Skill authoring rules (mandatory)
Use before any create/edit/move/split of SKILL.md.
Locations
Apply these rules to skills loaded from:
- •global (source of truth in this setup):
~/.dotfiles/pi/agent/skills/(synced to~/.pi/agent/skills/) - •project:
.pi/skills/ - •package-provided skill directories
- •custom paths from settings
skillsentries or CLI--skill
SKILL.md requirements
- •Hard cap: 500 tokens max.
- •Frontmatter must include
nameanddescription. - •
namemust match parent directory and use lowercase letters/numbers/hyphens. - •
descriptionshould state when to use the skill, why it exists, and what it covers. - •Keep body terse, imperative, and action-oriented.
- •Put only the default/high-value path in
SKILL.md. - •Avoid duplicating global guidance or other skills; reference instead.
references/ and scripts/
- •Use
references/*.mdfor progressive disclosure (edge cases, deep dives, examples, troubleshooting). - •Use
scripts/for reusable runnable helpers. - •In
SKILL.md, explicitly say when to consult a reference or run a script.
Quality gate
Before finishing, verify:
- •Common-case execution is possible from
SKILL.mdalone. - •Every line has operational value (no filler).
- •Wording is clear, firm, and unambiguous.
If you changed a skill
Summarize: (1) what changed, (2) why this scope/structure.