Skill Writer

---
author: luo-kai
name: skill-writer
description: Create, synthesize, and iteratively improve agent skills following the Agent Skills specification. Use when asked to "create a skill", "write a skill", "synthesize sources into a skill", "improve a skill from positive/negative examples", "update a skill", or "maintain skill docs and registration". Handles source capture, depth gates, authoring, registration, and validation.
---

# Skill Writer

Use this as the single canonical workflow for skill creation and improvement.
Primary success condition: maximize high-value input coverage before authoring so the resulting skill has minimal blind spots.

Load only the path(s) required for the task:

| Task | Read |
|------|------|
| Set skill class and required dimensions | `references/mode-selection.md` |
| Apply writing constraints for depth vs concision | `references/design-principles.md` |
| Select structure pattern for this skill | `references/skill-patterns.md` |
| Select workflow orchestration pattern for process-heavy skills | `references/workflow-patterns.md` |
| Select output format pattern for deterministic quality | `references/output-patterns.md` |
| Choose workflow path and required outputs | `references/mode-selection.md` |
| Load representative synthesis examples by skill type | `references/examples/*.md` |
| Synthesize external/local sources with depth gates | `references/synthesis-path.md` |
| Author or update SKILL.md and supporting files | `references/authoring-path.md` |
| Optimize skill description and trigger precision | `references/description-optimization.md` |
| Iterate using positive/negative/fix examples | `references/iteration-path.md` |
| Evaluate behavior and compare baseline vs with-skill (opt-in quantitative) | `references/evaluation-path.md` |
| Register and validate skill changes | `references/registration-validation.md` |

## Step 1: Resolve target and path

1. Resolve target skill root and intended operation (`create`, `update`, `synthesize`, `iterate`).
2. Distinguish skill-internal paths from repo registration paths:
   - inside a skill, reference bundled files relative to that skill root (for example `references/foo.md`, `scripts/check.py`)
   - for repository registration edits, use the repository's actual canonical files/locations after inspecting the workspace
3. Read `references/mode-selection.md` and select the required path(s).
4. Classify the skill (`workflow-process`, `integration-documentation`, `security-review`, `skill-authoring`, `generic`).
5. Ask one direct question if class or depth requirements are ambiguous; otherwise state explicit assumptions.

## Step 2: Run synthesis when needed

Read `references/synthesis-path.md`.

1. Collect and score relevant sources with provenance.
2. Apply trust and safety rules when ingesting external content.
3. Produce source-backed decisions and coverage/gap status.
4. Load one or more profiles from `references/examples/*.md` when the skill is hybrid.
5. Enforce baseline source pack for skill-authoring workflows.
6. Enforce depth gates before moving to authoring.

## Step 3: Run iteration first when improving from outcomes/examples

Read `references/iteration-path.md` first when selected path includes `iteration` (for example operation `iterate`).

1. Capture and anonymize examples with provenance.
2. Re-evaluate skill behavior against working and holdout slices.
3. Propose improvements from positive/negative/fix evidence.
4. Carry concrete behavior deltas into authoring.

Skip this step when selected path does not include `iteration`.

## Step 4: Author or update skill artifacts

Read `references/authoring-path.md`.

1. Write or update `SKILL.md` in imperative voice with trigger-rich description.
2. Create focused reference files and scripts only when justified.
3. Follow `references/skill-patterns.md`, `references/workflow-patterns.md`, and
   `references/output-patterns.md` for structure and output determinism.
4. For authoring/generator skills, include transformed examples in references:
   - happy-path
   - secure/robust variant
   - anti-pattern + corrected version

## Step 5: Optimize description quality

Read `references/description-optimization.md`.

1. Validate should-trigger and should-not-trigger query sets.
2. Reduce false positives and false negatives with targeted description edits.
3. Keep trigger language generic across providers unless the skill is intentionally provider-specific.

## Step 6: Evaluate outcomes

Read `references/evaluation-path.md`.

1. Run a lightweight qualitative check by default (recommended).
2. For integration/documentation and skill-authoring skills, include the concise depth rubric from `references/evaluation-path.md`.
3. Run deeper eval playbook and quantitative baseline-vs-with-skill only when requested or risk warrants it.
4. Record outcomes and unresolved risks.

## Step 7: Register and validate

Read `references/registration-validation.md`.

1. Apply repository registration steps for the active layout you verified in the workspace.
2. Run quick validation with strict depth gates.
3. Reject shallow outputs that fail depth gates or required artifact checks.

## Output format

Return:

1. `Summary`
2. `Changes Made`
3. `Validation Results`
4. `Open Gaps`