writing-skills

Writing Skills (Excellence)

Dispatcher for skill creation excellence. Use the decision tree below to find the right template and standards.

⚡ Quick Decision Tree

What do you need to do?

1. Create a NEW skill:

• Is it simple (single file, <200 lines)? → [Tier 1 Architecture](references/tier-1-simple/README.md)
• Is it complex (multi-concept, 200-1000 lines)? → [Tier 2 Architecture](references/tier-2-expanded/README.md)
• Is it a massive platform (10+ products, AWS, Convex)? → [Tier 3 Architecture](references/tier-3-platform/README.md)

1. Improve an EXISTING skill:

• Fix "it's too long" -> [Modularize (Tier 3)](references/templates/tier-3-platform.md)
• Fix "AI ignores rules" -> [Anti-Rationalization](references/anti-rationalization/README.md)
• Fix "users can't find it" -> [CSO (Search Optimization)](references/cso/README.md)

1. Verify Compliance:

• Check metadata/naming -> [Standards](references/standards/README.md)
• Add tests -> [Testing Guide](references/testing/README.md)

📚 Component Index

| Component | Purpose |

|-----------|---------|

| [CSO](references/cso/README.md) | "SEO for LLMs". How to write descriptions that trigger. |

| [Standards](references/standards/README.md) | File naming, YAML frontmatter, directory structure. |

| [Anti-Rationalization](references/anti-rationalization/README.md)| How to write rules that agents won't ignore. |

| [Testing](references/testing/README.md) | How to ensure your skill actually works. |

🛠️ Templates

• [Technique Skill](references/templates/technique.md) (How-to)
• [Reference Skill](references/templates/reference.md) (Docs)
• [Discipline Skill](references/templates/discipline.md) (Rules)
• [Pattern Skill](references/templates/pattern.md) (Design Patterns)

When to Use

• Creating a NEW skill from scratch
• Improving an EXISTING skill that agents ignore
• Debugging why a skill isn't being triggered
• Standardizing skills across a team

How It Works

1. Identify goal → Use decision tree above
2. Select template → From references/templates/
3. Apply CSO → Optimize description for discovery
4. Add anti-rationalization → For discipline skills
5. Test → RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle

Quick Example

---
name: my-technique
description: Use when [specific symptom occurs].
metadata:
  category: technique
  triggers: error-text, symptom, tool-name
---

# My Technique

## When to Use
- [Symptom A]
- [Error message]

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix |

|---------|-----|

| Description summarizes workflow | Use "Use when..." triggers only |

| No metadata.triggers | Add 3+ keywords |

| Generic name ("helper") | Use gerund (creating-skills) |

| Long monolithic SKILL.md | Split into references/ |

See [gotchas.md](gotchas.md) for more.

✅ Pre-Deploy Checklist

Before deploying any skill:

• [ ] name field matches directory name exactly
• [ ] SKILL.md filename is ALL CAPS
• [ ] Description starts with "Use when..."
• [ ] metadata.triggers has 3+ keywords
• [ ] Total lines < 500 (use references/ for more)
• [ ] No @ force-loading in cross-references
• [ ] Tested with real scenarios

🔗 Related Skills

• opencode-expert: For OpenCode environment configuration
• Use /write-skill command for guided skill creation

Examples

Create a Tier 1 skill:

mkdir -p ~/.config/opencode/skills/my-technique
touch ~/.config/opencode/skills/my-technique/SKILL.md

Create a Tier 2 skill:

mkdir -p ~/.config/opencode/skills/my-skill/references/core
touch ~/.config/opencode/skills/my-skill/{SKILL.md,gotchas.md}
touch ~/.config/opencode/skills/my-skill/references/core/README.md

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.