Agent skill

Intent Layer

by crafter-station in crafter-station/skills

Set up hierarchical Intent Layer (AGENTS.md files) for codebases.

Install Intent Layer

skills CLI

$ npx skills add crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install crafter-station/skills intent-layer --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/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .claude/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .claude/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer

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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a codex

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

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install crafter-station/skills intent-layer --agent codex

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

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .agents/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .agents/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a cursor

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

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install crafter-station/skills intent-layer --agent cursor

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

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .cursor/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .cursor/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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/crafter-station/skills.git --path skills/intent-layer

--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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a gemini-cli

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

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install crafter-station/skills intent-layer --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/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .gemini/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .gemini/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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 crafter-station/skills intent-layer

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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a github-copilot

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

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .github/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .github/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -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 crafter-station/skills intent-layer --agent opencode

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

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/crafter-station/skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/intent-layer .opencode/skills/intent-layer && 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 "intent-layer" agent skill from https://github.com/crafter-station/skills/tree/main/skills/intent-layer into .opencode/skills/intent-layer/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "intent-layer", 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: intent-layer
GitHub stars: 111
Used in: 1 other repo
Token cost: ~633 tokens
SKILL.md length: 145 words
Files: 8 (incl. scripts, references)
Skills in repo: 7
Repo updated: Sep 7, 2026
First seen: Oct 7, 2026
Licence: MIT

At a glance

Set up hierarchical Intent Layer (AGENTS.md files) for codebases.

Works in 4 steps: What does this area own? What's out of… → What invariants must never be violated? → What repeatedly confuses new engineers? → …
Initializing a new project
SKILL.md covers Core Principle, Workflow, When to Create Child Nodes and Capture Questions, plus 1 more section
Runs Shell scripts from its folder

What it does

Intent Layer is an agent skill from crafter-station/skills. Set up hierarchical Intent Layer (AGENTS.md files) for codebases. Use when initializing a new project, adding context infrastructure to an existing repo, user asks to set up AGENTS.md, add intent layer, make agents understand the codebase, or scaffolding AI-friendly project documentation.

Its SKILL.md is about 630 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 9 other files, including scripts and reference files (for example `README.md`, `references/capture-protocol.md` and `references/node-examples.md`).

It sits in Agent Workflows, covering Agent instruction files and Project scaffolding. The repository describes itself as: Agent skills extracted from real work. Each one shipped something first. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

Initializing a new project
Adding context infrastructure to an existing repo
User asks to set up AGENTS.md
Add intent layer

Example prompts

“/intent-layer”

Requirements

A Bash shell

Workflow steps

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

What does this area own? What's out of scope?
What invariants must never be violated?
What repeatedly confuses new engineers?
What patterns should always be followed?

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit f0fe474. 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
Ships 3 files in scripts/ (Shell), which the agent can run.
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md.
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

Intent Layer loads about 633 tokens when it runs, and up to ~2.3k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 76 tokens; SKILL.md has 145 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it: ~76
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches: ~633
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them: ~2.3k

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); the scripts in this folder are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from crafter-station/skills at commit f0fe474, republished under its MIT licence (© crafter-station). 145 words, ~633 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/intent-layer/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 7 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.

name: intent-layer
description: Set up hierarchical Intent Layer (AGENTS.md files) for codebases. Use when initializing a new project, adding context infrastructure to an existing repo, user asks to set up AGENTS.md, add intent layer, make agents understand the codebase, or scaffolding AI-friendly project documentation.
version: 1.0.0

Intent Layer

Hierarchical AGENTS.md infrastructure so agents navigate codebases like senior engineers.

Core Principle

Only ONE root context file. CLAUDE.md and AGENTS.md should NOT coexist at project root. Child AGENTS.md in subdirectories are encouraged for complex subsystems.

Workflow

1. Detect state
   scripts/detect_state.sh /path/to/project
   → Returns: none | partial | complete

2. Route
   none/partial → Initial setup (steps 3-5)
   complete     → Maintenance (step 6)

3. Measure [gate - show table first]
   scripts/analyze_structure.sh /path/to/project
   scripts/estimate_tokens.sh /path/to/each/source/dir

4. Decide
   No root file  → Ask: CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md?
   Has root file → Add Intent Layer section + child nodes if needed

5. Execute
   Use references/templates.md for structure
   Use references/node-examples.md for real-world patterns
   Validate: one root, READ-FIRST directive, <4k tokens per node

6. Maintenance mode (when state=complete)
   Ask user:
   a) Audit nodes     → Use references/capture-protocol.md for SME questions
   b) Find candidates → Re-measure tokens, suggest new nodes
   c) Both

When to Create Child Nodes

Signal	Action
>20k tokens in directory	Create AGENTS.md
Responsibility shift	Create AGENTS.md
Hidden contracts/invariants	Document in nearest ancestor
Cross-cutting concern	Place at LCA

Do NOT create for: every directory, simple utilities, test folders (unless complex).

Capture Questions

When documenting existing code, ask:

What does this area own? What's out of scope?
What invariants must never be violated?
What repeatedly confuses new engineers?
What patterns should always be followed?

Resources

Scripts:

scripts/detect_state.sh - Check Intent Layer state (none/partial/complete)
scripts/analyze_structure.sh - Find semantic boundaries
scripts/estimate_tokens.sh - Measure directory complexity

References:

references/templates.md - Root and child node templates
references/node-examples.md - Real-world examples
references/capture-protocol.md - SME interview protocol

Files

SKILL.md and 7 other files (scripts, references) in skills/intent-layer of crafter-station/skills.

SKILL.md
README.md
references/capture-protocol.md
references/node-examples.md
references/templates.md
scripts/analyze_structure.sh
scripts/detect_state.sh
scripts/estimate_tokens.sh

Open the folder on GitHubat commit f0fe474

Used in 1 other repository

We found 1 copy of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 1 other GitHub owner. This page covers the copy in crafter-station/skills, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

ragnar-pwninskjold/tech-snacksplugins/tech-snacks/skills/intent-layer

Compare with similar skills

Intent Layer 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.

Intent Layer compared with similar skills
Skill	Stars	Used in	Tokens	Auto-check	Licence	Repo updated
Intent Layer this skillcrafter-station/skills	111	1 repos	~633	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	29 days ago
AI Bomcdxgen/cdxgen	1.1k	—	~2.5k	Automated safety check: Pass	Apache-2.0	yesterday
AI Context Workspace Initkvker/ai-context-workspace	101	—	~948	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	29 days ago
Add Remote Endpointnextcloud/android-library	106	—	~1.1k	Automated safety check: Pass	Custom licence	today
AGENTS.md Scaffoldmajiayu000/spellbook	286	—	~1.5k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	today
Scaffold Clauderagnar-pwninskjold/tech-snacks	136	—	~1.7k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	1 mo ago

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Questions about Intent Layer

What does Intent Layer do?

Set up hierarchical Intent Layer (AGENTS.md files) for codebases. Intent Layer is an agent skill from crafter-station/skills.md files) for codebases.

When should I use Intent Layer?

Intent Layer fits situations like: initializing a new project; adding context infrastructure to an existing repo; user asks to set up AGENTS.md; add intent layer.

How do I install Intent Layer in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/intent-layer in crafter-station/skills) into .claude/skills/intent-layer in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Intent Layer in Codex?

Run `npx skills add crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/intent-layer in crafter-station/skills) into .agents/skills/intent-layer in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Intent Layer 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 crafter-station/skills --skill intent-layer -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/intent-layer, .gemini/skills/intent-layer, .github/skills/intent-layer and .opencode/skills/intent-layer in your project.

What does Intent Layer need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Intent Layer needs a shell for the scripts in its folder. Our summary lists: A Bash shell.

Does Intent Layer access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Intent Layer 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. The check reads SKILL.md only: the scripts in the folder are not scanned, so read them before running anything.

What licence does Intent Layer use?

Intent Layer 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 Intent Layer use?

About 633 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.5k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 1.7k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Intent Layer?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Intent Layer: AI Bom (cdxgen/cdxgen, 1.1k stars), AI Context Workspace Init (kvker/ai-context-workspace, 101 stars), Add Remote Endpoint (nextcloud/android-library, 106 stars) and AGENTS.md Scaffold (majiayu000/spellbook, 286 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Intent Layer?

crafter-station (a GitHub organization) maintains it in crafter-station/skills, which has 111 GitHub stars. The repository holds 7 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 7, 2026.

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

Install Intent Layer

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

Intent Layer

Core Principle

Workflow

When to Create Child Nodes

Capture Questions

Resources

Files

Used in 1 other repository

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

More from crafter-station/skills

Related

Questions about Intent Layer