skill-creator

What this skill does

# Skill Creator

Automates creation of Claude Code skills through interactive guidance, template generation, and quality validation.

## When to Use

**Trigger Phrases**:
- "create a new skill for [purpose]"
- "generate a skill called [name]"
- "scaffold a [type] skill"
- "set up a new skill"

**Use Cases**:
- Creating new skills from scratch
- Following Claudex marketplace standards
- Learning skill structure through examples

## Quick Decision Matrix

| User Request | Mode | Action |
|--------------|------|--------|
| "create skill for [purpose]" | Guided | Interactive creation |
| "create [type] skill" | Quick Start | Template-based |
| "skill like [existing]" | Clone | Copy pattern |
| "validate skill" | Validate | Quality check |

## Mode 1: Guided Creation (Default)

**Use when**: User wants full guidance and customization

**Process**:
1. Gather basic info (name, description, author)
2. Define purpose, category, triggers
3. Assess complexity → determine skill type
4. Customize directory structure
5. Select pattern (mode-based, phase-based, validation, data-processing)
6. Generate files from templates
7. Run quality validation
8. Provide installation and next steps

**Workflow**: `workflow/guided-creation.md`

## Mode 2: Quick Start

**Use when**: User specifies skill type directly (minimal, standard, complex)

**Process**:
1. Confirm skill type
2. Gather minimal required info
3. Generate with standardized defaults
4. Flag ALL customization points

**Advantages**: Fast, minimal questions
**Trade-off**: More TODO sections to customize

## Mode 3: Clone & Modify

**Use when**: User wants to base skill on existing one

**Process**:
1. Read existing skill's structure
2. Extract organizational pattern (not content)
3. Generate new skill with same structure
4. Clear example-specific content

**Advantages**: Proven structure, familiar patterns

## Mode 4: Validation Only

**Use when**: User wants to check existing skill quality

**Process**:
1. Read existing skill files
2. Run quality checklist
3. Generate validation report
4. Offer to fix issues automatically

**Use Case**: Before submission, after modifications

## Skill Types

| Type | Complexity | Directories | Pattern |
|------|------------|-------------|---------|
| Minimal | Low | SKILL.md, README.md only | phase-based |
| Standard | Medium | + data/, examples/ | phase-based or validation |
| Complex (mode) | High | + modes/, templates/ | mode-based |
| Complex (data) | High | + scripts/, data/ | data-processing |

## Generated Files

**Required** (all skills):
- `SKILL.md` - Main skill manifest (with YAML frontmatter)
- `README.md` - User documentation
- `CHANGELOG.md` - Version history

**Optional** (based on type):
- `modes/` - Mode-specific workflows
- `data/` - Reference materials
- `examples/` - Example outputs
- `templates/` - Reusable templates
- `scripts/` - Automation scripts

> **Note**: `plugin.json` is NOT required. The marketplace.json is the single source of truth for plugin metadata.

## Quality Validation

Validates against `data/quality-checklist.md`:

- File existence (all required files)
- Syntax (YAML frontmatter, JSON)
- Content completeness
- Security (no secrets)
- Naming conventions (kebab-case)
- Quality grade (A-F)

## Success Criteria

- [ ] All required files generated (SKILL.md, README.md, CHANGELOG.md)
- [ ] Valid YAML frontmatter with `name` and `description`
- [ ] `name` matches directory name (Anthropic spec requirement)
- [ ] No security issues (no secrets in files)
- [ ] Kebab-case naming (lowercase + hyphens only)
- [ ] Version 0.1.0 for new skills
- [ ] Description includes capabilities AND trigger context
- [ ] Quality grade C or better

## Reference Materials

### Templates
- `templates/SKILL.md.j2` - Main manifest with frontmatter
- `templates/README.md.j2` - User documentation
- `templates/CHANGELOG.md.j2` - Version history

### Patterns
- `patterns/mode-based.md` - Multi-mode skills
- `patterns/phase-based.md` - Sequential workflows
- `patterns/validation.md` - Audit skills
- `patterns/data-processing.md` - Data analysis

### Reference Data
- `data/categories.yaml` - Valid categories
- `data/skill-types.yaml` - Type definitions
- `data/quality-checklist.md` - Validation criteria

### Examples
- `examples/minimal-skill/`
- `examples/standard-skill/`
- `examples/complex-skill/`

## Quick Commands

```bash
# Check existing skills
ls ~/.claude/skills/

# View skill structure
tree ~/.claude/skills/[skill-name]/

# Validate frontmatter syntax
head -20 ~/.claude/skills/[skill-name]/SKILL.md

# Run marketplace validation
python3 scripts/validate-skills.py
```

## Error Handling

| Error | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| Name exists | Suggest alternatives or confirm overwrite |
| Invalid name | Explain kebab-case, provide corrected suggestion |
| Permission denied | Check ~/.claude/skills/ write access |
| Template fails | Fallback to manual creation with guidance |

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**Version**: 0.1.0 | **Author**: Connor