create-skill
Scaffolds new agent skills for the dotnet/skills repository. Use when creating a new skill, generating SKILL.md files, writing a skill description that the runtime will actually route to, or setting up skill directory structures. Handles frontmatter generation, section templates, and validation guidance. Do not use for fixing a skill that already fails its evaluation (use improve-skill-quality) or for writing eval.yaml (use create-skill-test).
npx skills add dotnet/skills --skill create-skill --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Create Skill This skill helps you scaffold new agent skills that conform to the Agent Skills specification and the dotnet/skills repository conventions. ## When to Use - Creating a new skill from scratch - Generating a SKILL.md file with proper frontmatter - Setting up the skill directory structure with optional folders - Ensuring compliance with agentskills.io specification ## When Not to Use - Modifying existing skills (edit directly instead) - Diagnosing or fixing a skill that fails its evaluation (use `improve-skill-quality`) - Writing the skill's `eval.yaml` (use `create-skill-test`) - Creating custom agents (use the agents/ directory pattern) ## Inputs | Input | Required | Description | |-------|----------|-------------| | Skill name | Yes | Lowercase, alphanumeric, hyphens only (e.g., `code-review`, `ci-triage`) | | Description | Yes | What the skill does and when agents should use it (1-1024 chars) | | Purpose | Yes | One paragraph describing the outcome | | Workflow steps | Recommended | Numbered steps the agent should follow | ## Workflow ### Step 1: Validate the skill name Ensure the name: - Contains only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens - Does not start or end
- When to Use
- When Not to Use
- Inputs
- Workflow
- Step 1: Validate the skill name
- Step 2: Write the description — it is the router
- Step 3: Write for delta over the baseline model
- Step 4: Create the skill directory
- Step 5: Generate SKILL.md with frontmatter
- Step 6: Add body content sections
- Step 7: Add optional directories (if needed)
- Step 8: Update CODEOWNERS
- Step 9: Validate the skill
- Step 10: Add the eval
What does the create-skill skill do?
Scaffolds new agent skills for the dotnet/skills repository. Use when creating a new skill, generating SKILL.md files, writing a skill description that the runtime will actually route to, or setting up skill directory structures. Handles frontmatter generation, section templates, and validation guidance. Do not use for fixing a skill that already fails its evaluation (use improve-skill-quality) or for writing eval.yaml (use create-skill-test).
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add dotnet/skills --skill create-skill --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From dotnet/skills, a repository with 4,927 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.