ena-database
Access European Nucleotide Archive via API/FTP. Retrieve DNA/RNA sequences, raw reads (FASTQ), genome assemblies by accession, for genomics and bioinformatics pipelines. Supports multiple formats.
Install with Tessl CLI
npx tessl i github:K-Dense-AI/claude-scientific-skills --skill ena-databaseOverall
score
73%
Does it follow best practices?
If you maintain this skill, you can automatically optimize it using the tessl CLI to improve its score:
npx tessl skill review --optimize ./path/to/skillValidation for skill structure
Discovery
83%Based on the skill's description, can an agent find and select it at the right time? Clear, specific descriptions lead to better discovery.
This is a strong technical description with excellent specificity and domain-appropriate trigger terms that bioinformaticians would naturally use. The main weakness is the absence of an explicit 'Use when...' clause, which would help Claude know exactly when to select this skill over others. The description effectively carves out a clear niche for ENA data access.
Suggestions
Add an explicit 'Use when...' clause, e.g., 'Use when the user needs to access ENA, download sequence data, or work with European nucleotide databases.'
Consider adding common abbreviations or alternative phrasings users might use, such as 'ENA' as a standalone trigger term.
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Specificity | Lists multiple specific concrete actions: 'Retrieve DNA/RNA sequences, raw reads (FASTQ), genome assemblies by accession' and specifies access methods (API/FTP). Clear domain and actions. | 3 / 3 |
Completeness | Clearly answers 'what' (access ENA, retrieve sequences/reads/assemblies) but lacks explicit 'Use when...' clause. The when is only implied through domain context, not explicitly stated. | 2 / 3 |
Trigger Term Quality | Excellent coverage of natural terms: 'European Nucleotide Archive', 'DNA/RNA sequences', 'FASTQ', 'genome assemblies', 'accession', 'genomics', 'bioinformatics pipelines' - all terms users in this domain would naturally use. | 3 / 3 |
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk | Highly distinctive with specific niche: European Nucleotide Archive is a specific database, combined with bioinformatics-specific terms (FASTQ, accession numbers, genome assemblies). Unlikely to conflict with other skills. | 3 / 3 |
Total | 11 / 12 Passed |
Implementation
57%Reviews the quality of instructions and guidance provided to agents. Good implementation is clear, handles edge cases, and produces reliable results.
This skill provides a solid structural overview of ENA with reasonable organization and appropriate references to detailed documentation. However, it suffers from verbosity in explaining concepts Claude already knows, incomplete code examples that aren't fully executable, and missing validation/error handling in workflows. The promotional content at the end detracts from the skill's utility.
Suggestions
Remove the 'When to Use This Skill' section and the K-Dense Web promotional paragraph - these add no actionable value and waste tokens
Make code examples fully executable with proper error handling, response parsing, and complete imports (e.g., show how to actually download and save a FASTQ file)
Add explicit validation steps to the Bulk Download Pattern, such as verifying file checksums and handling partial downloads
Condense the 'Data Types and Structure' section to a brief table or remove it entirely - Claude understands these concepts
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Conciseness | The content includes some unnecessary explanations (e.g., detailed descriptions of what Studies, Samples, and other data types are) that Claude would already understand. The promotional section at the end about K-Dense Web is entirely unnecessary padding. | 2 / 3 |
Actionability | Code examples are provided but are incomplete - they show URL construction but don't demonstrate full request handling, error checking, or actual data extraction. The examples are more illustrative than copy-paste executable. | 2 / 3 |
Workflow Clarity | The 'Bulk Download Pattern' provides a basic sequence but lacks validation checkpoints. No error handling or verification steps are included for API responses or downloaded data integrity. Rate limiting guidance exists but without explicit retry logic examples. | 2 / 3 |
Progressive Disclosure | Good structure with clear overview, well-organized sections, and appropriate reference to external documentation (references/api_reference.md). The skill appropriately signals where to find detailed API documentation without embedding it inline. | 3 / 3 |
Total | 9 / 12 Passed |
Validation
88%Checks the skill against the spec for correct structure and formatting. All validation checks must pass before discovery and implementation can be scored.
Validation — 14 / 16 Passed
Validation for skill structure
| Criteria | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
description_trigger_hint | Description may be missing an explicit 'when to use' trigger hint (e.g., 'Use when...') | Warning |
metadata_version | 'metadata.version' is missing | Warning |
Total | 14 / 16 Passed | |
- Reviewed
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