate a validation report in markdown format:

```markdown
# Skill Validation Report: [skill-name]

**Status**: ✅ PASS | ❌ FAIL ([N] issues)

## Generic Validation
**markdownlint**: ✅ PASS | ⚠️ [N] warnings
**YAML frontmatter**: ✅ PASS | ❌ FAIL

## Waldronlab-Specific Validation
### CRITICAL Issues (Must Fix)
❌ **[Issue title]** ([location])
   - Issue: [What violates standards]
   - Fix: [How to fix it]
   - Reference: [AGENTS.md or SKILL_STANDARD.md section]

### WARNING Issues (Should Fix)
⚠️ **[Issue title]** ([location])

### INFO Issues (Optional Improvements)
ℹ️ **[Issue title]** ([location])
```

## Examples

### Example: Validating a Skill
**User**: "Check if the analyze-r-package skill meets standards"
**Agent**:
1. Locates `skills/analyze-r-package/SKILL.md`
2. Runs generic and repository-specific validations
3. Reports results, identifying any CRITICAL or WARNING issues.

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**See also**: [SKILL_STANDARD.md](../../SKILL_STANDARD.md), [AGENTS.md](../../AGENTS.md)