Agent skill
create-skill
Wizard for creating new Agent Zero skills. Guides users through creating well-structured SKILL.md files. Use when users want to create custom skills.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/agent0ai/agent-zero/tree/main/skills/create-skill
SKILL.md
Create Skill Wizard
This skill helps you create new Agent Zero skills that follow the SKILL.md standard.
Quick Start
To create a new skill, I'll guide you through these steps:
- Name & Purpose - What should this skill do?
- Trigger Patterns - When should this skill activate?
- Content Structure - What instructions should the agent follow?
- Supporting Files - Any scripts or templates needed?
SKILL.md Format
Every skill needs a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter:
---
name: "skill-name"
description: "Clear description of what this skill does and when to use it"
version: "1.0.0"
author: "Your Name"
tags: ["category1", "category2"]
trigger_patterns:
- "keyword1"
- "phrase that triggers this"
---
# Skill Title
Your skill instructions go here...
Required Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
name |
Unique identifier (lowercase, hyphens) | "code-review" |
description |
When/why to use this skill | "Review code for quality and security issues" |
Optional Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
version |
Semantic version | "1.0.0" |
author |
Creator name | "Jane Developer" |
tags |
Categorization keywords | ["review", "quality"] |
trigger_patterns |
Words/phrases that activate skill | ["review", "check code"] |
allowed_tools |
Tools this skill can use | ["code_execution", "web_search"] |
Skill Directory Structure
/a0/usr/skills/
└── my-skill/
├── SKILL.md # Required: Main skill file
├── scripts/ # Optional: Helper scripts
│ ├── helper.py
│ └── process.sh
├── templates/ # Optional: Templates
│ └── output.md
└── docs/ # Optional: Additional docs
└── examples.md
Writing Good Skill Instructions
Be Specific and Actionable
# Good
When reviewing code:
1. Check for security vulnerabilities
2. Verify error handling
3. Assess test coverage
# Bad
Review the code and make it better.
Include Examples
## Example Usage
**User**: "Review my Python function for issues"
**Agent Response**:
> I'll review your function using the code review checklist:
>
> 1. **Security**: No user input validation detected
> 2. **Error Handling**: Missing try-catch for file operations
> 3. **Testing**: Function is testable but no tests found
Provide Checklists
## Review Checklist
- [ ] Input validation present
- [ ] Error handling complete
- [ ] Tests included
- [ ] Documentation updated
Creating Your Skill: Step by Step
Step 1: Define Purpose
Answer these questions:
- What problem does this skill solve?
- When should the agent use it?
- What's the expected output?
Step 2: Choose a Name
- Use lowercase letters and hyphens
- Be descriptive but concise
- Examples:
code-review,data-analysis,deploy-helper
Step 3: Write Trigger Patterns
List words/phrases that should activate this skill:
trigger_patterns:
- "review"
- "check code"
- "code quality"
- "pull request"
Step 4: Structure Your Content
Organize with clear sections:
# Skill Title
## When to Use
Describe the trigger conditions
## The Process
Step-by-step instructions
## Examples
Show sample interactions
## Tips
Additional guidance
Step 5: Add Supporting Files (Optional)
If your skill needs scripts or templates:
# Create directory structure
mkdir -p /a0/usr/skills/my-skill/{scripts,templates,docs}
Example: Complete Skill
---
name: "python-optimizer"
description: "Optimize Python code for performance and readability. Use when asked to improve or optimize Python code."
version: "1.0.0"
author: "Agent Zero Team"
tags: ["python", "optimization", "performance"]
trigger_patterns:
- "optimize python"
- "improve performance"
- "make faster"
- "python optimization"
---
# Python Optimizer
## When to Use
Activate when user asks to optimize, improve, or speed up Python code.
## Optimization Process
### Step 1: Profile First
Before optimizing, understand where time is spent:
```python
import cProfile
cProfile.run('your_function()')
Step 2: Common Optimizations
-
Use List Comprehensions
python# Slow result = [] for x in data: result.append(x * 2) # Fast result = [x * 2 for x in data] -
Use Sets for Lookups
python# Slow: O(n) if item in large_list: # Fast: O(1) if item in large_set: -
Use Generators for Large Data
python# Memory-heavy data = [process(x) for x in huge_list] # Memory-efficient data = (process(x) for x in huge_list)
Step 3: Verify Improvement
Always measure before and after:
import time
start = time.perf_counter()
# code to measure
elapsed = time.perf_counter() - start
print(f"Took {elapsed:.4f} seconds")
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
- Premature optimization
- Optimizing without profiling
- Sacrificing readability for tiny gains
## Skill Installation
### Local Installation
1. Create skill directory:
```bash
mkdir -p /a0/usr/skills/my-skill
-
Create SKILL.md:
bashtouch /a0/usr/skills/my-skill/SKILL.md -
Add content and save
-
Skills are automatically loaded on next agent initialization
Sharing Skills
To share skills with others:
- Create a GitHub repository
- Include the skill directory structure
- Add a README with installation instructions
- Users can copy to their
/a0/usr/skills/directory
Testing Your Skill
After creating a skill:
- Start a new conversation
- Use one of your trigger patterns
- Verify the agent follows your instructions
- Iterate and improve based on results
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