# Skill Authoring

> Guidelines for writing Agent Skills. TRIGGERS: create a skill, new skill, write a skill, skill template, skill structure, review skill, skill PR, skill compliance, agentskills spec, SKILL.md format, skill frontmatter, skill best practices

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-tyler-r-kendrick-agent-skills-skill-authoring`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [Tyler-R-Kendrick](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tyler-r-kendrick)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [Tyler-R-Kendrick](https://github.com/Tyler-R-Kendrick)
- **Source:** https://github.com/Tyler-R-Kendrick/agent-skills/tree/main/.agents/skills/skill-authoring

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-tyler-r-kendrick-agent-skills-skill-authoring
```

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

## About

# Skill Authoring Guide

This skill provides guidance for writing Agent Skills that comply with the [agentskills.io specification](https://agentskills.io/specification).

## When to Use

- Creating a new skill for this repository
- Reviewing a skill PR for compliance
- Checking if an existing skill follows best practices
- Understanding token budgets and progressive disclosure

## Constraints

- `name`: 1-64 chars, lowercase + hyphens, match directory
- `description`: 1-1024 chars, explain WHAT and WHEN
- SKILL.md: <500 tokens (soft), <5000 (hard)
- references/*.md: <1000 tokens each

## Structure

- `SKILL.md` (required) - Instructions
- `references/` (optional) - Detailed docs
- `scripts/` (optional) - Executable code

Frontmatter: `name` (lowercase-hyphens), `description` (WHAT + WHEN)

## Progressive Disclosure

Metadata (~100 tokens) loads at startup. SKILL.md (<5000 tokens) loads on activation. References load **only when explicitly linked** (not on activation). Keep SKILL.md lean.

## Reference Loading

References are JIT (just-in-time) loaded:
- Only files explicitly linked via `[text](references/file.md)` load
- Each file loads in full (not sections)
- No caching between requests - write self-contained files
- Use recipes/services patterns for multi-option skills

See [REFERENCE-LOADING.md](references/REFERENCE-LOADING.md) for details.

## Validation

```bash
# Run from the scripts directory
cd scripts
npm run tokens -- check plugin/skills/my-skill/SKILL.md
```

## Reference Documentation

- [GUIDELINES.md](references/GUIDELINES.md) - Detailed writing guidelines
- [REFERENCE-LOADING.md](references/REFERENCE-LOADING.md) - How references load and token efficiency
- [CHECKLIST.md](references/CHECKLIST.md) - Pre-submission checklist
- [agentskills.io/specification](https://agentskills.io/specification) - Official spec

## Source & license

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

- **Author:** [Tyler-R-Kendrick](https://github.com/Tyler-R-Kendrick)
- **Source:** [Tyler-R-Kendrick/agent-skills](https://github.com/Tyler-R-Kendrick/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: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-tyler-r-kendrick-agent-skills-skill-authoring
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tyler-r-kendrick
- 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%.