Skill Format Reference

Technical reference for the Skly skill file format. This includes Markdown structure, best practices, variables, and compatibility notes for AI tools.

Why Markdown?

Universal

Every AI tool supports it, including Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Copilot, and more.

Human-readable

You can write and edit in any text editor. No special software is needed.

Organized

Headers, lists, and formatting help AI follow instructions.

Simple

Plain text files are easy to share and version.

File Structure

A well-organized skill file follows this pattern:

# Skill Title

Brief description of what this skill does.

## Context

Background information the AI needs to know.

## Instructions

Step-by-step directions for the AI to follow.

## Input

What the user needs to provide.

## Output Format

How the AI should format its response.

## Examples (optional)

Sample inputs and expected outputs.

Markdown Basics

If you're new to Markdown, here's a quick reference:

Syntax	Result
`# Heading 1`	Main heading
`## Heading 2`	Sub heading
`bold`	bold text
`italic`	italic text
`- item`	Bullet list
`1. item`	Numbered list
`code`	Inline code

Best Practices

File Requirements

Property	Requirement
Format	`.md` (Markdown)
Encoding	UTF-8
Size	Under 100KB (most skills are 1–10KB)
Language	English is recommended for widest reach

Compatibility Notes

Different AI tools may interpret instructions differently:

Good at following complex, multi-step instructions. Excels with structured workflows and detailed reference material.

When listing supported AI tools for your skill, only include those you've actually tested.

Skill Format Reference

Why Markdown?

Universal

Human-readable

Organized

Simple

File Structure

Markdown Basics

Best Practices

Use clear headers

Be explicit

Include variables

Keep it focused

Test thoroughly

File Requirements

Compatibility Notes

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