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Agent skill

Reliable Script Execution

by HKUDS in HKUDS/OpenSpace

Execute Python scripts reliably using file-first approach instead of heredoc

MITAuto-check passed

Install Reliable Script Execution

skills CLI
$ npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill reliable-script-execution -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install HKUDS/OpenSpace reliable-script-execution --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/HKUDS/OpenSpace.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/benchmarks/gdpval/skills/reliable-script-execution .claude/skills/reliable-script-execution && 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
reliable-script-execution
GitHub stars
7.7k
Token cost
~709 tokens
SKILL.md length
238 words
Files
2
Skills in repo
199
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Execute Python scripts reliably using file-first approach instead of heredoc

  • Works in 3 steps: Write Python Script to File → Execute via Shell → Clean Up (Optional)
  • SKILL.md covers Problem, Solution: File-First Approach, Complete Example and Best Practices, plus 2 more sections
  • Calls python3

What it does

Reliable Script Execution is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace. Execute Python scripts reliably using file-first approach instead of heredoc

Its SKILL.md is about 710 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file.

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.

Example prompts

  • “/reliable-script-execution”

Requirements

  • Python 3

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Write Python Script to File
  2. Execute via Shell
  3. Clean Up (Optional)

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:

    • python3

    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

Reliable Script Execution loads about 709 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 26 tokens; SKILL.md has 238 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~26
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~709

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). 238 words, ~709 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/reliable-script-execution/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
reliable-script-execution
description
Execute Python scripts reliably using file-first approach instead of heredoc

Reliable Script Execution

When executing Python code via shell commands, avoid inline heredoc execution which can fail unpredictably with 'unknown error'. Use this two-step file-first approach for more reliable script execution.

Problem

Direct heredoc Python execution like:

bash
python3 << 'EOF'
# complex code here
EOF

Can fail with 'unknown error', especially when:

  • Script contains multiple lines or complex logic
  • Special characters or quotes are present
  • Working directory context matters

Solution: File-First Approach

Step 1: Write Python Script to File

Use write_file to save your Python code to a .py file:

write_file(path="./temp_script.py", content="""
import json

data = {"key": "value"}
print(json.dumps(data))
""")
Step 2: Execute via Shell

Use run_shell with explicit working directory:

run_shell(command="python3 ./temp_script.py", timeout=60)
Step 3: Clean Up (Optional)

Remove temporary files after execution:

run_shell(command="rm ./temp_script.py")

Complete Example

Task: Generate a JSON report with calculations

# Step 1: Write the script
write_file(
    path="./generate_report.py",
    content="""
import json
from datetime import datetime

revenue = 500000.00
expenses = 379577.06
net_income = revenue - expenses

report = {
    "generated": datetime.now().isoformat(),
    "revenue": revenue,
    "expenses": expenses,
    "net_income": net_income
}

print(json.dumps(report, indent=2))
"""
)

# Step 2: Execute
run_shell(command="python3 ./generate_report.py", timeout=60)

# Step 3: Clean up
run_shell(command="rm ./generate_report.py")

Best Practices

  1. Use descriptive filenames: Name scripts according to their purpose (e.g., calculate_pnl.py, transform_data.py)

  2. Set appropriate timeouts: For data processing scripts, use longer timeouts (60-300 seconds)

  3. Specify working directory: If the script depends on relative paths, include cd /path && python3 script.py

  4. Handle errors gracefully: Check shell output for errors and retry if needed

  5. Clean up temporary files: Don't leave .py files cluttering the workspace unless they need to persist

When to Use This Pattern

  • Executing multi-line Python code via shell
  • Scripts with complex string handling or special characters
  • When heredoc execution has failed previously
  • Any scenario where reliability matters more than brevity

Anti-Pattern to Avoid

Do NOT rely on heredoc for production-critical scripts:

bash
# Unreliable - may fail with 'unknown error'
python3 << 'EOF'
# Your code here
EOF

Use file-first approach instead for consistent, debuggable execution.

© 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/reliable-script-execution of HKUDS/OpenSpace.

  • SKILL.md
  • .skill_id

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 3827781

Compare with similar skills

Reliable Script Execution 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.

Reliable Script Execution compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Reliable Script Execution this skillHKUDS/OpenSpace7.7k—~709Automated safety check: PassMIT
MCP Server Builderanthropics/skills180k62 repos~2.3kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0
PDF Processinganthropics/skills180k48 repos~2kAutomated safety check: PassProprietary
NotebookLM Research AssistantPleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill7.8k13 repos~2.4kAutomated safety check: NotesMIT
Manim Video Productionbrowser-use/video-use28k6 repos~3kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Code Review ChecklistshareAI-lab/learn-claude-code78k5 repos~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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  • Code Execution Fallback

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Works with

Questions about Reliable Script Execution

What does Reliable Script Execution do?

Execute Python scripts reliably using file-first approach instead of heredoc. Reliable Script Execution is an agent skill from HKUDS/OpenSpace.

How do I install Reliable Script Execution in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill reliable-script-execution -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/reliable-script-execution in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .claude/skills/reliable-script-execution in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Reliable Script Execution in Codex?

Run `npx skills add HKUDS/OpenSpace --skill reliable-script-execution -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (benchmarks/gdpval/skills/reliable-script-execution in HKUDS/OpenSpace) into .agents/skills/reliable-script-execution in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Reliable Script Execution 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 reliable-script-execution -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/reliable-script-execution, .gemini/skills/reliable-script-execution, .github/skills/reliable-script-execution and .opencode/skills/reliable-script-execution in your project.

What does Reliable Script Execution need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Reliable Script Execution needs the command-line tools its instructions call (python3). Our summary lists: Python 3.

Does Reliable Script Execution 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 Reliable Script Execution 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 Reliable Script Execution use?

Reliable Script Execution 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 Reliable Script Execution use?

About 709 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.8k 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 Reliable Script Execution?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Reliable Script Execution: 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 Reliable Script Execution?

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.