Official agent skill

Create Specification

by github in github/awesome-copilot

Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption.

OfficialMITAuto-check passed

Install Create Specification

skills CLI
$ npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-specification -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install github/awesome-copilot create-specification --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/github/awesome-copilot.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/create-specification .claude/skills/create-specification && 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/

Facts

Skill name
create-specification
GitHub stars
40k
Used in
2 other repos
Token cost
~1.4k tokens
SKILL.md length
197 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
417
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption.

  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Create Specification is an agent skill from github/awesome-copilot, published by the product's own GitHub organization. Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.4k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

The repository describes itself as: Community-contributed instructions, agents, skills, and configurations to help you make the most of GitHub Copilot. The licence is MIT.

Example prompts

  • “/create-specification”

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 727ff2e. 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

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown).

    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

Create Specification loads about 1.4k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 28 tokens; SKILL.md has 197 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~28
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.4k

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 github/awesome-copilot at commit 727ff2e, republished under its MIT licence (© github). 197 words, ~1,378 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/create-specification/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
create-specification
description
Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption.

Create Specification

Your goal is to create a new specification file for ${input:SpecPurpose}.

The specification file must define the requirements, constraints, and interfaces for the solution components in a manner that is clear, unambiguous, and structured for effective use by Generative AIs. Follow established documentation standards and ensure the content is machine-readable and self-contained.

Best Practices for AI-Ready Specifications

  • Use precise, explicit, and unambiguous language.
  • Clearly distinguish between requirements, constraints, and recommendations.
  • Use structured formatting (headings, lists, tables) for easy parsing.
  • Avoid idioms, metaphors, or context-dependent references.
  • Define all acronyms and domain-specific terms.
  • Include examples and edge cases where applicable.
  • Ensure the document is self-contained and does not rely on external context.

The specification should be saved in the /spec/ directory and named according to the following convention: spec-[a-z0-9-]+.md, where the name should be descriptive of the specification's content and starting with the highlevel purpose, which is one of [schema, tool, data, infrastructure, process, architecture, or design].

The specification file must be formatted in well formed Markdown.

Specification files must follow the template below, ensuring that all sections are filled out appropriately. The front matter for the markdown should be structured correctly as per the example following:

md
---
title: [Concise Title Describing the Specification's Focus]
version: [Optional: e.g., 1.0, Date]
date_created: [YYYY-MM-DD]
last_updated: [Optional: YYYY-MM-DD]
owner: [Optional: Team/Individual responsible for this spec]
tags: [Optional: List of relevant tags or categories, e.g., `infrastructure`, `process`, `design`, `app` etc]
---

# Introduction

[A short concise introduction to the specification and the goal it is intended to achieve.]

## 1. Purpose & Scope

[Provide a clear, concise description of the specification's purpose and the scope of its application. State the intended audience and any assumptions.]

## 2. Definitions

[List and define all acronyms, abbreviations, and domain-specific terms used in this specification.]

## 3. Requirements, Constraints & Guidelines

[Explicitly list all requirements, constraints, rules, and guidelines. Use bullet points or tables for clarity.]

- **REQ-001**: Requirement 1
- **SEC-001**: Security Requirement 1
- **[3 LETTERS]-001**: Other Requirement 1
- **CON-001**: Constraint 1
- **GUD-001**: Guideline 1
- **PAT-001**: Pattern to follow 1

## 4. Interfaces & Data Contracts

[Describe the interfaces, APIs, data contracts, or integration points. Use tables or code blocks for schemas and examples.]

## 5. Acceptance Criteria

[Define clear, testable acceptance criteria for each requirement using Given-When-Then format where appropriate.]

- **AC-001**: Given [context], When [action], Then [expected outcome]
- **AC-002**: The system shall [specific behavior] when [condition]
- **AC-003**: [Additional acceptance criteria as needed]

## 6. Test Automation Strategy

[Define the testing approach, frameworks, and automation requirements.]

- **Test Levels**: Unit, Integration, End-to-End
- **Frameworks**: MSTest, FluentAssertions, Moq (for .NET applications)
- **Test Data Management**: [approach for test data creation and cleanup]
- **CI/CD Integration**: [automated testing in GitHub Actions pipelines]
- **Coverage Requirements**: [minimum code coverage thresholds]
- **Performance Testing**: [approach for load and performance testing]

## 7. Rationale & Context

[Explain the reasoning behind the requirements, constraints, and guidelines. Provide context for design decisions.]

## 8. Dependencies & External Integrations

[Define the external systems, services, and architectural dependencies required for this specification. Focus on **what** is needed rather than **how** it's implemented. Avoid specific package or library versions unless they represent architectural constraints.]

### External Systems
- **EXT-001**: [External system name] - [Purpose and integration type]

### Third-Party Services
- **SVC-001**: [Service name] - [Required capabilities and SLA requirements]

### Infrastructure Dependencies
- **INF-001**: [Infrastructure component] - [Requirements and constraints]

### Data Dependencies
- **DAT-001**: [External data source] - [Format, frequency, and access requirements]

### Technology Platform Dependencies
- **PLT-001**: [Platform/runtime requirement] - [Version constraints and rationale]

### Compliance Dependencies
- **COM-001**: [Regulatory or compliance requirement] - [Impact on implementation]

**Note**: This section should focus on architectural and business dependencies, not specific package implementations. For example, specify "OAuth 2.0 authentication library" rather than "Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.JwtBearer v6.0.1".

## 9. Examples & Edge Cases

    ```code
    // Code snippet or data example demonstrating the correct application of the guidelines, including edge cases
    ```

## 10. Validation Criteria

[List the criteria or tests that must be satisfied for compliance with this specification.]

## 11. Related Specifications / Further Reading

[Link to related spec 1]
[Link to relevant external documentation]

© github, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/create-specification of github/awesome-copilot.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 727ff2e

Used in 2 other repositories

We found 2 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 2 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in github/awesome-copilot, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

Create Specification 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.

Create Specification compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Create Specification this skillgithub/awesome-copilot40k2 repos~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Generative Engine Optimizationtech-leads-club/agent-skills7k—~2.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Generatealirezarezvani/claude-skills28k1 repos~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Generative Engine Optimizationkostja94/marketing-skills1k—~2.9kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Fal Generatenexu-io/open-design100k—~306Automated safety check: PassApache-2.0
Video Generationbytedance/deer-flow83k3 repos~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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Questions about Create Specification

What does Create Specification do?

Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption. Create Specification is an agent skill from github/awesome-copilot, published by the product's own GitHub organization. Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption.

How do I install Create Specification in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-specification -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/create-specification in github/awesome-copilot) into .claude/skills/create-specification in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Create Specification in Codex?

Run `npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill create-specification -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/create-specification in github/awesome-copilot) into .agents/skills/create-specification in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Create Specification 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 github/awesome-copilot --skill create-specification -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/create-specification, .gemini/skills/create-specification, .github/skills/create-specification and .opencode/skills/create-specification in your project.

What does Create Specification need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Create Specification is instructions for the agent only.

Does Create Specification 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 Create Specification 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 Create Specification use?

Create Specification 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 Create Specification use?

About 1.4k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 5.5k 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 Create Specification?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Create Specification: Generative Engine Optimization (tech-leads-club/agent-skills, 7k stars), Generate (alirezarezvani/claude-skills, 28k stars), Generative Engine Optimization (kostja94/marketing-skills, 1k stars) and Fal Generate (nexu-io/open-design, 100k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Create Specification?

github (a GitHub organization, an official publisher) maintains it in github/awesome-copilot, which has 39,748 GitHub stars. The repository holds 417 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 7, 2026.

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