Claude Skills is an extensibility system built into Claude Code that allows developers to create custom AI workflows and automate tasks through simple markdown-based skill definitions. Skills function as specialized "modes" or "personas" that Claude can adopt to perform specific tasks according to predefined instructions.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all AI assistant, Claude Skills enables developers to define exactly how AI should help with their specific workflows, transforming Claude Code from a smart assistant into a programmable AI platform with full control over behavior and data.

Key Features

1. Markdown-Based Skill Definition

Skills are defined in simple .md files with YAML frontmatter, making them easy to create, edit, and version control. No coding required - just write instructions in natural language describing what Claude should do.

2. Project or Global Scope

Skills can be stored locally in .claude/skills/ for project-specific workflows, or globally in ~/.config/claude-code/skills/ for reuse across all projects. Share skills with your team via git or use them privately.

3. Full Agent Capabilities

Skills have access to all Claude Code tools including Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob, LSP, and more. Create complex multi-step workflows that interact with files, execute commands, search code, and make intelligent decisions.

4. Slash Command Invocation

Invoke skills instantly using slash commands like /pr-generator, /commit, or /thinking-partner. Skills appear in the available commands list automatically when discovered.

5. Built-in Skills Ecosystem

Includes practical built-in skills like pr-generator for pull requests, prompt-rewriter for enhancing prompts, and git workflow automation through plugin skills for commits, pushes, and branch management.

Browse and share skills through the community-driven Agent Skills Marketplace at agent-skills.md. Discover skills created by other developers or publish your own for the community.

Use Cases

Who Should Use Claude Skills?

Developers: Automate git workflows, code reviews, testing, and deployment pipelines
Content Creators: Convert formats, generate articles, process media with custom workflows
Knowledge Workers: Organize notes, process inbox, research topics, and generate reports
DevOps Teams: Standardize deployment procedures, incident response, and documentation
Data Scientists: Automate data cleaning, analysis pipelines, and report generation

Problems It Solves

Repetitive Workflows: Eliminate manual repetition by encoding complex multi-step processes into reusable skills
Inconsistent Execution: Ensure tasks are always performed the same way with standardized workflows
Context Switching: Stay in your terminal and IDE without switching to web interfaces or documentation
Knowledge Preservation: Capture expert workflows as skills that can be shared and improved over time
Privacy Concerns: Process sensitive documents locally without uploading to cloud services

Getting Started

Quick Start Guide

Create Skills Directory: Navigate to your project and create .claude/skills/my-skill/
Define Skill: Create SKILL.md with frontmatter (name, description) and detailed instructions
Test Skill: Invoke using /my-skill in Claude Code CLI
Iterate: Refine instructions based on results until behavior is perfect
Share: Commit skills to git or publish to marketplace for team/community use

Skill Definition Example

---
name: Code Reviewer
description: Review code for bugs, security issues, and best practices
---
 
You are an expert code reviewer. When invoked:
 
1. Read all changed files in the current branch
2. Analyze for:
   - Security vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, etc.)
   - Performance issues
   - Code style violations
   - Missing tests
3. Generate a detailed review report
4. Suggest specific improvements with code examples

Built-in Skills Available

pr-generator - Generate comprehensive pull requests with summaries and test plans
prompt-rewriter - Transform basic prompts into detailed, effective instructions
commit (plugin) - Create well-formatted git commits with conventional commit messages
commit-push-pr (plugin) - Complete git workflow from commit to PR in one command

Integration with Claude Code

Claude Skills seamlessly integrates with the Claude Code ecosystem:

LSP Integration: Access code intelligence for navigation, references, and symbols
MCP Servers: Extend skills with external services through Model Context Protocol
TodoWrite: Manage task lists and track multi-step workflow progress
Bash Execution: Run commands, install packages, build, test, and deploy
File Operations: Read, write, edit files across your entire project
Search Capabilities: Use Grep and Glob to find files and code patterns

Notable Integrations

Obsidian Skills Package

Official skills maintained by Obsidian CEO Stephane Ango teach Claude about:

Obsidian-flavored Markdown syntax
Wikilinks and backlinks
Canvas files and relationships
Daily notes and templates

GitHub: https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills

Claudesidian Vault Template

Complete Obsidian vault optimized for Claude Code with:

Pre-configured skills for knowledge management
PARA method folder structure
Automated note processing workflows
1300+ stars on GitHub

GitHub: https://github.com/heyitsnoah/claudesidian

Advantages & Unique Selling Points

Compared to Competitors:

Full Customization: Unlike GitHub Copilot or Cursor, you define exact AI behavior with complete control
Local-First Privacy: All data stays on your machine - perfect for sensitive documents and client work
Reusable Workflows: Create once, use forever - skills become institutional knowledge
No Vendor Lock-in: Skills are markdown files you can version, backup, and migrate anywhere
Community Ecosystem: Share and discover skills through marketplace, not limited to vendor offerings

What Makes It Stand Out:

Programmable AI platform vs generic assistant
Markdown-based simplicity vs complex configuration
Full file system and command access
Privacy-first architecture
Version-controllable workflows
Active community and ecosystem growth

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create skills without coding experience?

Yes! Skills are written in plain markdown with natural language instructions. If you can write a clear set of steps, you can create a skill.

Do skills work with local AI models?

Yes, Claude Code supports local models like GLM 4.7, so your skills can run entirely offline with complete data privacy.

Can skills access the internet?

Not directly, but skills can integrate with MCP servers to fetch data from APIs, databases, and web services securely.

Simply commit the .claude/skills/ directory to your project's git repository. Team members will automatically have access when they pull.

Are there security considerations?

Skills have full access to your file system and can execute commands, so only use skills from trusted sources. Review skill code before running.

Alternatives

If Claude Skills isn't the right fit, consider:

GitHub Copilot: Best for inline code suggestions but limited workflow automation
Cursor AI: Good for AI-assisted editing but less customizable workflows
ChatGPT Custom Instructions: Simpler but cloud-only and no file system access
Shell Scripts: More control but no AI intelligence or context understanding

Tips & Best Practices

Start Simple: Begin with single-task skills and gradually combine them into complex workflows
Use Phases: Break complex skills into numbered phases (Research → Analysis → Output)
Include Examples: Provide example outputs in skill definitions to guide Claude's behavior
Version Control: Track skills in git to maintain history and enable collaboration
Test Thoroughly: Run skills multiple times with different inputs to ensure consistency
Document Well: Clear descriptions help team members understand when to use each skill

Conclusion

Claude Skills represents a paradigm shift in AI-assisted development - from passive assistance to active workflow automation. By encoding expert knowledge into reusable skills, teams can standardize processes, preserve institutional knowledge, and dramatically accelerate their development workflows while maintaining complete control over their data and AI behavior.

Whether you're automating git operations, processing knowledge bases, or building custom development pipelines, Claude Skills provides the flexibility and power to make AI work exactly the way you need it to.

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Claude Skills