Skill Creator

Use this skill to create small, useful codewhale skills that match the runtime this repository actually ships.

What A Skill Is

A skill is a local folder with a SKILL.md file. DeepSeek reads the skill name and description during discovery, then loads the body only when the user or task matches the skill.

Discovery paths, in precedence order:

• <workspace>/.agents/skills
• <workspace>/skills
• <workspace>/.opencode/skills
• <workspace>/.claude/skills
• <workspace>/.cursor/skills
• ~/.agents/skills
• ~/.claude/skills
• ~/.deepseek/skills

Use skills for model instructions, workflows, and lightweight conventions. Use MCP for live external APIs or durable tools. Use hooks for automatic local events. Use plugin folders only as packaging/scaffolding until a real plugin loader exists.

Minimum Shape

my-skill/
`-- SKILL.md

---
name: my-skill
description: Use when DeepSeek should follow this specific workflow.
---

# My Skill

Instructions for the agent.

Frontmatter parsing is intentionally simple. Keep name and description as plain single-line values. Use lower-case hyphen-case names.

Writing Rules

• Make the description action-oriented and trigger-specific. It is the main signal DeepSeek sees before loading the body.
• Keep the body operational. Include what to do, what to avoid, and how to verify the result.
• Do not include general programming advice, marketing copy, or long background material.
• Move bulky details to references/ and mention exactly when to open them.
• Add scripts/ only for deterministic helpers that are worth maintaining.
• Add assets/ only for templates, fixtures, examples, or files reused by the workflow.
• Do not assume scripts are safe to run. Community skill scripts require user intent and trust review.

Creation Workflow

1. Define the skill boundary in one sentence.
2. Decide whether a skill is the right surface:
   • Instructional workflow: skill
   • External service/API: MCP server plus an optional skill
   • Repeated shell helper: local tool or script plus an optional skill
   • Packaging multiple pieces: plugin scaffold plus skill/MCP activation notes
3. Create <skill-name>/SKILL.md.
4. Write frontmatter with name and description.
5. Write a concise body with:
   • trigger and scope
   • required inputs or assumptions
   • step-by-step workflow
   • validation checks
   • safety notes
6. Add companion files only when they reduce real complexity.
7. Validate by loading the skill through /skills or by running the relevant skill discovery tests if editing this repository.

Updating Existing Skills

• Preserve the user's local intent. Avoid replacing a working skill wholesale unless the user asked for a rewrite.
• Tighten descriptions when the skill is under-triggering or over-triggering.
• Remove stale tool names, unavailable dependencies, and copied instructions from other agents that do not apply to codewhale.
• Keep examples short and directly tied to this runtime's commands and tools.

Validation Checklist

• SKILL.md starts with ---.
• name matches the directory name unless there is a deliberate reason.
• description says when to use the skill, not just what it is.
• The body references only tools, commands, and paths that exist or are clearly optional.
• Any scripts or external-service steps explain credential and trust handling.