MCP Server Builder
anthropics/skills
Guides the design and implementation of Model Context Protocol servers in TypeScript or Python, from tool naming and error messages to evaluation.
Strategies for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container.
No licenceAuto-check passed
Install Environment Discovery
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discovery --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .claude/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .claude/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discoveryType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discovery --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .agents/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .agents/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discovery --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .cursor/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .cursor/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git --path seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discovery --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .gemini/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .gemini/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discoveryInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .github/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .github/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve environment-discovery --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery .opencode/skills/environment-discovery && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "environment-discovery" agent skill from https://github.com/A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve/tree/main/seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery into .opencode/skills/environment-discovery/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "environment-discovery", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
environment-discovery- GitHub stars
- 809
- Token cost
- ~368 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 94 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 17
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- None found
At a glance
Strategies for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container.
- Works in 5 steps: Check available tools and languages → Check the filesystem → Check pre-installed task-specific tools → …
- SKILL.md covers 1. Check available tools and…, 2. Check the filesystem, 3. Check pre-installed… and 4. If python3 is missing, try…, plus 2 more sections
- Calls pip and apt
What it does
Environment Discovery is an agent skill from A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve. Strategies for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container.
Its SKILL.md is about 370 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
It works with Python. The repository describes itself as: The official repository of "Position: Agentic Evolution is the Path to Evolving LLMs".
Example prompts
- “Use the environment-discovery skill to strategy for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container”
- “/environment-discovery”
Requirements
- Python 3
Workflow steps
5 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
- Check available tools and languages
- Check the filesystem
- Check pre-installed task-specific tools
- If python3 is missing, try alternatives
- Pre-installed tool locations
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 18ba996. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
pipapt
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use pip, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Environment Discovery loads about 368 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 34 tokens; SKILL.md has 94 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
Without a licence we can't republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 94 words (~368 tokens).
“When starting a new Terminal-Bench challenge, quickly assess the environment.”
- name
- environment-discovery
Files
Just SKILL.md in seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery of A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 18ba996
Compare with similar skills
Environment Discovery next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environment Discovery this skillA-EVO-Lab/a-evolve | 809 | — | ~368 | Automated safety check: Pass | None | |
| MCP Server Builderanthropics/skills | 180k | 63 repos | ~2.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| PDF Processinganthropics/skills | 180k | 48 repos | ~2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Proprietary | |
| NotebookLM Research AssistantPleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill | 7.8k | 14 repos | ~2.4k | Automated safety check: Notes | MIT | |
| Manim Video Productionbrowser-use/video-use | 28k | 6 repos | ~3k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Code Review ChecklistshareAI-lab/learn-claude-code | 78k | 5 repos | ~1.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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- Official
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Related
Works with
Questions about Environment Discovery
What does Environment Discovery do?
Strategies for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container. Environment Discovery is an agent skill from A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve. Strategies for quickly discovering what tools, languages, and files are available in a Terminal-Bench container.
How do I install Environment Discovery in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery in A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve) into .claude/skills/environment-discovery in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Environment Discovery in Codex?
Run `npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (seed_workspaces/terminal/skills/environment-discovery in A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve) into .agents/skills/environment-discovery in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Environment Discovery in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve --skill environment-discovery -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/environment-discovery, .gemini/skills/environment-discovery, .github/skills/environment-discovery and .opencode/skills/environment-discovery in your project.
What does Environment Discovery need to run?
Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Environment Discovery needs the command-line tools its instructions call (pip and apt). Our summary lists: Python 3.
Does Environment Discovery access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use pip, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Environment Discovery safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does Environment Discovery use?
No licence was found for Environment Discovery or its repository. Without one, default copyright applies: ask the author before reusing or redistributing it.
How many tokens does Environment Discovery use?
About 368 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 1.5k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to Environment Discovery?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Environment Discovery: MCP Server Builder (anthropics/skills, 180k stars), PDF Processing (anthropics/skills, 180k stars), NotebookLM Research Assistant (PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill, 7.8k stars) and Manim Video Production (browser-use/video-use, 28k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Environment Discovery?
A-EVO-Lab (a GitHub organization) maintains it in A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve, which has 809 GitHub stars. The repository holds 17 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 22, 2026.
Source: A-EVO-Lab/a-evolve on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.