Guide · Agent skill
How to use the C++ Pro agent skill (cpp-pro)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The C++ Pro skill (cpp-pro) is a set of instructions that teaches an AI agent to work like a senior C++ developer. It is aimed at developers writing or refactoring C++20/23 code, engineers chasing performance or concurrency problems, and teams setting up CMake builds with sanitizers. After this guide you will know what the skill changes, how to install it, how to ask for help so it triggers, and how to check the code it produces.
C++ ProJeffallan/claude-skills · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the ZIP for skills/cpp-pro from this directory's item page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 4Make a C++ request. Describe the C++ task in plain language, mentioning concepts, CMake, sanitizers or performance where relevant.
- 5Build and verify. Compile the output with warnings enabled and run AddressSanitizer and UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer.
- 6Review before shipping. Read the generated code and measure performance yourself before relying on it.
What the cpp-pro skill makes the agent do
An agent skill is a folder of instructions that an AI agent loads when a task matches the skill's description. The cpp-pro skill is written for C++ work: it writes, optimizes, and debugs C++ applications using modern C++20/23 features, template metaprogramming, and systems techniques.
Once the skill is active, the agent follows modern C++ practices such as concepts, RAII, smart pointers, and const-correctness. It also loads detailed reference notes on templates, memory and SIMD performance, concurrency, and CMake and sanitizer tooling when the task needs them. The skill is guidance for writing and reviewing code, not a standalone tool that runs on your machine.
- Uses C++20 concepts to constrain templates
- Applies RAII and smart pointers such as std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr
- Avoids raw new/delete, C-style casts and using namespace std in headers
- Enables warnings (-Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic) and runs AddressSanitizer and UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer when verifying code
Install the cpp-pro skill from the ZIP
Download the ZIP for skills/cpp-pro from the item page on this directory. Unzip it into one of two locations. For a personal install available in all your projects, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
If you use the Claude apps instead, you can upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/ (available across projects)
- Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. The skill loads when your request matches its description, so describe the C++ task in plain language. Mentioning C++20, concepts, ranges, coroutines, SIMD, CMake, sanitizers, or a performance bottleneck makes a match more likely.
- Refactor this C++ class to use C++20 concepts and RAII instead of raw pointers.
- Find the performance bottleneck in this C++ loop and suggest a cache-friendly layout.
- Set up a CMakeLists.txt with warnings enabled and AddressSanitizer for this project.
- Review this threaded C++ code for data races and memory ordering issues.
What to expect in the output
The skill asks for a consistent set of deliverables: a header with interfaces and templates, an implementation file when needed, CMakeLists.txt updates if applicable, a test file showing usage, and a short explanation of design decisions and performance characteristics.
The skill also says to fix all memory and undefined-behaviour errors that sanitizers report before moving on, and to re-measure after applying optimizations. Treat these as the agent's instructions, and check the results yourself.
What you need before you start
The skill's guidance is for C++ code, so you need a C++ compiler and CMake to build and test what the agent generates. If you follow the verification workflow, you also need sanitizers such as AddressSanitizer and UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer. The skill runs no scripts and makes no network calls itself.
- A C++ compiler and CMake
- AddressSanitizer and UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer for the verification workflow
Safety notes
The skill runs no scripts and uses no network access, according to its listing. Its guidance still needs human review. Generated C++ can contain memory or undefined-behaviour bugs, so compile with warnings enabled, run the sanitizers, and review the code before relying on it, especially in safety-critical production code.
- No scripts are run by the skill
- No network use is declared
- Review and test all generated code with compiler warnings and sanitizers
Tips for better results
Give the agent your build context. The skill's first step is to review the build system, compiler flags, and performance requirements, so share your CMakeLists.txt, target standard, and the workload you care about. Name the specific problem, such as a data race or a slow loop, rather than asking for general improvements.
- Share your CMakeLists.txt and the C++ standard you target
- Describe the workload and the measured bottleneck
- Ask for a test file and sanitizer run along with the code
What people use it for
- Refactoring an older C++ class to use concepts, RAII and smart pointers
- Diagnosing a performance bottleneck and applying cache layout or move semantics changes
- Setting up a CMake project with warnings and sanitizers enabled
- Reviewing threaded code for atomics and memory ordering problems
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the cpp-pro skill?
Download the ZIP for skills/cpp-pro from this directory and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can instead upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need to use cpp-pro?
You need a C++ compiler and CMake to build and test generated code. For the verification workflow, you also need AddressSanitizer and UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer.
Is the cpp-pro skill free?
The skill is listed under the MIT licence. This page does not list pricing, so check the licence and the item page for the terms that apply to you.
Does cpp-pro run scripts or use the network?
According to its listing, the skill runs no scripts and uses no network. It provides guidance that the agent follows while writing and reviewing code.
Can I use cpp-pro for Rust or embedded projects?
No. The guidance is specific to C++. The listing points to related skills for Rust and embedded systems instead.
Is generated C++ safe to ship without review?
Not for safety-critical code. Generated C++ can still contain memory or undefined-behaviour bugs, so compile with warnings, run sanitizers, and have a human review it first.
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Our verdict
Use cpp-pro if you write or refactor C++20/23 code and want consistent modern idioms, or if you are tracking down performance or concurrency issues and fixing CMake builds. Skip it for non-C++ codebases, and do not rely on its output in safety-critical production code without compiler and sanitizer verification and human review.
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