Quickstart example: Systematic API testing workflow (skill)
Skills
1
Reviewed
1/1
Average Score
63%
skills/debug-api-endpoints/SKILL.md
Activation
22%
Implementation
77%
Validation
81%| 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' field is not a dictionary | Warning |
license_field | 'license' field is missing | Warning |
Total | 13 / 16 Passed | |
Implementation
77%This is a solid, actionable skill with clear workflow structure and executable examples. The main weakness is verbosity - it explains concepts Claude already knows (HTTP status codes, basic security concepts) and could be more concise. The content would benefit from splitting detailed test scenarios into reference files.
Suggestions
Remove explanatory text for concepts Claude knows (e.g., 'Request without Authorization header' after 'No token returns 401' is redundant)
Consider extracting detailed test cases for each category (security, validation, functionality) into separate reference files
Condense the 'Common Issues' section into a more compact troubleshooting table format
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Conciseness | The content is reasonably efficient but includes some unnecessary explanation that Claude would already know (e.g., explaining what 401/403/404 mean, basic concepts like 'XSS attempts blocked'). The structure is good but could be tightened. | 2 / 3 |
Actionability | Provides concrete, executable curl commands with expected outputs for each testing phase. The examples are copy-paste ready and cover specific scenarios with clear expected results. | 3 / 3 |
Workflow Clarity | Clear 4-step sequential workflow with explicit ordering (Infrastructure → Security → Validation → Functionality). The troubleshooting section provides a decision tree for debugging, and the 'Test in order' best practice reinforces the validation checkpoint approach. | 3 / 3 |
Progressive Disclosure | Content is well-organized with clear sections and headers, but it's a monolithic document that could benefit from splitting detailed test cases into separate reference files. No external references are provided for deeper topics like automated test examples. | 2 / 3 |
Total | 10 / 12 Passed |
Activation
22%This description is structured as a 'when' clause only, completely omitting what the skill actually does. While it identifies the API testing domain, it lacks concrete actions, comprehensive trigger terms, and sufficient detail to distinguish it from other testing or debugging skills.
Suggestions
Add specific capabilities: 'Send HTTP requests, validate response codes and bodies, test authentication flows, inspect headers and payloads'
Expand trigger terms to include natural variations: 'REST API', 'HTTP requests', 'curl', 'API calls', 'endpoint testing', 'request/response'
Restructure to lead with 'what' then 'when': 'Tests API endpoints by sending HTTP requests, validating responses, and debugging authentication. Use when testing REST APIs, debugging HTTP calls, or validating endpoint behavior.'
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Specificity | The description uses vague language ('test or debug API endpoints systematically') without listing any concrete actions like 'send requests', 'validate responses', 'check status codes', or 'inspect headers'. | 1 / 3 |
Completeness | The description only addresses 'when' (framed as a trigger) but completely lacks the 'what' - it never explains what capabilities or actions the skill provides. This inverts the typical problem but still fails completeness. | 1 / 3 |
Trigger Term Quality | Contains some relevant keywords ('test', 'debug', 'API endpoints') that users might say, but misses common variations like 'REST', 'HTTP requests', 'curl', 'postman', 'API calls', or specific verbs like 'hit an endpoint'. | 2 / 3 |
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk | The API testing domain is somewhat specific, but 'test or debug' is broad enough to potentially conflict with general debugging skills, testing frameworks, or other API-related skills without clear differentiation. | 2 / 3 |
Total | 6 / 12 Passed |
tessl i tessl-labs/quickstart-debug-api-endpoints@1.0.2