# skills The CLI for the open agent skills ecosystem. Supports **OpenCode**, **Claude Code**, **Codex**, **Cursor**, and [73 more](#supported-agents). ## Install a Skill ```bash npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills ``` ## Use a Skill Without Installing Generate a prompt for one skill, or start a supported coding agent interactively: ```bash npx skills use vercel-labs/agent-skills@web-design-guidelines | claude npx skills use vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill web-design-guidelines --agent claude-code ``` `skills use` resolves sources the same way as `skills add`, writes the selected skill files to a temporary directory, and prints only the generated prompt to stdout unless `--agent` is provided. With `--agent`, it starts one supported agent interactively with the generated prompt. ### Source Formats ```bash # GitHub shorthand (owner/repo) npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills # Full GitHub URL npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills # Direct path to a skill in a repo npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/web-design-guidelines # GitLab URL npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo # Any git URL npx skills add git@github.com:vercel-labs/agent-skills.git # Local path npx skills add ./my-local-skills ``` ### Private Repositories Use the same command for public and private repositories. The CLI uses the authentication already configured for the repository URL: ```bash # GitHub shorthand or HTTPS (Git credential helper, GitHub CLI, then SSH fallback) npx skills add acme/private-skills # SSH on GitHub, GitLab, or another Git host npx skills add git@github.com:acme/private-skills.git npx skills add ssh://git@git.example.com/acme/private-skills.git # HTTPS on any Git host (uses your configured Git credential helper) npx skills add https://git.example.com/acme/private-skills.git ``` For GitHub HTTPS and shorthand sources, `skills` first uses normal Git credentials. If that fails and GitHub CLI is authenticated, it tries `gh repo clone`, followed by SSH. It does not execute `gh auth token` or copy the stored GitHub CLI credential into the Node.js process. For GitHub tree lookups, `skills` first tries the API anonymously, then an explicitly supplied environment token, then `gh api`. GitHub CLI applies its own stored authentication and returns only the API response; the credential is never printed to or read by `skills`. If API access still fails, update checks fall back to an authenticated Git clone. `GITHUB_TOKEN` or `GH_TOKEN` can be set explicitly for GitHub API access, including private repository downloads and update checks. They are optional for installs when Git, GitHub CLI, or SSH authentication is already configured. ### Options | Option | Description | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `-g, --global` | Install to user directory instead of project | | `-a, --agent ` | Target specific agents (e.g., `claude-code`, `codex`). See [Supported Agents](#supported-agents) | | `-s, --skill ` | Install specific skills by name (use `'*'` for all skills) | | `-l, --list` | List available skills without installing | | `--copy` | Copy files instead of symlinking to agent directories | | `-y, --yes` | Skip all confirmation prompts | | `--all` | Install all skills to all agents without prompts | ### Examples ```bash # List skills in a repository npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list # Install specific skills npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design --skill skill-creator # Install a skill with spaces in the name (must be quoted) npx skills add owner/repo --skill "Convex Best Practices" # Install to specific agents npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -a claude-code -a opencode # Non-interactive installation (CI/CD friendly) npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design -g -a claude-code -y # Install all skills from a repo to all agents npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --all # Install all skills to specific agents npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill '*' -a claude-code # Install specific skills to all agents npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --agent '*' --skill frontend-design # Install from a direct SKILL.md or archive download URL npx skills add https://example.com/download/my-skill ``` Direct download URLs are tried after well-known discovery. They may point to a single valid `SKILL.md` file or a `.zip`, `.tar`, `.tar.gz`, or `.tgz` archive; the URL does not need to include a file extension. Downloads are limited to 10 MiB, extracted content to 25 MiB, and archives to 1000 files by default. Override with `SKILLS_DOWNLOAD_MAX_BYTES`, `SKILLS_EXTRACT_MAX_BYTES`, and `SKILLS_EXTRACT_MAX_FILES` when you trust the source. ### Installation Scope | Scope | Flag | Location | Use Case | | ----------- | --------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | **Project** | (default) | `.//skills/` | Committed with your project, shared with team | | **Global** | `-g` | `~//skills/` | Available across all projects | ### Installation Methods When installing interactively, you can choose: | Method | Description | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Symlink** (Recommended) | Creates symlinks from each agent to a canonical copy. Single source of truth, easy updates. | | **Copy** | Creates independent copies for each agent. Use when symlinks aren't supported. | ## Other Commands | Command | Description | | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | `npx skills use ` | Use one skill without installing | | `npx skills list` | List installed skills (alias: `ls`) | | `npx skills find [query]` | Search for skills interactively or by keyword | | `npx skills remove [skills]` | Remove installed skills from agents | | `npx skills update [skills]` | Update installed skills to latest versions | | `npx skills init [name]` | Create a new SKILL.md template | ### `skills list` List all installed skills. Similar to `npm ls`. ```bash # List all installed skills (project and global) npx skills list # List only global skills npx skills ls -g # Filter by specific agents npx skills ls -a claude-code -a cursor ``` ### `skills find` Search for skills interactively or by keyword. ```bash # Interactive search (fzf-style) npx skills find # Search by keyword npx skills find typescript # Search across every repository owned by an organization or user npx skills find react --owner vercel ``` ### `skills update` ```bash # Update all skills (interactive scope prompt) npx skills update # Update a single skill by name npx skills update my-skill # Update multiple specific skills npx skills update frontend-design web-design-guidelines # Update only global or project skills npx skills update -g npx skills update -p # Non-interactive (auto-detects scope: project if in a project, else global) npx skills update -y ``` | Option | Description | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `-g, --global` | Only update global skills | | `-p, --project` | Only update project skills | | `-y, --yes` | Skip scope prompt (auto-detect: project if in a project dir, else global) | | `[skills...]` | Update specific skills by name instead of all | ### `skills init` ```bash # Create SKILL.md in current directory npx skills init # Create a new skill in a subdirectory npx skills init my-skill ``` ### `skills remove` Remove installed skills from agents. ```bash # Remove interactively (select from installed skills) npx skills remove # Remove specific skill by name npx skills remove web-design-guidelines # Remove multiple skills npx skills remove frontend-design web-design-guidelines # Remove from global scope npx skills remove --global web-design-guidelines # Remove from specific agents only npx skills remove --agent claude-code cursor my-skill # Remove all installed skills without confirmation npx skills remove --all # Remove all skills from a specific agent npx skills remove --skill '*' -a cursor # Remove a specific skill from all agents npx skills remove my-skill --agent '*' # Use 'rm' alias npx skills rm my-skill ``` | Option | Description | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | `-g, --global` | Remove from global scope (~/) instead of project | | `-a, --agent` | Remove from specific agents (use `'*'` for all) | | `-s, --skill` | Specify skills to remove (use `'*'` for all) | | `-y, --yes` | Skip confirmation prompts | | `--all` | Shorthand for `--skill '*' --agent '*' -y` | ## What are Agent Skills? Agent skills are reusable instruction sets that extend your coding agent's capabilities. They're defined in `SKILL.md` files with YAML frontmatter containing a `name` and `description`. Skills let agents perform specialized tasks like: - Generating release notes from git history - Creating PRs following your team's conventions - Integrating with external tools (Linear, Notion, etc.) Discover skills at **[skills.sh](https://skills.sh)** ## Supported Agents Skills can be installed to any of these agents: | Agent | `--agent` | Project Path | Global Path | |-------|-----------|--------------|-------------| | AiderDesk | `aider-desk` | `.aider-desk/skills/` | `~/.aider-desk/skills/` | | Amp, Replit, Universal | `amp`, `replit`, `universal` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.config/agents/skills/` | | Antigravity | `antigravity` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.gemini/antigravity/skills/` | | Antigravity CLI | `antigravity-cli` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.gemini/antigravity-cli/skills/` | | AstrBot | `astrbot` | `data/skills/` | `~/.astrbot/data/skills/` | | Autohand Code CLI | `autohand-code` | `.autohand/skills/` | `~/.autohand/skills/` | | Augment | `augment` | `.augment/skills/` | `~/.augment/skills/` | | IBM Bob | `bob` | `.bob/skills/` | `~/.bob/skills/` | | Claude Code | `claude-code` | `.claude/skills/` | `~/.claude/skills/` | | OpenClaw | `openclaw` | `skills/` | `~/.openclaw/skills/` | | Cline, Dexto, Kimi Code CLI, Loaf, Warp, Zed | `cline`, `dexto`, `kimi-code-cli`, `loaf`, `warp`, `zed` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.agents/skills/` | | CodeArts Agent | `codearts-agent` | `.codeartsdoer/skills/` | `~/.codeartsdoer/skills/` | | CodeBuddy | `codebuddy` | `.codebuddy/skills/` | `~/.codebuddy/skills/` | | Codemaker | `codemaker` | `.codemaker/skills/` | `~/.codemaker/skills/` | | Code Studio | `codestudio` | `.codestudio/skills/` | `~/.codestudio/skills/` | | Codex | `codex` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.codex/skills/` | | Command Code | `command-code` | `.commandcode/skills/` | `~/.commandcode/skills/` | | Continue | `continue` | `.continue/skills/` | `~/.continue/skills/` | | Cortex Code | `cortex` | `.cortex/skills/` | `~/.snowflake/cortex/skills/` | | Crush | `crush` | `.crush/skills/` | `~/.config/crush/skills/` | | Cursor | `cursor` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.cursor/skills/` | | Deep Agents | `deepagents` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.deepagents/agent/skills/` | | Devin for Terminal | `devin` | `.devin/skills/` | `~/.config/devin/skills/` | | Droid | `droid` | `.factory/skills/` | `~/.factory/skills/` | | Eve | `eve` | `agent/skills/` | N/A (project-only) | | Firebender | `firebender` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.firebender/skills/` | | ForgeCode | `forgecode` | `.forge/skills/` | `~/.forge/skills/` | | Gemini CLI | `gemini-cli` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.gemini/skills/` | | GitHub Copilot | `github-copilot` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.copilot/skills/` | | Goose | `goose` | `.goose/skills/` | `~/.config/goose/skills/` | | Grok Build | `grok` | `.grok/skills/` | `~/.grok/skills/` | | Hermes Agent | `hermes-agent` | `.hermes/skills/` | `~/.hermes/skills/` | | inference.sh | `inference-sh` | `.inferencesh/skills/` | `~/.inferencesh/skills/` | | Jazz | `jazz` | `.jazz/skills/` | `~/.jazz/skills/` | | Junie | `junie` | `.junie/skills/` | `~/.junie/skills/` | | iFlow CLI | `iflow-cli` | `.iflow/skills/` | `~/.iflow/skills/` | | Kilo Code | `kilo` | `.kilocode/skills/` | `~/.kilocode/skills/` | | Kimchi | `kimchi` | `.kimchi/skills/` | `~/.config/kimchi/harness/skills/` | | Kiro CLI | `kiro-cli` | `.kiro/skills/` | `~/.kiro/skills/` | | Kode | `kode` | `.kode/skills/` | `~/.kode/skills/` | | Lingma | `lingma` | `.lingma/skills/` | `~/.lingma/skills/` | | MCPJam | `mcpjam` | `.mcpjam/skills/` | `~/.mcpjam/skills/` | | MiniMax Code | `minimax-code` | `.minimax/skills/` | `~/.minimax/skills/` | | Mistral Vibe | `mistral-vibe` | `.vibe/skills/` | `~/.vibe/skills/` | | Moxby | `moxby` | `.moxby/skills/` | `~/.moxby/skills/` | | Mux | `mux` | `.mux/skills/` | `~/.mux/skills/` | | OpenCode | `opencode` | `.agents/skills/` | `~/.config/opencode/skills/` | | OpenHands | `openhands` | `.openhands/skills/` | `~/.openhands/skills/` | | Ona | `ona` | `.ona/skills/` | `~/.ona/skills/` | | Pi | `pi` | `.pi/skills/` | `~/.pi/agent/skills/` | | Posit Assistant | `posit-assistant` | `.posit/assistant/skills/` | `~/.posit/assistant/skills/` | | Qoder | `qoder` | `.qoder/skills/` | `~/.qoder/skills/` | | Qoder CN | `qoder-cn` | `.qoder/skills/` | `~/.qoder-cn/skills/` | | Qwen Code | `qwen-code` | `.qwen/skills/` | `~/.qwen/skills/` | | Reasonix | `reasonix` | `.reasonix/skills/` | `~/.reasonix/skills/` | | Rovo Dev | `rovodev` | `.rovodev/skills/` | `~/.rovodev/skills/` | | Roo Code | `roo` | `.roo/skills/` | `~/.roo/skills/` | | Tabnine CLI | `tabnine-cli` | `.tabnine/agent/skills/` | `~/.tabnine/agent/skills/` | | Terramind | `terramind` | `.terramind/skills/` | `~/.terramind/skills/` | | Tinycloud | `tinycloud` | `.tinycloud/skills/` | `~/.tinycloud/skills/` | | Trae | `trae` | `.trae/skills/` | `~/.trae/skills/` | | Trae CN | `trae-cn` | `.trae/skills/` | `~/.trae-cn/skills/` | | Windsurf | `windsurf` | `.windsurf/skills/` | `~/.codeium/windsurf/skills/` | | ZCode | `zcode` | `.zcode/skills/` | `~/.zcode/skills/` | | Zencoder, Zenflow | `zencoder`, `zenflow` | `.zencoder/skills/` | `~/.zencoder/skills/` | | Neovate | `neovate` | `.neovate/skills/` | `~/.neovate/skills/` | | Pochi | `pochi` | `.pochi/skills/` | `~/.pochi/skills/` | | PromptScript | `promptscript` | `.agents/skills/` | N/A (project-only) | | AdaL | `adal` | `.adal/skills/` | `~/.adal/skills/` | > [!NOTE] > **Kiro CLI users:** The default agent automatically loads skills from `.kiro/skills/` and `~/.kiro/skills/` — no > configuration needed. If you use a **custom agent**, add skills to its `resources` in `.kiro/agents/.json`: > > ```json > { > "resources": ["skill://.kiro/skills/**/SKILL.md"] > } > ``` The CLI automatically detects which coding agents you have installed. If none are detected, you'll be prompted to select which agents to install to. ## Creating Skills Skills are directories containing a `SKILL.md` file with YAML frontmatter: ```markdown --- name: my-skill description: What this skill does and when to use it --- # My Skill Instructions for the agent to follow when this skill is activated. ## When to Use Describe the scenarios where this skill should be used. ## Steps 1. First, do this 2. Then, do that ``` ### Required Fields - `name`: Unique identifier (lowercase, hyphens allowed) - `description`: Brief explanation of what the skill does ### Optional Fields - `metadata.internal`: Set to `true` to hide the skill from normal discovery. Internal skills are only visible and installable when `INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1` is set. Useful for work-in-progress skills or skills meant only for internal tooling. ```markdown --- name: my-internal-skill description: An internal skill not shown by default metadata: internal: true --- ``` ### Skill Discovery The CLI searches for skills in these locations within a repository. Each skill container directory is walked up to three levels deep, covering flat layouts (`skills//SKILL.md`) and catalog layouts with one or two category levels (`skills///SKILL.md` or `skills////SKILL.md`). A `SKILL.md` discovered at a shallower level shadows anything nested below it. Use `--full-depth` to also discover `SKILL.md` files outside these container directories (e.g. under `examples/` or `tests/`). - Root directory (if it contains `SKILL.md`) - `skills/` - `skills/.curated/` - `skills/.experimental/` - `skills/.system/` - `.aider-desk/skills/` - `.agents/skills/` - `data/skills/` - `.autohand/skills/` - `.augment/skills/` - `.bob/skills/` - `.claude/skills/` - `.codeartsdoer/skills/` - `.codebuddy/skills/` - `.codemaker/skills/` - `.codestudio/skills/` - `.commandcode/skills/` - `.continue/skills/` - `.cortex/skills/` - `.crush/skills/` - `.devin/skills/` - `.factory/skills/` - `agent/skills/` - `.forge/skills/` - `.goose/skills/` - `.grok/skills/` - `.hermes/skills/` - `.inferencesh/skills/` - `.jazz/skills/` - `.junie/skills/` - `.iflow/skills/` - `.kilocode/skills/` - `.kimchi/skills/` - `.kiro/skills/` - `.kode/skills/` - `.lingma/skills/` - `.mcpjam/skills/` - `.minimax/skills/` - `.vibe/skills/` - `.moxby/skills/` - `.mux/skills/` - `.openhands/skills/` - `.ona/skills/` - `.pi/skills/` - `.posit/assistant/skills/` - `.qoder/skills/` - `.qwen/skills/` - `.reasonix/skills/` - `.rovodev/skills/` - `.roo/skills/` - `.tabnine/agent/skills/` - `.terramind/skills/` - `.tinycloud/skills/` - `.trae/skills/` - `.windsurf/skills/` - `.zcode/skills/` - `.zencoder/skills/` - `.neovate/skills/` - `.pochi/skills/` - `.adal/skills/` ### Plugin Manifest Discovery If `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json` or `.claude-plugin/plugin.json` exists, skills declared in those files are also discovered: ```json // .claude-plugin/marketplace.json { "metadata": { "pluginRoot": "./plugins" }, "plugins": [ { "name": "my-plugin", "source": "my-plugin", "skills": ["./skills/review", "./skills/test"] } ] } ``` This enables compatibility with the [Claude Code plugin marketplace](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/plugin-marketplaces) ecosystem. Skill paths declared in a manifest are searched at their declared depth and are not subject to the bounded depth-3 catalog walk described above. If no skills are found in standard locations, a recursive search is performed. ## Compatibility Skills are generally compatible across agents since they follow a shared [Agent Skills specification](https://agentskills.io). However, some features may be agent-specific: | Feature | OpenCode | OpenHands | Claude Code | Cline | CodeBuddy | Codex | Command Code | Kiro CLI | Cursor | Antigravity | Roo Code | Github Copilot | Amp | OpenClaw | Neovate | Pi | Qoder | Zencoder | | --------------- | -------- | --------- | ----------- | ----- | --------- | ----- | ------------ | -------- | ------ | ----------- | -------- | -------------- | --- | -------- | ------- | --- | ----- | -------- | | Basic skills | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | `allowed-tools` | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | | `context: fork` | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | | Hooks | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | ## Troubleshooting ### "No skills found" Ensure the repository contains valid `SKILL.md` files with both `name` and `description` in the frontmatter. ### Skill not loading in agent - Verify the skill was installed to the correct path - Check the agent's documentation for skill loading requirements - Ensure the `SKILL.md` frontmatter is valid YAML ### Permission errors Ensure you have write access to the target directory. ## Environment Variables | Variable | Description | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS` | Set to `1` or `true` to show and install skills marked as `internal: true` | | `DISABLE_TELEMETRY` | Set to disable anonymous usage telemetry | | `DO_NOT_TRACK` | Alternative way to disable telemetry | | `GITHUB_TOKEN` | Optional explicit token for authenticated GitHub API requests | | `GH_TOKEN` | Fallback explicit token for authenticated GitHub API requests | ```bash # Install internal skills INSTALL_INTERNAL_SKILLS=1 npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list ``` ## Telemetry This CLI collects anonymous usage data to help improve the tool. No personal information is collected. GitHub repository and skill identifiers are sent only for repositories that GitHub positively confirms are public. Other remote source types may include source and skill identifiers in install telemetry because their visibility cannot be checked through GitHub. Security-audit requests remain limited to confirmed-public GitHub repositories. Set `DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1` or `DO_NOT_TRACK=1` to disable both entirely. ## Related Links - [Agent Skills Specification](https://agentskills.io) - [Skills Directory](https://skills.sh) - [Amp Skills Documentation](https://ampcode.com/manual#agent-skills) - [Antigravity Skills Documentation](https://antigravity.google/docs/skills) - [Factory AI / Droid Skills Documentation](https://docs.factory.ai/cli/configuration/skills) - [Claude Code Skills Documentation](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills) - [OpenClaw Skills Documentation](https://docs.openclaw.ai/tools/skills) - [Cline Skills Documentation](https://docs.cline.bot/features/skills) - [CodeBuddy Skills Documentation](https://www.codebuddy.ai/docs/ide/Features/Skills) - [Codex Skills Documentation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills) - [Command Code Skills Documentation](https://commandcode.ai/docs/skills) - [Crush Skills Documentation](https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush?tab=readme-ov-file#agent-skills) - [Cursor Skills Documentation](https://cursor.com/docs/context/skills) - [Firebender Skills Documentation](https://docs.firebender.com/multi-agent/skills) - [Gemini CLI Skills Documentation](https://geminicli.com/docs/cli/skills/) - [GitHub Copilot Agent Skills](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills) - [iFlow CLI Skills Documentation](https://platform.iflow.cn/en/cli/examples/skill) - [Kimi Code CLI Skills Documentation](https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/customization/skills) - [Kiro CLI Skills Documentation](https://kiro.dev/docs/cli/custom-agents/configuration-reference/#skill-resources) - [Kode Skills Documentation](https://github.com/shareAI-lab/kode/blob/main/docs/skills.md) - [OpenCode Skills Documentation](https://opencode.ai/docs/skills) - [Qwen Code Skills Documentation](https://qwenlm.github.io/qwen-code-docs/en/users/features/skills/) - [OpenHands Skills Documentation](https://docs.openhands.ai/modules/usage/how-to/using-skills) - [Pi Skills Documentation](https://github.com/badlogic/pi-mono/blob/main/packages/coding-agent/docs/skills.md) - [Posit Assistant Skills Documentation](https://assistant.posit.co/docs/features/skills/) - [Qoder Skills Documentation](https://docs.qoder.com/cli/Skills) - [Replit Skills Documentation](https://docs.replit.com/replitai/skills) - [Roo Code Skills Documentation](https://docs.roocode.com/features/skills) - [Trae Skills Documentation](https://docs.trae.ai/ide/skills) - [Vercel Agent Skills Repository](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills) ## License This project is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE).