ai-docs/docs/ai/skills.md

# Skills Library

You are here: [AI Docs Home](index.md) > Skills Library

## Contents
- Skills vs Agents vs Instructions
- Skills Governance And Sync
- Skills CLI (Single Path)
- How To Connect Skills
- Central Assets Repo
- Next Steps

## Skills vs Agents vs Instructions
- Skills are reusable workflows you load for specific tasks.
- Agents are full modes/personas that control behavior end-to-end.
- Instructions are always-on repo rules that auto-apply by file pattern.

## What Skills Are
Skills are reusable instructions and workflows that guide the assistant through specialized tasks.

## When To Use A Skill
- The task has a repeatable workflow.
- You want consistent structure and outputs.
- The task spans multiple files or steps.

## Skills Directory
Store skills in the team-approved skills directory for your environment. If you do not know the location, ask your team lead or check your internal setup docs.

### Example Question To Ask
Example prompt:
```text
Where is the approved skills directory for our team, and how do I add a new skill?
```

## Skills Governance And Sync
To keep skills consistent across teams, use a central skills registry plus a per-project manifest. Avoid copying skills into every repo unless the skill is tightly coupled to the project.

### Recommended Pattern
- Central skills registry repo (single source of truth)
- Project-level manifest that pins required skills and versions
- Sync script that installs the approved set to each developer's laptop
- Agents.md points to the manifest and sync command

### Curated Assets Structure (Current)
Keep the approved list in a single repo and organize by platform. This repo already includes the /assets folder as the staging area for a future migration.

```text
/assets/
	setup.sh              ← single installer script
	agents.list           ← auto-generated manifest
	instructions.list     ← auto-generated manifest
	ios-skills.yaml
	android-skills.yaml
	shared-skills.yaml
	agents/
	instructions/
	README.md
```

### Project Manifest Example
Use a small manifest to declare the approved skills and versions for the project:

```yaml
version: 1
skills:
	- name: swiftui-expert-skill
		install: "https://github.com/avdlee/swiftui-agent-skill --skill swiftui-expert-skill"
	- name: onboarding-cro
		install: "vercel-labs/agent-skills"
```

### Sync Workflow
1. Update the curated list in assets (shared, iOS, or Android).
2. Run `./assets/setup.sh skills ios` (or `android`, `shared`).
3. The script installs each skill using the `npx skills` CLI.
4. Restart your editor if required.

### Example Sync Commands
```bash
# Install iOS skills
./assets/setup.sh skills ios

# Install everything (skills + agents + instructions)
./assets/setup.sh all ios

# Remote — no clone required
export ASSETS_BASE_URL="https://gitlab.com/<org>/mobile-ai-docs/-/raw/develop/assets"
bash <(curl -fsSL "$ASSETS_BASE_URL/setup.sh") all ios
```

## Skills CLI (Single Path)
We use a single, approved path: update the curated list under assets/ and run the sync script. The sync script calls `npx skills add` for each entry.

### Where To Find Skills
- Homepage: https://skills.sh/
- Docs: https://skills.sh/docs
- CLI reference: https://skills.sh/docs/cli

### How It Works (High-Level)
1. You update assets/shared-skills.yaml (or a platform list) with approved install entries.
2. Run `./assets/setup.sh skills` (or `skills ios`, `skills android`).
3. The script uses `npx skills` to install each skill.

### Install The CLI (No Global Install Required)
The CLI runs via `npx`, so you do not need a global install.

### Example Install Entry
```yaml
skills:
	- name: swiftui-expert-skill
		install: "https://github.com/avdlee/swiftui-agent-skill --skill swiftui-expert-skill"
```

### Notes
- The leaderboard uses anonymous telemetry from the CLI. You can opt out by setting `DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1`.
- Review skills before installing. The ecosystem is audited, but quality varies.

## skills CLI Commands
Common commands shown in the CLI help output:

```text
npx skills add <package>     Install a skill
npx skills list              List installed skills
npx skills find [query]      Search for skills
npx skills check             Check for updates
npx skills update            Update all skills
npx skills remove            Remove installed skills
npx skills init [name]       Create a new skill
```

![Skills Find](images/skills-find.png)

## How to Download Existing Skills
Run the setup script:
```bash
./assets/setup.sh skills ios
```

Or remotely without cloning:
```bash
bash <(curl -fsSL "$ASSETS_BASE_URL/setup.sh") skills ios
```

## How to Download Agents
Run the setup script:
```bash
./assets/setup.sh agents
```

Or remotely without cloning:
```bash
bash <(curl -fsSL "$ASSETS_BASE_URL/setup.sh") agents
```

Agents are installed to `~/.copilot/agents/` by default. Override with the `AGENTS_DIR` environment variable.

## How to Enable or Configure Skills
- Follow the instructions provided in each skill's README or SKILL file.
- Some skills require additional setup, such as environment variables or tools.

## How To Connect Skills
1. State the primary skill you want to use.
2. Provide the inputs that skill expects.
3. If needed, add a secondary skill and explain the handoff.

### Example Skill Request
Example prompt:
```text
Use swiftui-expert-skill to review this view for best practices. Then use webapp-testing to validate the web flow.
```

## Central Assets Repo (Recommended)
Do not list every skill in this guide. Instead, point readers to a single repo that contains the approved agents, skills, and instructions they can download.

### What To Include In The Assets Repo
- Agents (agent prompt files)
- Skills (SKILL files and any required setup)
- Instructions (repo-level and editor-level guidance)
- A short README with install and update steps
- Curated skill lists (for example, ios-skills.yaml, android-skills.yaml)

### Link To The Assets Repo
- Repo: (link)

## Next Steps
- For day-to-day workflows, read [Cross-Platform AI Usage](cross-platform.md).
- For setup issues, follow [Troubleshooting and FAQ](troubleshooting.md).