My First Skill

Example skill demonstrating Anthropic SKILL.md format. Load when learning to create skills or testing the OpenSkills loader

Source: numman-ali/openskills

What Is This

"My First Skill" is an example skill for the Happycapy Skills platform, specifically designed to demonstrate the Anthropic SKILL.md format. It serves as a reference implementation that guides developers in structuring procedural guidance for AI coding agents. The skill is organized to illustrate how to use SKILL.md metadata, how to bundle supporting resources, and how to write clear, effective instructions for skill-based platforms. The skill can be found in the official OpenSkills repository: My First Skill on GitHub.

Why Use It

Developers often need a template or example when creating new skills for platforms like Happycapy Skills or when testing the skill loading mechanism. "My First Skill" fulfills this need by providing:

  • A fully annotated SKILL.md file that adheres to the Anthropic format.
  • Clear procedural guidance written in the imperative form, which is optimal for AI interpretation and user clarity.
  • Examples of bundling references, scripts, and assets within a skill package.
  • Best practices for content organization, resource referencing, and instructional style.

By loading "My First Skill," developers can quickly understand the expected structure, style, and resource resolution patterns for skills on the Happycapy platform. This minimizes onboarding time and reduces errors in new skill development.

How to Use It

To use "My First Skill," follow these steps:

1. Obtain the

Skill

Clone or download the skill from its GitHub repository:

git clone https://github.com/numman-ali/openskills.git
cd openskills/examples/my-first-skill

2. Review the

SKILL.md File

The SKILL.md file is the core of the skill package. It consists of a YAML frontmatter followed by procedural documentation. The frontmatter identifies the skill and provides a brief description:

---
name: my-first-skill
description: Example skill demonstrating Anthropic SKILL.md format. Load when learning to create skills or testing the OpenSkills loader.
---

After the frontmatter, instructions are provided for creating skills and structuring content. For example:

## Instructions

To create a skill:

1. Create a directory: `mkdir my-skill/`
2. Add SKILL.md with YAML frontmatter:
   ```yaml
   ---
   name: my-skill
   description: When to use this skill
   ---
  1. Write instructions in imperative form (not second person)
  2. Reference bundled resources as needed

### 3. Explore Bundled

Resources

"My First Skill" demonstrates how to include additional resources such as reference documents, scripts, and assets. For instance, detailed information about the SKILL.md specification is provided in `references/skill-format.md`. Paths to these resources are always relative to the base directory of the skill.

Example resolution:

- `references/skill-format.md` resolves to `/path/to/my-first-skill/references/skill-format.md`
- `scripts/helper.sh` resolves to `/path/to/my-first-skill/scripts/helper.sh`

### 4. Follow Best

Practices

The skill provides a list of best practices for writing SKILL.md files:

- Use the imperative or infinitive form (e.g., "To do X, execute Y")
- Avoid the second person (do not use "You should...")
- Keep the SKILL.md file concise (under 5,000 words)
- Place detailed content in the `references/` directory
- Use the `scripts/` directory for executable code
- Place templates and output files in the `assets/` directory

### 5. Load the Skill in

Happycapy

When integrated into the Happycapy Skills platform, the loader will set the base directory context. All relative paths in the SKILL.md and supporting files will resolve from this base directory, ensuring resources are located correctly.

## When to Use It

"My First Skill" is intended for the following scenarios:

- Learning the structure and requirements of the Anthropic SKILL.md format.
- Testing the OpenSkills loader or similar skill loading mechanisms.
- Demonstrating how to organize and write procedural guidance for AI coding agents.
- Serving as a reference when developing new skills for the Happycapy Skills platform.

It is not intended for production use or as a domain-specific skill, but rather as a foundational and educational resource for skill authors and platform testers.

## Important Notes

- **Content Structure:** All instructions should be in the imperative or infinitive form and avoid the second person. This is crucial for clarity, particularly when the skill is interpreted by AI agents.
- **Resource Organization:** Place large or detailed documentation in the `references/` directory. Scripts and code go in `scripts/`, while templates and outputs reside in `assets/`.
- **File Size:** Keep the SKILL.md file under 5,000 words to maintain readability and usability.
- **Path Resolution:** When the skill is loaded, the base directory is set, ensuring all relative paths in SKILL.md and other files resolve correctly.
- **Skill Purpose:** "My First Skill" is a reference and testing tool, not a production-ready design skill.

By following the structure and conventions illustrated in "My First Skill," developers can ensure consistency, clarity, and maintainability in their own skill packages for the Happycapy Skills platform.

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