# Simple Skills Manager

> Manage skills from local paths or git repositories - add, update, or remove skill tips in ~/.claude/skills with group-skillname format

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-arcblock-agent-skills-simple-skills-manager`
- **Verified:** Pending review
- **Seller:** [ArcBlock](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/arcblock)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [ArcBlock](https://github.com/ArcBlock)
- **Source:** https://github.com/ArcBlock/agent-skills/tree/main/.claude/skills/simple-skills-manager

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-arcblock-agent-skills-simple-skills-manager
```

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

## About

# Simple Skills Manager

Manage skill tips in `~/.claude/skills/` that point to skills from local paths or git repositories, enabling dynamic invocation via `/{group}-{skill-name}`.

**Note**: We use hyphen `-` as separator instead of colon `:` because Windows paths don't support colons in filenames.

## Constants

- **Repos directory**: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/`
- **Skills directory**: `~/.claude/skills/`
- **Backup directory**: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/`

## Workflow

### Step 1: Ask Operation Type

**First**, ask the user what operation they want to perform:

```json
{
  "questions": [{
    "question": "What operation would you like to perform?",
    "header": "Operation",
    "options": [
      {"label": "Add (Recommended)", "description": "Add skills from a local path or git repository"},
      {"label": "Update", "description": "Update an existing skill group (re-sync from source)"},
      {"label": "Remove", "description": "Remove an existing skill group"}
    ],
    "multiSelect": false
  }]
}
```

### Step 2: Collect Information Based on Operation

#### For "Add" Operation

Ask user to directly input the source path or git URL:

```json
{
  "questions": [{
    "question": "Please enter the local path or git URL for the skills:",
    "header": "Source",
    "options": [
      {"label": "Example: /path/to/skills", "description": "Local directory containing SKILL.md files"},
      {"label": "Example: https://github.com/user/repo.git", "description": "Git repository URL (will be cloned)"}
    ],
    "multiSelect": false
  }]
}
```

The user will select "Other" and type the actual path or URL. The system will auto-detect the source type:
- **Git URL**: starts with `http://`, `https://`, `git@`, or ends with `.git`
- **Local path**: everything else (treat as filesystem path)

After getting the source, ask for the group name:

```json
{
  "questions": [{
    "question": "What group name should be used as prefix? (e.g., 'mygroup' creates '/mygroup-skill-name')",
    "header": "Group",
    "options": [
      {"label": "Use folder name", "description": "Use the source folder/repo name as group"},
      {"label": "Custom", "description": "Enter a custom group name"}
    ],
    "multiSelect": false
  }]
}
```

**Group name validation**: The group name must:
- Only contain lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens (`a-z`, `0-9`, `-`)
- Not start or end with a hyphen
- Not be empty
- Not contain spaces, slashes, asterisks, or other special characters

If the group name is invalid, ask the user to provide a valid name.

#### For "Update" or "Remove" Operation

First, list existing groups by checking subdirectories in repos directory:

```bash
# List groups from repos directory (source of truth for groups)
ls -d ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/*/ 2>/dev/null | xargs -I {} basename {}
```

**Important**: Groups are determined by subdirectories in `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/`, NOT by folder names in skills directory.

Display the found groups as reference information, then ask the user to input the group name they want to manage:

```json
{
  "questions": [{
    "question": "Which group do you want to update/remove? (Enter the group name)",
    "header": "Group",
    "options": [
      {"label": "Example: mygroup", "description": "Enter the group name you want to manage"},
      {"label": "Example: arcblock", "description": "The group prefix used in skill names like /arcblock-commit"}
    ],
    "multiSelect": false
  }]
}
```

The user will select "Other" and type the actual group name. Validate that the group exists by checking if `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/` directory exists before proceeding.

### Step 3: Backup Before Operation (Required)

**Before executing any Add, Update, or Remove operation**, you MUST backup the current skills directory:

```bash
# Remove old backup if exists, then create new backup
rm -rf ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills
cp -r ~/.claude/skills ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills
```

This ensures the user can recover their skills if something goes wrong.

### Step 4: Execute Operation

#### Add Operation

1. **Verify and prepare source**:
   - **If local path**: Verify the path exists first, then create group directory
     ```bash
     mkdir -p ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}
     echo "{absolute-working-path}" > ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/path.txt
     ```
   - **If git URL**:
     - If group directory already exists and has `.git`, run `git pull` instead:
       ```bash
       git -C ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group} pull
       ```
     - Otherwise, clone to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/`:
       ```bash
       git clone {git-url} ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}
       ```
     - If clone/pull fails, **stop and report error** - do not proceed

2. **Determine working path**:
   - Local path: use the path from user input
   - Git URL: use `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/`

3. **Scan for skills** in the working path:
   ```bash
   find "{working-path}" -name "SKILL.md" -type f 2>/dev/null
   ```
   - If no SKILL.md found, **stop and report error** - do not proceed

4. **Clean existing tips** for this group (if group already exists):
   - Read `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/skill-names.txt` if it exists
   - Delete each skill listed in the file:
     ```bash
     # For each skill-name in skill-names.txt
     rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}
     ```

5. **Create skill tips** for each SKILL.md found (see "Creating Skill Tips" section)

6. **Save skill manifest** - write all created skill names to `skill-names.txt`:
   ```bash
   # Write skill names (one per line) to skill-names.txt
   echo "{group}-{skill-name-1}" > ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/skill-names.txt
   echo "{group}-{skill-name-2}" >> ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/skill-names.txt
   # ... for each skill
   ```
   Example `skill-names.txt` content:
   ```
   my-commit
   my-deploy
   my-test
   ```

7. **Report results**

#### Update Operation

1. **Verify group exists**:
   - Check if `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/` directory exists
   - If not exists, **stop and report error** - group not found

2. **Determine source type and pull latest**:
   - **Git source**: Check if it's a git repo (has `.git` directory)
     ```bash
     test -d ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/.git && echo "git" || echo "local"
     ```
     - If git repo, run `git pull` first:
       ```bash
       git -C ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group} pull
       ```
     - Working path: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/`
   - **Local path source**: Check if `path.txt` exists in the group directory
     ```bash
     cat ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/path.txt
     ```
     - If exists, read the original path from it
     - If `path.txt` not found, ask user to provide the source path
     - Working path: the path from `path.txt` or user input

3. **Scan for skills** in the working path:
   ```bash
   find "{working-path}" -name "SKILL.md" -type f 2>/dev/null
   ```
   - If no SKILL.md found, **stop and report error** - do not proceed

4. **Clean existing tips** using skill manifest (if exists):
   - Read `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/skill-names.txt` if it exists
   - Delete each skill listed in the file:
     ```bash
     # For each skill-name in skill-names.txt
     rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}
     ```

5. **Recreate skill tips** for each SKILL.md found (see "Creating Skill Tips" section)

6. **Update skill manifest** - overwrite `skill-names.txt` with new skill names

7. **Report results** (include git pull output if applicable)

#### Remove Operation

1. **Verify group exists**:
   - Check if `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/` directory exists
   - If not exists, **stop and report error** - group not found

2. **Remove skill tips** using skill manifest (if exists):
   - Read `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/skill-names.txt` if it exists
   - Delete each skill listed in the file:
     ```bash
     # For each skill-name in skill-names.txt
     rm -rf ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}
     ```

3. **Remove group directory from repos**:
   ```bash
   rm -rf ~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}
   ```

4. **Report results**

## Creating Skill Tips

For each SKILL.md found, extract:
1. **Skill name**: From `name:` field in frontmatter, or from parent directory name
2. **Description**: From `description:` field in frontmatter
3. **Allowed tools**: From `allowed-tools:` field in frontmatter

Create directory and SKILL.md in `~/.claude/skills/{group}-{skill-name}/SKILL.md`:

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/{group}-{skill-name}
```

Generated SKILL.md format:

```markdown
---
name: {group}-{skill-name}
description: {original-description}
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Glob
  - Grep
  {... copy remaining allowed-tools from original skill, excluding duplicates}
---

# {group}-{skill-name}

This is a tip pointing to a skill from external source.

## Instructions

**IMPORTANT**: Read and execute the skill from the following path:

{absolute-path-to-original-SKILL.md}

Use the Read tool to load the actual skill content, then follow all instructions in that file.
```

**Note**: When copying `allowed-tools`, always include `Read`, `Glob`, `Grep` first (required for tip to work), then add any additional tools from the original skill that are not already listed.

## Example Workflows

### Adding from Git

1. User runs `/simple-skills-manager`
2. Agent asks: "What operation?" -> User selects "Add"
3. Agent asks: "Please enter the local path or git URL" -> User types: `https://github.com/example/my-skills.git`
4. Agent auto-detects it's a git URL
5. Agent asks: "Group name?" -> User selects "Use folder name" (becomes `my-skills`)
6. Agent validates group name format
7. **Agent backs up `~/.claude/skills/` to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/`**
8. Agent clones repo to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/my-skills/`, scans skills, verifies SKILL.md files found
9. Agent cleans old tips (if `skill-names.txt` exists), creates new tips
10. Agent writes `skill-names.txt` with: `my-skills-setup`, `my-skills-deploy`, `my-skills-test`
11. Agent reports: "Created 3 skill tips: /my-skills-setup, /my-skills-deploy, /my-skills-test"

### Adding from Local Path

1. User runs `/simple-skills-manager`
2. Agent asks: "What operation?" -> User selects "Add"
3. Agent asks: "Please enter the local path or git URL" -> User types: `/home/user/projects/my-plugin`
4. Agent auto-detects it's a local path, verifies path exists
5. Agent asks: "Group name?" -> User types custom name: `myteam`
6. Agent validates group name format
7. **Agent backs up `~/.claude/skills/` to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/`**
8. Agent creates `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/myteam/` and writes `path.txt` with the local path
9. Agent scans skills, verifies SKILL.md files found
10. Agent cleans old tips (if `skill-names.txt` exists), creates new tips
11. Agent writes `skill-names.txt` with: `myteam-build`, `myteam-release`
12. Agent reports: "Created 2 skill tips: /myteam-build, /myteam-release"

### Updating a Group

1. User runs `/simple-skills-manager`
2. Agent asks: "What operation?" -> User selects "Update"
3. Agent lists existing groups by checking subdirectories in `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/`
4. User types: `my-skills`
5. Agent validates group exists (subdirectory exists in repos)
6. **Agent backs up `~/.claude/skills/` to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/`**
7. Agent checks if it's a git repo (has `.git`) or local (has `path.txt`)
8. If git: runs `git pull`; if local: reads path from `path.txt`
9. Agent scans skills, verifies SKILL.md files found
10. Agent reads `skill-names.txt` and deletes listed skills
11. Agent recreates tips and updates `skill-names.txt`
12. Agent reports: "Updated 3 skill tips for group 'my-skills'"

### Removing a Group

1. User runs `/simple-skills-manager`
2. Agent asks: "What operation?" -> User selects "Remove"
3. Agent lists existing groups by checking subdirectories in `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/`
4. User types: `my-skills`
5. Agent validates group exists (subdirectory exists in repos)
6. **Agent backs up `~/.claude/skills/` to `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/`**
7. Agent reads `skill-names.txt` and deletes listed skills
8. Agent removes group directory from repos
9. Agent reports: "Removed group 'my-skills' and its repository/metadata"

## Notes

- **Backup directory**: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-backup-last-skills/` - created before each operation
- **Repos directory structure**:
  - Git sources: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/` (contains `.git` + `skill-names.txt`)
  - Local sources: `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/{group}/` (contains `path.txt` + `skill-names.txt`)
- **Skill manifest**: `skill-names.txt` stores exact skill folder names (one per line), used for precise deletion/update
- **Group detection**: Groups are identified by subdirectories in `~/.claude/simple-skills-manager-repos/`, NOT by skill folder names
- **Naming convention**: Skills use hyphen `-` as separator (e.g., `{group}-{skill-name}`) for Windows compatibility
- Local path sources are referenced directly, not copied
- Tips dynamically load content, so changes to original skills are reflected immediately
- Each group's tips are managed independently
- The original skill files are never modified
- **Skills are loaded at startup** - restart Claude Code after adding/updating skills

## Source & license

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

- **Author:** [ArcBlock](https://github.com/ArcBlock)
- **Source:** [ArcBlock/agent-skills](https://github.com/ArcBlock/agent-skills)
- **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:** no
- **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: flagged — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-arcblock-agent-skills-simple-skills-manager
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/arcblock
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
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