Agent skill

Dev

by Automattic in Automattic/wordpress-activitypub

Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes.

MITAuto-check passedDevelopment

Install Dev

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .claude/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.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/

Paste into Claude Code

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .claude/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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

$skill-installer install https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev

Type 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.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a codex

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev --agent codex

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .agents/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.

Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/

Paste into Codex

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .agents/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a cursor

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev --agent cursor

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .cursor/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.

Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/

Paste into Cursor

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .cursor/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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

$ gemini skills install https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git --path .agents/skills/dev

--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a gemini-cli

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev --agent gemini-cli

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .gemini/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.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/

Paste into Gemini CLI

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .gemini/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev

Installs 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).

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a github-copilot

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .github/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.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/

Paste into GitHub Copilot

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .github/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a opencode

OpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install Automattic/wordpress-activitypub dev --agent opencode

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/dev .opencode/skills/dev && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.

OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into OpenCode

Install the "dev" agent skill from https://github.com/Automattic/wordpress-activitypub/tree/trunk/.agents/skills/dev into .opencode/skills/dev/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "dev", 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: dev
GitHub stars: 582
Token cost: ~1.1k tokens
SKILL.md length: 225 words
Files: 1
Skills in repo: 7
Repo updated: Oct 7, 2026
First seen: Oct 7, 2026
Licence: MIT

At a glance

Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes.

Works in 5 steps: Sort PHP imports - Automatically… → Check unused imports - Prevents unused… → Validate test patterns - Blocks… → …
Setting up development environment
SKILL.md covers Quick Reference, Comprehensive Documentation, Pre-commit Hooks and Common Development Workflows, plus 1 more section
Calls npm, composer and git

What it does

Dev is an agent skill from Automattic/wordpress-activitypub. Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes. Use when setting up development environment, running tests, checking code quality, building assets, or working with wp-env.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.1k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Development, covering Linting and formatting and Code quality. It works with WordPress, npm and PHP. The repository describes itself as: The ActivityPub plugin connects your WordPress site to the Fediverse. Your site becomes a profile people can follow from Mastodon, and every post you publish is automatically… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

Setting up development environment
Checking code quality
Building assets
Working with wp-env

Example prompts

“/dev”

Requirements

Node.js

Workflow steps

5 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

Sort PHP imports - Automatically organizes use statements.
Check unused imports - Prevents unused use statements.
Validate test patterns - Blocks remove_all_filters('pre_http_request').
Run PHPCS auto-fix - Applies coding standards automatically.
Format JavaScript - Runs wp-scripts formatter.

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 72d53bc. 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:
- npm
- composer
- git
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use npm and git, 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

Dev loads about 1.1k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 64 tokens; SKILL.md has 225 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it: ~64
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches: ~1.1k

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

The full file from Automattic/wordpress-activitypub at commit 72d53bc, republished under its MIT licence (© Automattic). 225 words, ~1,139 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/dev/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).

name: dev
description: Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes. Use when setting up development environment, running tests, checking code quality, building assets, or working with wp-env.

ActivityPub Development Cycle

Quick reference for common development workflows in the WordPress ActivityPub plugin.

Quick Reference

Environment Management

bash

npm run env-start    # Start WordPress at http://localhost:8888.
npm run env-stop     # Stop WordPress environment.

Testing Commands

bash

npm run env-test                      # Run all PHP tests.
npm run env-test -- --filter=pattern  # Run tests matching pattern.
npm run env-test -- path/to/test.php  # Run specific test file.
npm run env-test -- --group=name      # Run tests with @group annotation.
npm run test:e2e                      # Run Playwright E2E tests.
npm run test:e2e:debug                # Debug E2E tests.

Code Quality

bash

composer lint         # Check PHP coding standards.
composer lint:fix     # Auto-fix PHP issues.
npm run lint:js       # Check JavaScript.
npm run lint:css      # Check CSS styles.
npm run format        # Format all code (wp-scripts).

Building Assets

bash

npm run build         # Build for production (formatted and minified).
npm run dev           # Start development watch mode.

Code Coverage

bash

npm run env-start -- --xdebug=coverage    # Start with coverage support.
npm run env-test -- --coverage-text       # Generate text coverage report.
npm run env-test -- --coverage-html ./coverage  # Generate HTML report.

Comprehensive Documentation

See docs/development-environment.md for detailed setup instructions.

See tests/README.md for comprehensive testing guidance.

See docs/code-linting.md for linting configuration and standards.

Pre-commit Hooks

The repository uses automated pre-commit hooks (.githooks/pre-commit) that run automatically on git commit:

Sort PHP imports - Automatically organizes use statements.
Check unused imports - Prevents unused use statements.
Validate test patterns - Blocks remove_all_filters('pre_http_request').
Run PHPCS auto-fix - Applies coding standards automatically.
Format JavaScript - Runs wp-scripts formatter.

IMPORTANT: Hooks modify staged files automatically. Always review changes before committing. If hooks make changes, you'll need to stage them and commit again.

Setup: Hooks are installed by npm run prepare (runs automatically after npm install).

Common Development Workflows

Initial Setup

bash

git clone git@github.com:Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.git
cd wordpress-activitypub
npm install           # Also runs 'npm run prepare' to install hooks.
composer install
npm run env-start     # WordPress at http://localhost:8888.

Making Changes Workflow

bash

# 1. Make code changes.

# 2. Run relevant tests.
npm run env-test -- --filter=FeatureName

# 3. Check code quality (optional - pre-commit hook does this).
composer lint
npm run lint:js

# 4. Commit (pre-commit hook runs automatically).
git add .
git commit -m "Description"
# Hook may modify files - review and stage again if needed.

When the admin app imports from a @wordpress/* package that the build externalizes to a wp.* global, check the export against what the plugin's minimum WordPress version ships (wp-includes/js/dist/<package>.js, or typeof wp.<package>.<name> in the browser), not against node_modules. Newer npm versions export names the shipped global does not have.

Before Creating PR

bash

# Run full test suite.
npm run env-test

# Build assets.
npm run build

# Final lint check.
composer lint
npm run lint:js

Debugging Failing Tests

bash

# Run with verbose output.
npm run env-test -- --verbose --filter=test_name

# Run single test file to isolate issue.
npm run env-test -- tests/phpunit/tests/path/to/test.php

# Check test groups.
npm run env-test -- --list-groups
npm run env-test -- --group=specific_group

Fresh Environment

bash

npm run env-stop
npm run env-start
# wp-env automatically sets up WordPress with debug mode and test users.

Key Files

package.json - npm scripts and dependencies.
composer.json - PHP dependencies and lint scripts.
.wp-env.json - wp-env configuration.
phpcs.xml - PHP coding standards (custom WordPress rules).
.githooks/pre-commit - Pre-commit automation.

Files

Just SKILL.md in .agents/skills/dev of Automattic/wordpress-activitypub.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 72d53bc

Compare with similar skills

Dev 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.

Dev compared with similar skills
Skill	Stars	Used in	Tokens	Auto-check	Licence	Repo updated
Dev this skillAutomattic/wordpress-activitypub	582	—	~1.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today
WooCommerce Code Reviewwoocommerce/woocommerce	11k	3 repos	~1.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	Custom licence	today
Install Anti-Slop Oxlint Rulesdmmulroy/anti-slop	5.2k	—	~2.2k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	27 days ago
WooCommerce Dev Cyclewoocommerce/woocommerce	11k	3 repos	~431	Automated safety check: Pass	Custom licence	today
WooCommerce Backend Conventionswoocommerce/woocommerce	11k	1 repos	~614	Automated safety check: Pass	Custom licence	today
Code Qualitybonny/WordPress-Simple-History	317	—	~519	Automated safety check: Notes	None	3 days ago

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Works with

Questions about Dev

What does Dev do?

Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes. Dev is an agent skill from Automattic/wordpress-activitypub. Development workflows for WordPress ActivityPub plugin including wp-env setup, testing commands, linting, and build processes.

When should I use Dev?

Dev fits situations like: setting up development environment; checking code quality; building assets; working with wp-env.

How do I install Dev in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/dev in Automattic/wordpress-activitypub) into .claude/skills/dev in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Dev in Codex?

Run `npx skills add Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/dev in Automattic/wordpress-activitypub) into .agents/skills/dev in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Dev 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 Automattic/wordpress-activitypub --skill dev -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/dev, .gemini/skills/dev, .github/skills/dev and .opencode/skills/dev in your project.

What does Dev need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Dev needs the command-line tools its instructions call (npm, composer and git). Our summary lists: Node.js.

Does Dev access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use npm and git, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Dev 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 Dev use?

Dev is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Dev use?

About 1.1k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 4.6k 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 Dev?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Dev: WooCommerce Code Review (woocommerce/woocommerce, 11k stars), Install Anti-Slop Oxlint Rules (dmmulroy/anti-slop, 5.2k stars), WooCommerce Dev Cycle (woocommerce/woocommerce, 11k stars) and WooCommerce Backend Conventions (woocommerce/woocommerce, 11k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Dev?

Automattic (a GitHub organization) maintains it in Automattic/wordpress-activitypub, which has 582 GitHub stars. The repository holds 7 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 7, 2026.

Source: Automattic/wordpress-activitypub on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.

Install Dev

Facts

At a glance

What it does

When your agent uses it

Example prompts

Requirements

Workflow steps

What it can do on your machine

Tool permissions

Runs code

Network

Credentials

Context cost

Safety

SKILL.md

ActivityPub Development Cycle

Quick Reference

Environment Management

Testing Commands

Code Quality

Building Assets

Code Coverage

Comprehensive Documentation

Pre-commit Hooks

Common Development Workflows

Initial Setup

Making Changes Workflow

Before Creating PR

Debugging Failing Tests

Fresh Environment

Key Files

Files

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

More from Automattic/wordpress-activitypub

Related

Questions about Dev