skill-writer

Skill Writer

Use this as the single canonical workflow for skill creation and improvement. Primary success condition: maximize high-value input coverage before authoring while minimizing wasted runtime tokens.

Follow the workflow steps in order. Load only the reference files required for the step you are on. SKILL.md is the primary router: every bundled reference file should be flat under references/ and listed here with a direct "open when..." reason.

Core Workflow References

Open when you need to...	Read
choose the minimum workflow path for create, update, iterate, or research-first work	references/mode-selection.md
choose the simplest adequate execution shape before deciding files	references/execution-shapes.md
apply writing constraints for depth, concision, and portability	references/design-principles.md
decide what belongs in SKILL.md, references/, SPEC.md, or supporting files	references/reference-architecture.md
create or update the maintenance contract for a skill	references/spec-template.md
find missing high-signal sources, including history and regressions	references/source-discovery.md
adapt an upstream prompt, workflow, rubric, benchmark, or docs into a skill	references/source-adaptation.md
run the full synthesis pass with coverage checks and source capture	references/synthesis-path.md
author or update SKILL.md, SPEC.md, and supporting files	references/authoring-path.md
improve trigger language and false-positive/false-negative behavior	references/description-optimization.md
iterate from positive, negative, or fix examples	references/iteration-path.md
store persistent working and holdout examples for future revisions	references/iteration-evidence.md
choose a response template, schema, or output contract	references/output-contracts.md
add or update evals for a skill's generated outputs or runtime behavior	references/skill-evals.md
troubleshoot overloaded layouts, hidden refs, or other structure failures	references/structure-troubleshooting.md
register the skill and run final validation checks	references/registration-validation.md

Artifact Layout References

Open when you need to...	Read
keep the whole skill inline in one coherent SKILL.md	references/layout-inline-skill.md
split optional deep knowledge into focused routed references	references/layout-reference-backed-skill.md
add scripts for deterministic automation or validation	references/layout-script-backed-workflow.md
define a skill that is usually invoked with explicit arguments	references/layout-argument-driven-skill.md
ship reusable templates, schemas, or other static assets	references/layout-asset-template-skill.md

Workflow Mechanic References

Open when you need to...	Read
break a task into fixed ordered steps	references/workflow-prompt-chaining.md
classify requests and route them to different downstream paths	references/workflow-routing.md
split independent work into parallel units or votes	references/workflow-parallel.md
discover work units dynamically and coordinate worker outputs	references/workflow-orchestrator-workers.md
run validate-fix-repeat checks during authoring or execution	references/workflow-validation-loops.md
validate a plan before executing a risky action	references/workflow-plan-validate-execute.md

Claude Code References

Open when you need to...	Read
use Claude-specific frontmatter or invocation controls	references/claude-frontmatter-invocation.md
use Claude argument fields or substitution variables	references/claude-argument-substitutions.md
build a skill that runs in isolated context: fork	references/claude-subagent-fork.md
build a skill that uses Claude hooks for deterministic enforcement	references/claude-hook-backed.md
use Claude shell preprocessing for dynamic context injection	references/claude-dynamic-context.md

Example Profiles

Open when you need to...	Read
see the expected depth for a documentation-heavy skill	references/example-documentation-skill.md
see the expected depth for a workflow-process skill	references/example-workflow-process-skill.md
see what a good routed skill looks like	references/example-router-skill.md
see what a good subagent-fork skill looks like	references/example-subagent-fork-skill.md
see what a good hook-backed skill looks like	references/example-hook-backed-skill.md

Step 1: Resolve target, path, and shape

1. Resolve the intended operation (create, update, synthesize, iterate) and inspect workspace prior art before choosing where files belong.
2. Choose the target skill root from observed conventions. If the canonical location is still unclear after inspection, ask one direct question before editing files.
3. Read references/mode-selection.md to choose the minimum required workflow paths.
4. Read references/execution-shapes.md to choose the primary execution shape.
5. Default to the simplest adequate shape. If selecting a more complex shape, record why simpler shapes were rejected.
6. Load only the exact artifact-layout, workflow-mechanic, and provider-specific leaf files required by that shape.
7. Before adding guidance, identify what existing rule, section, or file should be narrowed, replaced, or removed.
8. Record portability implications before using provider-specific mechanics.

Step 2: Run synthesis when needed

Read references/synthesis-path.md.

1. Use this path for new skills, material changes, and research-first planning.
2. Collect and score relevant sources with provenance.
3. Read references/source-discovery.md when source material is thin, stale, or ambiguous.
4. Read references/source-adaptation.md when adapting an upstream prompt, workflow, rubric, benchmark, or docs.
5. Produce source-backed decisions and coverage/gap status, including the class and execution-shape choice.
6. Load example profiles only when they add concrete depth for the selected class or shape.
7. If the skill uses provider-specific mechanics, include current official provider docs and capture usage constraints.
8. Do not move to authoring until required coverage is understood or gaps are explicit.

Step 3: Run iteration first when improving from outcomes/examples

Read references/iteration-path.md first when selected path includes iteration (for example operation iterate).

1. Capture and anonymize examples with provenance.
2. Read references/iteration-evidence.md when examples should persist beyond the current turn.
3. Review skill behavior against working and holdout slices.
4. Propose improvements from positive/negative/fix evidence.
5. Carry concrete behavior deltas into authoring.

Skip this step when selected path does not include iteration.

Step 4: Author or update skill artifacts

Read references/authoring-path.md.

1. Write or update SKILL.md in imperative voice with trigger-rich description.
2. Keep SKILL.md as the runtime router, not an encyclopedia.
3. Run the pre-edit precision check in references/authoring-path.md before creating new sections or files.
4. Read references/reference-architecture.md before adding bulk instructions or new reference files.
5. Create or update SPEC.md using references/spec-template.md when creating a new skill or materially changing its contract.
6. Create focused reference files, scripts, and assets only when each one has a clear "open when..." reason and cannot be handled by tightening an existing file.
7. If you add a bundled reference file, add a direct routing entry for it in this SKILL.md.
8. Prefer checklists, tables, templates, and input/output examples over explanatory prose.
9. Follow only the specific artifact-layout, workflow-mechanic, Claude-specific, and output-contract references selected for this skill.
10. For advanced execution shapes, add the required routing, delegation, or safety contracts before considering the skill complete.
11. For authoring/generator skills, include transformed examples in references:

• happy-path
• secure/robust variant
• anti-pattern + corrected version

12. Read references/skill-evals.md when the request asks for evals, regression cases, benchmark cases, or model-graded quality checks for the skill being authored.
13. After any skill artifact changes, run the post-change precision pass in references/authoring-path.md before description optimization or validation.

Step 5: Optimize description quality

Read references/description-optimization.md.

1. Validate should-trigger and should-not-trigger query sets.
2. Reduce false positives and false negatives with targeted description edits.
3. Keep trigger language generic across providers unless the skill is intentionally provider-specific.

Step 6: Register and validate

Read references/registration-validation.md.

1. Apply repository registration steps for the active layout you verified in the workspace.
2. Run quick validation for structural checks.
3. Review validator warnings, precision-pass results, and coverage gaps with judgment before completion.

Output format

Return:

1. Summary
2. Changes Made
3. Validation Results
4. Open Gaps