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Skill Manager
ASecurityNative Python-based skill management for enabling/disabling skills, configuring permissions, and managing settings.local.json
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- Added December 19, 2025
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[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/interstellar-code-skill-manager)---
name: skill-manager
description: Native Python-based skill management for enabling/disabling skills, configuring permissions, and managing settings.local.json
version: 1.0.0
author: Generic Claude Code Framework
tags: [skill-management, permissions, configuration, settings, productivity, native-script]
auto-activate: false
---
# Skill Manager
**Native Python-based skill management for Claude Code - Zero token overhead!**
## π― Purpose
This skill provides a **native Python script** that handles skill discovery, enabling/disabling, and permission management WITHOUT requiring LLM parsing. This saves 90% tokens compared to LLM-based skill management.
**Token Savings:**
- LLM-based approach: ~800-1000 tokens (reading 6+ skill files)
- This skill: ~50-100 tokens (single script execution)
- **Savings: 750-900 tokens per operation (90%)**
## π§ **BASH COMMAND ATTRIBUTION PATTERN**
**CRITICAL: Before executing EACH python/bash command, MUST output:**
```
π§ [skill-manager] Running: <command>
```
**Examples:**
```
π§ [skill-manager] Running: python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py discover
π§ [skill-manager] Running: python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py enable cli-modern-tools
π§ [skill-manager] Running: python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py toggle-feature cli-modern-tools eza
π§ [skill-manager] Running: bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh success "" "Configuration updated"
```
**Why:** This pattern helps users identify which skill is executing which command, improving transparency and debugging.
---
## π Available Commands
### Discover & List Skills
```bash
# Discover all skills (formatted output)
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py discover
# List all skills
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py list
# List only enabled skills
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py list --filter enabled
# List only disabled skills
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py list --filter disabled
# Output as JSON (for Claude to parse)
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py json
```
### Enable/Disable Skills
```bash
# Enable a skill
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py enable colored-output
# Disable a skill
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py disable time-helper
```
### View Skill Details
```bash
# Show detailed info about a skill
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py status changelog-manager
```
### Export Configuration
```bash
# Export current configuration as JSON
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py export
```
---
## π¨ VISUAL OUTPUT FORMATTING
**Use colored-output skill for headers and results only (2 calls max):**
```bash
# START: Header only
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh skill-header "skill-manager" "Managing skills..."
# MIDDLE: Run Python script (produces formatted output)
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py list
# END: Result only (if needed)
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh success "" "Configuration updated!"
```
---
## π Usage Workflow
### When User Invokes: `/cs-skill-management`
**Step 1: Run discovery script**
```bash
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py json
```
**Output (JSON):**
```json
[
{
"skill_name": "changelog-manager",
"name": "changelog-manager",
"description": "Update project changelog...",
"version": "2.8.0",
"author": "Claude Code",
"tags": ["changelog", "versioning"],
"auto_activate": true,
"enabled": true,
"permissions": [
"Skill(changelog-manager)",
"Bash(python scripts/generate_docs.py:*)"
]
},
...
]
```
**Step 2: Parse JSON and present interactive menu**
Claude receives the JSON, parses it instantly (no file reads needed!), and displays:
```
βοΈ Skill Management - Interactive Mode
========================================
Available Skills: 7 total
ββ Enabled: 4 skills
ββ Not Configured: 3 skills
ββ Categories: Release, CLI, Documentation, Time, Output, Development
1. View All Skills (7)
2. View Enabled Skills (4)
3. View Not Configured Skills (3)
4. Browse by Category
5. Search for Skill
π§ Quick Actions:
6. Enable a Skill
7. Disable a Skill
8. Configure Skill Permissions
9. View Skill Details
Enter choice (1-9) or 'q' to quit:
```
**Step 3: Execute user choice**
If user chooses "6. Enable a Skill":
```bash
# User selects: colored-output
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py enable colored-output
```
**Output:**
```
β
Enabled: colored-output
```
Settings.local.json is automatically updated!
---
## π§ Quick Actions (Argument-Based)
Users can also call the slash command with arguments for instant actions:
```bash
# Quick enable
/cs-skill-management enable colored-output
# Quick disable
/cs-skill-management disable time-helper
# Quick status
/cs-skill-management status changelog-manager
# Quick list
/cs-skill-management list enabled
```
**Implementation:**
```bash
# Claude detects arguments and calls:
python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py enable colored-output
```
---
## π Script Capabilities
### Discovery
- Scans `.claude/skills/` directory
- Parses YAML frontmatter from skill.md files
- Extracts: name, description, version, author, tags, auto-activate
- Checks enabled status from settings.local.json
- Identifies all permissions related to each skill
### Enable/Disable
- Adds/removes `Skill(skill-name)` from settings.local.json
- Identifies and removes related permissions (e.g., Bash permissions)
- Validates JSON before saving
- Provides clear success/error messages
### Status & Details
- Shows comprehensive skill information
- Lists all permissions
- Shows enabled/disabled status
- Displays tags, version, author
### Export
- Exports full configuration as JSON
- Can be used for backup/restore workflows
- Portable configuration format
---
## π― Integration with /cs-skill-management Command
The slash command `.claude/commands/cs-skill-management.md` should be updated to:
```markdown
**When user invokes `/cs-skill-management [args]`:**
1. **Parse arguments** (if any)
2. **Run Python script** with appropriate action
3. **Display results** to user
4. **Handle interactive menu** (if no arguments)
**Examples:**
- `/cs-skill-management` β Interactive menu
- `/cs-skill-management enable colored-output` β Quick enable
- `/cs-skill-management list enabled` β Quick list
```
---
## β‘ Token Efficiency
**Before (LLM-based):**
1. Read 7 skill.md files (30 lines each) = ~600 tokens
2. Read settings.local.json = ~50 tokens
3. Parse and format = ~150 tokens
4. **Total: ~800 tokens**
**After (Script-based):**
1. Run Python script = ~30 tokens
2. Parse JSON output = ~20 tokens
3. **Total: ~50 tokens**
**Savings: 750 tokens (94% reduction)**
---
## π οΈ Implementation Notes
### Auto-Detection of Project Root
The script automatically finds the project root by searching for `.claude/` directory:
```python
current = Path.cwd()
while current != current.parent:
if (current / '.claude').exists():
self.project_root = current
break
current = current.parent
```
### Cross-Platform Compatibility
- Uses `pathlib.Path` for Windows/Mac/Linux compatibility
- Pure Python (no external dependencies)
- Works with Python 3.6+
### Error Handling
- Validates JSON before saving
- Handles missing files gracefully
- Provides clear error messages
- Safe fallbacks for parsing errors
### YAML Parsing
Simple frontmatter parser (no external deps):
- Extracts YAML between `---` markers
- Parses key: value pairs
- Handles arrays in tags field
- Falls back to defaults on errors
---
## π Customization Points
### Adding New Actions
To add new script actions, modify `skill-manager.py`:
```python
# Add to argument choices
parser.add_argument('action',
choices=['discover', 'list', 'enable', 'disable',
'status', 'export', 'json', 'YOUR_ACTION'],
help='Action to perform')
# Add handler in main()
elif args.action == 'YOUR_ACTION':
manager.your_custom_method()
```
### Custom Filtering
Add custom skill filters:
```python
def list_skills(self, filter_type: str = 'all') -> None:
skills = self.discover_skills()
if filter_type == 'by-tag':
# Custom tag-based filtering
skills = [s for s in skills if 'your-tag' in s['tags']]
```
---
## π Example Output
### Discover Command
```
$ python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py discover
π Skills (7 total)
β
changelog-manager (v2.8.0)
Update project changelog with uncommitted changes
Permissions: 4 configured
β
cli-modern-tools (v1.0.0)
Auto-suggest modern CLI tool alternatives
Permissions: 1 configured
β¬ colored-output (v1.0.0)
Centralized colored output formatter
Permissions: 0 configured
...
```
### Status Command
```
$ python .claude/skills/skill-manager/scripts/skill-manager.py status changelog-manager
π Skill Details: changelog-manager
============================================================
Basic Info:
Name: changelog-manager
Version: 2.8.0
Description: Update project changelog with uncommitted changes
Author: Claude Code
Status:
β
Enabled
Auto-activate: Yes
Permissions (4):
β
Skill(changelog-manager)
β
Bash(python scripts/generate_docs.py:*)
β
Bash(git tag:*)
β
Bash(git commit:*)
Tags:
changelog, versioning, git, release-management
```
---
## π¦ File Structure
```
.claude/skills/skill-manager/
βββ skill.md # This file (skill instructions)
βββ scripts/
β βββ skill-manager.py # Native Python script
βββ README.md # User documentation (optional)
```
---
## π Future Enhancements
Potential additions:
1. **Interactive TUI** - Use `rich` or `textual` for terminal UI
2. **Skill Templates** - Generate new skills from templates
3. **Dependency Management** - Track skill dependencies
4. **Backup/Restore** - Automatic backup before changes
5. **Import Config** - Import exported configurations
6. **Batch Operations** - Enable/disable multiple skills at once
7. **Search** - Full-text search across skill descriptions
---
## Version History
### v1.0.0
- Initial release
- Native Python implementation
- Skill discovery and parsing
- Enable/disable functionality
- Status and details display
- JSON export
- Cross-platform support
- Zero external dependencies
Files in this skill
- README.md
- scripts/skill-manager.py
- skill.md
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