# Better Skill Builder

> Skill that teaches AI agents how to build Agent Skills for Claude Code, Codex, Amp, and OpenCode. Production patterns from gno, sheets-cli, raindrop, outlookctl, and flow.

- **Type:** MCP server
- **Install:** `agentstack add mcp-gmickel-better-skill-builder`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [gmickel](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/gmickel)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Integrations](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/integrations)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [gmickel](https://github.com/gmickel)
- **Source:** https://github.com/gmickel/better-skill-builder

## Install

```sh
agentstack add mcp-gmickel-better-skill-builder
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# better-skill-builder

> Build Agent Skills for Claude Code, Codex, Amp, and OpenCode.

A skill that teaches you, an AI agent, how to help users build skills. Meta, but useful.

> **Claude Code users:** The built-in `claude-code-guide` agent intercepts "Agent Skill" queries. Say "use my skills" or "use better-skill-builder" to use this instead.

## Why "Better"?

Anthropic's [skill-creator](https://github.com/anthropics/skills/tree/main/skills/skill-creator) is comprehensive but theoretical. This skill is battle-tested.

| | skill-creator | better-skill-builder |
|---|---------------|----------------------|
| **Clients** | Claude Code only | Claude Code, Codex, Amp, OpenCode |
| **Examples** | Theoretical patterns | 5 production skills |
| **SKILL.md** | ~3000 words | ~55 lines |
| **Spec handling** | Duplicates spec inline | Links to spec |
| **Distribution** | .skill files only | git clone, CLI install, plugin, --skill flag |
| **Auth patterns** | Not covered | Environment variables, OAuth |
| **Safety patterns** | Brief mention | Draft-first, dry-run, confirmation gates |
| **CLI integration** | Not covered | `skill install --target` pattern |
| **Practices what it preaches** | No | Yes |

**The irony:** skill-creator preaches "context window is a public good" and "keep SKILL.md under 500 lines" but inlines ~3000 words of spec content. We link to [agentskills.io](https://agentskills.io) instead. AI agents know how to fetch URLs. And when the spec updates, our skill stays current automatically.

**This skill teaches from real code, not theory.**

**Official docs:** [agentskills.io](https://agentskills.io)

---

## Production Skills

### GNO - Local Knowledge Engine

Your local second brain. Index notes, code, PDFs, Office docs. Hybrid search (BM25 + vector + reranking) and AI answers, 100% offline.

```bash
bun install -g @gmickel/gno
gno init ~/notes --name notes
gno query "auth best practices"
gno ask "summarize the API" --answer
```

**Skill install:**
```bash
gno skill install --target claude --scope user
gno skill install --target codex
```

**Also:** MCP server for Claude Desktop, Cursor, Zed, and 8 more targets.

[gno.sh](https://gno.sh) | [GitHub](https://github.com/gmickel/gno)

---

### sheets-cli - Google Sheets Primitives

Composable CLI for Google Sheets. Read tables, append rows, update by key, batch ops. JSON in, JSON out.

```bash
sheets-cli read table --sheet "Projects" --limit 10
sheets-cli update key --sheet "Projects" --key-col "Name" --key "Acme" --set '{"Status":"Done"}'
```

**Skill install:**
```bash
sheets-cli install-skill --global   # Claude Code
sheets-cli install-skill --codex    # Codex
```

[GitHub](https://github.com/gmickel/sheets-cli)

---

### raindrop-skill - Bookmark Manager

Manage Raindrop.io bookmarks, collections, tags, highlights via API.

```bash
git clone https://github.com/gmickel/raindrop-skill ~/.claude/skills/raindrop
export RAINDROP_TOKEN="your_token"
```

Uses a helper script for curl calls. Simple pattern for wrapping any REST API.

[GitHub](https://github.com/gmickel/raindrop-skill)

---

### outlookctl - Outlook Automation

Automate Classic Outlook on Windows via COM. Email and calendar with safety-first design.

- Draft-first workflow (never auto-send)
- Explicit confirmation required
- Full calendar support

```bash
uv run python tools/install_skill.py --personal
```

[GitHub](https://github.com/gmickel/outlookctl)

---

### Flow - Plan-First Workflow

Plugin with 7 skills, 5 commands, 6 agents. Plan before you code, drift never.

```bash
/plugin marketplace add https://github.com/gmickel/gmickel-claude-marketplace
/plugin install flow
/flow:plan Add OAuth login
/flow:work plans/add-oauth-login.md
```

[GitHub](https://github.com/gmickel/gmickel-claude-marketplace)

---

## Building Your Own Skills

### Quick Start

```bash
# Minimal structure
my-skill/
  SKILL.md           # Required

# With references
my-skill/
  SKILL.md           # Main (
  What it does. Include trigger phrases so AI
  knows when to activate this skill.
---

# Content here
```

### What You'll Learn

| Topic | File |
|-------|------|
| SKILL.md format | [SKILL.md](SKILL.md) |
| Adding scripts | [references/scripts.md](references/scripts.md) |
| Design patterns | [references/patterns.md](references/patterns.md) |
| Plugin structure | [references/plugin-structure.md](references/plugin-structure.md) |
| Real examples | [references/real-examples.md](references/real-examples.md) |

### Key Principles

1. **Progressive disclosure** - Main file scannable, details in references
2. **Trigger-aware descriptions** - Help AI know WHEN to use the skill
3. **Safety patterns** - Draft-first, dry-run, explicit confirmation
4. **Environment variables** - Standard pattern for auth tokens

### Distribution Options

| Method | Example | Best For |
|--------|---------|----------|
| Git clone | `git clone ... ~/.claude/skills/` | Simple skills |
| CLI install | `mytool skill install --target claude` | CLIs with skills |
| Plugin | `/plugin install flow` | Skills + commands + agents |

### Installation Paths

| Client | User | Project |
|--------|------|---------|
| Claude Code | `~/.claude/skills/` | `.claude/skills/` |
| Codex | `~/.codex/skills/` | `.codex/skills/` |
| Amp/OpenCode | `~/.claude/skills/` | `.claude/skills/` |

---

## Install This Skill

```bash
git clone https://github.com/gmickel/better-skill-builder ~/.claude/skills/better-skill-builder
```

Then ask: "How do I create a SKILL.md? Use my skills."

---

## Resources

- [agentskills.io/specification](https://agentskills.io/specification) - Official spec
- [agentskills.io/integrate-skills](https://agentskills.io/integrate-skills) - Client integration
- [anthropics/skills](https://github.com/anthropics/skills) - Official examples

## License

MIT

## Source & license

This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [gmickel](https://github.com/gmickel)
- **Source:** [gmickel/better-skill-builder](https://github.com/gmickel/better-skill-builder)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** yes
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/mcp-gmickel-better-skill-builder
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/gmickel
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.