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Universal skills loader for AI coding agents

One CLI. Every agent. Same format as Claude Code.

Quick Start · How It Works · Commands · Create Skills · FAQ

✨ What Is OpenSkills?

OpenSkills brings Anthropic's skills system to every AI coding agent — Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, Codex, and anything that can read AGENTS.md.

Think of it as the universal installer for SKILL.md.

🚀 Quick Start

By default, installs are project-local (./.claude/skills, or ./.agent/skills with --universal). Use --global for ~/.claude/skills.

✅ Why OpenSkills

• Exact Claude Code compatibility — same prompt format, same marketplace, same folder structure • Universal — works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, Codex, and more • Progressive disclosure — load skills only when needed (keeps context clean) • Repo-friendly — skills live in your project and can be versioned • Private friendly — install from local paths or private git repos

🧠 How It Works

Claude Code System Prompt (Skills)

Claude Code ships skills as SKILL.md files and exposes them inside a block. When the user asks for a task, Claude dynamically loads the matching skill.

OpenSkills: Same Format, Universal Loader

OpenSkills generates the exact same XML in your AGENTS.md and loads skills via:

So any agent that can read AGENTS.md can use Claude Code skills without needing Claude Code itself.

Side-by-Side

| Aspect | Claude Code | OpenSkills |

| Prompt Format | XML | Same XML | | Skill Storage | .claude/skills/ | .claude/skills/ (default) | | Invocation | Skill("name") tool | npx openskills read | | Marketplace | Anthropic marketplace | GitHub (anthropics/skills) | | Progressive Disclosure | ✅ | ✅ |

Show the exact AGENTS.md format OpenSkills writes

🔧 Install Skills

From Anthropic Marketplace

From Any GitHub Repo

From a Local Path

From Private Git Repos

🌍 Universal Mode (Multi-Agent Setups)

If you use Claude Code and other agents with one AGENTS.md, install to .agent/skills/ to avoid conflicts with Claude's plugin marketplace:

Priority order (highest wins): 1. ./.agent/skills/ 2. ~/.agent/skills/ 3. ./.claude/skills/ 4. ~/.claude/skills/

🧰 Commands

Flags

• --global — Install globally to ~/.claude/skills (default: project install) • --universal — Install to .agent/skills/ instead of .claude/skills/ • -y, --yes — Skip prompts (useful for CI) • -o, --output — Output file for sync (default: AGENTS.md)

🧬 The SKILL.md Format

OpenSkills uses Anthropic's exact format:

Skills are loaded on demand, keeping your agent's context clean and focused.

🧪 Creating Your Own Skills

Minimal Structure

With Resources

Install your own skill:

Local Development with Symlinks

Authoring Guide

🔄 Updating Skills

If you installed skills from a git repo, you can refresh them anytime:

To update specific skills, pass a comma-separated list:

If a skill was installed before updates were tracked, re-install it once to record its source.

✅ Tips

• You can always run OpenSkills via npx; a global install is optional. • For multiple reads, prefer comma-separated names: npx openskills read foo,bar.

❓ FAQ

Why CLI instead of MCP?

MCP is for dynamic tools. Skills are static instructions + resources.

• Skills are just files → no server required • Works with every agent → no MCP support needed • Matches Anthropic's design → SKILL.md is the spec

MCP and skills solve different problems. OpenSkills keeps skills lightweight and universal.

📋 Requirements

• Node.js 20.6+ • Git (for cloning repositories)

📜 License

Apache 2.0

Attribution

Implements Anthropic's Agent Skills specification.

Not affiliated with Anthropic. Claude, Claude Code, and Agent Skills are trademarks of Anthropic, PBC.

Description from the npm listing.