Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Skill Creator agent skill (skill-creator)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Skill Creator is an agent skill that teaches an AI agent how to build other agent skills. An agent skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file of instructions that the agent loads when a task matches it. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for help with natural requests, and what to check before running its scripts, so you can scaffold and validate your own skills.
Skill Creatorpacifio/atlas · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it to get the skill-creator folder.
- 2Place the folder. Move it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or .claude/skills/ inside a project.
- 3Check Python and PyYAML. Make sure Python 3 is installed and PyYAML is available, since quick_validate.py imports it.
- 4Ask for a new skill. Describe the skill's purpose in plain language and ask the agent to scaffold it.
- 5Add UI metadata if needed. Generate agents/openai.yaml with the interface options you want, keeping values consistent with the skill.
- 6Validate the frontmatter. Ask the agent to run the quick check so the SKILL.md name and description are valid.
What the skill makes the agent do
When installed, skill-creator gives the agent conventions for making new skills. It shows how to write a concise SKILL.md with a name and description, when to add optional scripts, references, or assets folders, and how to keep instructions focused.
It also includes helper scripts. They create a skill folder from a template, generate an agents/openai.yaml UI metadata file, and run a quick check that the SKILL.md frontmatter is valid.
- Keeps SKILL.md short, with the purpose and essential constraints in the entrypoint
- Puts detailed procedures and examples in references/ and reads them only when needed
- Avoids empty directories, placeholder files and unnecessary documentation
Install the skill-creator skill
Download the ZIP file from this page and unzip it. Then place the skill folder in one of these locations: ~/.claude/skills/ for your user account, or .claude/skills/ inside a specific project.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps. Go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and add it there.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ in your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Requirements before you run it
The helper scripts are Python files, so you need Python 3. The validation script quick_validate.py imports PyYAML, so that package must also be available. The skill does not use the network.
- Python 3
- PyYAML (imported by quick_validate.py)
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need special syntax. Ask the agent in plain language to create or update a skill, and the agent will consider this skill when the request matches its description. The skill description says it applies when you create or update an agent skill with supporting resources.
Be specific about the skill's purpose. If you want the agent to avoid automatic selection for a skill you are building, you can ask for an explicit-only skill; the skill then runs when invoked as $skill-name.
- "Create a new skill called invoice-checker that explains how to validate invoice fields."
- "Update the SKILL.md for my release-notes skill so the description is more specific."
- "Check that the frontmatter in this skill folder is valid."
- "Add an agents/openai.yaml file to my skill folder with a display name and short description."
Generate UI metadata with agents/openai.yaml
The optional agents/openai.yaml file holds UI-facing metadata such as display_name, short_description and default_prompt, plus invocation policy. For new or interface-only metadata, the source shows the generator being run on a skill folder with an --interface key=value argument.
By default, automatic skill selection is allowed. Only set allow_implicit_invocation to false when you explicitly want an explicit-only skill.
- Quote all string values and keep keys unquoted
- Preserve unrelated existing fields when updating the file
- Keep the values consistent with the skill
scripts/generate_openai_yaml.py <path/to/skill-folder> --interface key=valueUnderstand the skill folder layout
A skill is a folder with a required SKILL.md file. Optional folders are agents/ for UI metadata, scripts/ for executable helpers, references/ for documentation loaded as needed, and assets/ for files copied into generated output.
The frontmatter needs the name and description fields. The body is loaded only when the skill is used, so keep it focused on the task.
- SKILL.md: required instructions with YAML frontmatter
- agents/openai.yaml: optional UI metadata
- scripts/: optional helpers such as init_skill.py, generate_openai_yaml.py and quick_validate.py
- references/: optional docs such as openai_yaml.md
- assets/: optional templates, images and fonts
Safety notes on scripts
The helper scripts are Python files the agent can execute to create and validate files on your machine. If you do not want scripts run locally, do not install this skill, or review the scripts first and ask the agent to avoid running them.
Review any new or changed script by running it in a safe location before relying on it. The skill's own guidance says to run new or changed scripts to verify their behaviour.
- Runs scripts: yes
- Uses network: no
- Scripts create and modify files in the skill folder
What people use it for
- Scaffolding a new skill folder with a SKILL.md file and a clean frontmatter
- Adding an agents/openai.yaml file with a display name and short description
- Keeping a library of skills structured the same way across a team
- Learning how skill folders, references and scripts fit together
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the skill-creator skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Put the skill-creator folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in .claude/skills/ inside a project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
What do I need to run skill-creator?
You need Python 3 and PyYAML, because quick_validate.py imports PyYAML. The skill runs scripts and does not use the network.
Is skill-creator free?
It is licensed under Apache-2.0, and the full licence text is included in the download as license.txt. This page does not state a price, so check the listing for any cost details.
Does skill-creator work for ordinary coding or writing tasks?
Not usefully. It only adds value when the goal is building a skill. Loaded for unrelated work, it may route poorly, so use it when you are creating or updating a skill.
Are the scripts safe to run?
The scripts are Python files the agent can execute to create and validate files on your machine. If you do not want that, review them first or do not install the skill.
What is the difference between SKILL.md and agents/openai.yaml?
SKILL.md holds the skill's name, description and instructions for the agent. agents/openai.yaml holds product-specific UI metadata and invocation policy, and the source describes it as a config for the machine or harness rather than the agent.
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Our verdict
Use skill-creator if you are building agent skills and want consistent structure, quick scaffolding and a frontmatter check. Skip it if you only need ordinary coding or writing help, or if you do not want Python scripts running on your machine.
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