Word Document Reader and Writer
HKUDS/DeepTutor
Reads, creates and edits Word .docx files with python-docx, and drops to raw OOXML for tracked changes, comments and byte-exact edits.
Workaround for executing Python code with external packages when sandbox fails
Install Python Shell Workaround
$ npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaround --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/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .claude/skills/python-shell-workaround && 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 "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .claude/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaroundType 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaround --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .agents/skills/python-shell-workaround && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .agents/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaround --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .cursor/skills/python-shell-workaround && 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 "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .cursor/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git --path benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround--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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaround --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .gemini/skills/python-shell-workaround && 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 "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .gemini/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaroundInstalls 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .github/skills/python-shell-workaround && 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 "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .github/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace python-shell-workaround --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround .opencode/skills/python-shell-workaround && 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 "python-shell-workaround" agent skill from https://github.com/HKUDS/OpenSpace/tree/main/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround into .opencode/skills/python-shell-workaround/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "python-shell-workaround", 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
python-shell-workaround- GitHub stars
- 7.7k
- Token cost
- ~734 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 255 words
- Files
- 2
- Skills in repo
- 199
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- MIT
At a glance
Workaround for executing Python code with external packages when sandbox fails
- Works in 4 steps: Detect Sandbox Failure → Convert Python Code to Shell Command → Execute with run_shell → …
- Documents & Office work in your project
- SKILL.md covers When to Use This Skill, The Pattern, Step-by-Step Instructions and Best Practices, plus 3 more sections
- Calls python3 and pip
What it does
Python Shell Workaround is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace. Workaround for executing Python code with external packages when sandbox fails
Its SKILL.md is about 730 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file.
It sits in Documents & Office. It works with Python. The repository describes itself as: "OpenSpace: The Skill Management Layer for AI Agents" -- https://open-space.cloud/. The licence is MIT.
When your agent uses it
- Documents & Office work in your project
Example prompts
- “/python-shell-workaround”
Requirements
- Python 3
Workflow steps
4 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 3827781. 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:
python3pip
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
Python Shell Workaround loads about 734 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 26 tokens; SKILL.md has 255 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
The full file from HKUDS/OpenSpace at commit 3827781, republished under its MIT licence (© HKUDS). 255 words, ~734 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/python-shell-workaround/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.- name
- python-shell-workaround
- description
- Workaround for executing Python code with external packages when sandbox fails
Python Shell Workaround
When to Use This Skill
Use this pattern when execute_code_sandbox fails with Python code that requires external packages (like openpyxl, python-docx, pandas, etc.) that may not be available in the sandbox environment.
The Pattern
Instead of relying solely on execute_code_sandbox, use run_shell with inline Python commands as a fallback:
python3 -c "your python code here"Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Detect Sandbox Failure
Watch for errors like:
- ModuleNotFoundError for common packages
- Import errors for external libraries
- Sandbox environment limitations
Step 2: Convert Python Code to Shell Command
Transform your Python script into a one-liner or use a heredoc for longer scripts:
For simple code:
python3 -c "import openpyxl; wb = openpyxl.Workbook(); wb.save('file.xlsx')"For complex code (using heredoc):
python3 << 'EOF'
import openpyxl
from openpyxl.utils import get_column_letter
wb = openpyxl.Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws['A1'] = 'Header'
wb.save('output.xlsx')
print('File created successfully')
EOFStep 3: Execute with run_shell
Use run_shell to execute the command:
tool: run_shell
command: python3 -c "import openpyxl; print('Package available')"Step 4: Verify Output
Check the stdout/stderr from run_shell to confirm success, then proceed with subsequent steps.
Best Practices
- Escape quotes properly: Use single quotes inside double-quoted strings or vice versa
- Use heredocs for multiline code: Cleaner and easier to debug
- Install packages if needed: Add
pip install packagebefore your Python command if packages are missing - Chain commands safely: Use
&&to ensure prerequisites succeed before running Python code
Example Scenarios
Creating Excel Files
python3 << 'EOF'
import openpyxl
from openpyxl.worksheet.datavalidation import DataValidation
wb = openpyxl.Workbook()
ws = wb.active
ws.title = "Data"
# Add headers
headers = ['Name', 'Email', 'Status']
for col, header in enumerate(headers, 1):
ws.cell(row=1, column=col, value=header)
wb.save('output.xlsx')
EOFCreating Word Documents
python3 -c "
from docx import Document
doc = Document()
doc.add_heading('Report', 0)
doc.save('report.docx')
print('Document created')
"Limitations
- Complex multiline scripts are harder to maintain as one-liners
- Debugging is less convenient than in sandbox
- Some packages may still not be available in the shell environment
Related Patterns
- If packages are truly unavailable, consider installing them first:
pip install package_name && python3 -c "..." - For persistent scripts, write to a
.pyfile first, then execute withpython3 script.py
© HKUDS, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file
Files
SKILL.md and 1 other file in benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround of HKUDS/OpenSpace.
- SKILL.md
- .skill_id
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 3827781
Compare with similar skills
Python Shell Workaround 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python Shell Workaround this skillHKUDS/OpenSpace | 7.7k | — | ~734 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Word Document Reader and WriterHKUDS/DeepTutor | 41k | — | ~2.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Instrument Data To Allotropeaws-samples/amazon-bedrock-agents-healthcare-lifesciences | 274 | 2 repos | ~2.7k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Word DOCX ToolkitTokenRhythm/opensquilla | 7.1k | — | ~1.7k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Markdown to HTML ReportMegaSuperKitty/WeClaw | 370 | — | ~456 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Mathmodel SkillhandsomeZR-netizen/mathmodel-skill | 292 | — | ~2.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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Related
Works with
Categories
Questions about Python Shell Workaround
What does Python Shell Workaround do?
Workaround for executing Python code with external packages when sandbox fails. Python Shell Workaround is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace.
When should I use Python Shell Workaround?
Python Shell Workaround fits situations like: documents & Office work in your project.
How do I install Python Shell Workaround in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .claude/skills/python-shell-workaround in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Python Shell Workaround in Codex?
Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/python-shell-workaround in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .agents/skills/python-shell-workaround in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Python Shell Workaround 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 HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill python-shell-workaround -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/python-shell-workaround, .gemini/skills/python-shell-workaround, .github/skills/python-shell-workaround and .opencode/skills/python-shell-workaround in your project.
What does Python Shell Workaround need to run?
Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Python Shell Workaround needs the command-line tools its instructions call (python3 and pip). Our summary lists: Python 3.
Does Python Shell Workaround 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 Python Shell Workaround 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 Python Shell Workaround use?
Python Shell Workaround 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 Python Shell Workaround use?
About 734 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.9k 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 Python Shell Workaround?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Python Shell Workaround: Word Document Reader and Writer (HKUDS/DeepTutor, 41k stars), Instrument Data To Allotrope (aws-samples/amazon-bedrock-agents-healthcare-lifesciences, 274 stars), Word DOCX Toolkit (TokenRhythm/opensquilla, 7.1k stars) and Markdown to HTML Report (MegaSuperKitty/WeClaw, 370 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Python Shell Workaround?
HKUDS (a GitHub organization) maintains it in HKUDS/OpenSpace, which has 7,743 GitHub stars. The repository holds 199 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 12, 2026.
Source: HKUDS/OpenSpace on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.