Agent skill

Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot

by ruby-git in ruby-git/ruby-git

Creates new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot: scaffolds the skill folder under .github/skills, writes SKILL.md with proper frontmatter and adds optional scripts, references and assets.

MITAuto-check passedAgent Workflows

Install Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot

skills CLI
$ npx skills add ruby-git/ruby-git --skill make-skill-template -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install ruby-git/ruby-git make-skill-template --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/ruby-git/ruby-git.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.github/skills/make-skill-template .claude/skills/make-skill-template && 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
make-skill-template
GitHub stars
1.8k
Token cost
~2.5k tokens
SKILL.md length
1,007 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
30
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Creates new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot: scaffolds the skill folder under .github/skills, writes SKILL.md with proper frontmatter and adds optional scripts, references and assets.

  • Works in 4 steps: Create the Skill Directory → Generate SKILL.md with Frontmatter → Write the Skill Body → …
  • Creating a new skill for a GitHub Copilot setup
  • SKILL.md covers Contents, How to use this skill, Related skills and When to Use This Skill, plus 8 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

A meta-skill for authoring other skills. The agent creates the skill directory, generates a SKILL.md with valid frontmatter, writes the body and adds optional scripts, references and assets folders only when they are needed. Its outline includes frontmatter field requirements, description best practices, how to organize the body and a full example of a skill structure.

You attach the file to Copilot Chat when creating or refining a skill under .github/skills/, and it also helps check discoverability before committing. A validation checklist and a troubleshooting section close it out, and it points to sibling skills for reviewing skills, the repository development workflow and PR readiness review. A quick-start route duplicates the template itself as a starting point.

When your agent uses it

  • Creating a new skill for a GitHub Copilot setup
  • Scaffolding a skill folder with scripts, references or assets
  • Improving a skill's description so it is easier to trigger
  • Learning what the Agent Skills specification expects

Example prompts

  • “Create a skill for generating release notes and put it under .github/skills.”
  • “Scaffold a new skill called dependency-audit with a scripts folder.”
  • “Check this skill's description and frontmatter for discoverability problems.”

Requirements

  • GitHub Copilot Chat with the skill file attached

Workflow steps

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

  1. Create the Skill Directory
  2. Generate SKILL.md with Frontmatter
  3. Write the Skill Body
  4. Add Optional Directories (If Needed)

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit f3bf20f. 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 yaml).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    Links to these hosts (documentation or services it may open):

    • agentskills.io
    • platform.claude.com

    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

Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot loads about 2.5k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 95 tokens; SKILL.md has 1,007 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~95
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.5k

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 ruby-git/ruby-git at commit f3bf20f, republished under its MIT licence (© ruby-git). 1,007 words, ~2,462 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/make-skill-template/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
make-skill-template
description
Create new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot from user requests or by duplicating this template. Use when asked to "create a skill", "make a new skill", "scaffold a skill", or when building specialized AI capabilities with bundled resources. Generates SKILL.md files with proper frontmatter, directory structure, and optional scripts/references/assets folders.

Make Skill Template

A meta-skill for creating new Agent Skills. Use this skill when you need to scaffold a new skill folder, generate a SKILL.md file, or help users understand the Agent Skills specification.

Contents

How to use this skill

Attach this file to your Copilot Chat context, then invoke it when creating or refining a skill under .github/skills/. Use it to scaffold new skills and to check discoverability quality before committing.

  • Reviewing Skills — audit a skill for quality, discoverability, and best-practice compliance after authoring
  • Development Workflow — integrate skill creation changes into the repository workflow
  • PR Readiness Review — final validation before opening a pull request with new or updated skills

When to Use This Skill

  • User asks to "create a skill", "make a new skill", or "scaffold a skill"
  • User wants to add a specialized capability to their GitHub Copilot setup
  • User needs help structuring a skill with bundled resources
  • User wants to duplicate this template as a starting point

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of what the skill should accomplish
  • A clear, keyword-rich description of capabilities and triggers
  • Knowledge of any bundled resources needed (scripts, references, assets, templates)

Creating a New Skill

Step 1: Create the Skill Directory

Create a new folder with a lowercase, hyphenated name:

text
.github/skills/<skill-name>/
└── SKILL.md          # Required
Step 2: Generate SKILL.md with Frontmatter

Every skill requires YAML frontmatter with name and description:

yaml
---
name: <skill-name>
description: '<What it does>. Use when <specific triggers, scenarios, keywords users might say>.'
---
Frontmatter Field Requirements
FieldRequiredConstraints
nameYes1-64 chars, lowercase letters/numbers/hyphens only, must match folder name
descriptionYes10-1024 chars, must describe WHAT it does AND WHEN to use it
licenseNoLicense name or reference to bundled LICENSE.txt
compatibilityNo1-500 chars, environment requirements if needed
metadataNoKey-value pairs for additional properties
allowed-toolsNoSpace-delimited list of pre-approved tools (experimental)
Description Best Practices

CRITICAL: The description is the PRIMARY mechanism for automatic skill discovery. Include:

  1. WHAT the skill does (capabilities)
  2. WHEN to use it (triggers, scenarios, file types)
  3. Keywords users might mention in requests

Good example:

yaml
description: 'Toolkit for testing local web applications using Playwright. Use when asked to verify frontend functionality, debug UI behavior, capture browser screenshots, or view browser console logs. Supports Chrome, Firefox, and WebKit.'

Poor example:

yaml
description: 'Web testing helpers'
Step 3: Write the Skill Body

After the frontmatter, add markdown instructions. Recommended sections:

SectionPurpose
# TitleBrief overview
## When to Use This SkillReinforces description triggers
## PrerequisitesRequired tools, dependencies
## Step-by-Step WorkflowsNumbered steps for tasks
## TroubleshootingCommon issues and solutions
## ReferencesLinks to bundled docs

For standards and review skills, rules are mandatory unless explicitly marked Optional. For advisory skills, distinguish requirements, recommendations, and examples with consistent labels.

Define named thresholds, modes, phases, or terms before first use, and keep one authoritative definition for each concept.

State each policy definition (what the policy is, its exceptions, their criteria) once, in a single designated authority section, and link to that authority by anchor from every other skill or section that needs the policy. Keep role-specific operational instructions (what to do, flag, or test) inline in the document whose role they serve. Restated definitions silently rot when the authority changes, while a link cannot drift and an instruction stated in only one place cannot drift. A reader executing a workflow or checklist must never need the linked definition to perform an action — they follow the link only to understand why.

Use real markdown headings for durable rule sections. Avoid bold paragraphs as pseudo-headings when the section may need a table-of-contents entry, deep link, or review reference.

Show full SKILL.md (400 more words)Show less
Step 4: Add Optional Directories (If Needed)
FolderPurposeWhen to Use
scripts/Executable code (Python, Bash, JS)Automation that performs operations
references/Documentation agent readsAPI references, schemas, guides
assets/Static files used AS-ISImages, fonts, templates
templates/Starter code agent modifiesScaffolds to extend

Skill Body Organization

Target SKILL.md under 500 lines; review carefully above 600 lines. Exceeding the target is acceptable when splitting always-needed workflow or review rules would make the skill less effective. Split situational references first.

Keep these in SKILL.md:

  • Routing, prerequisites, and precedence rules
  • The main workflow and required feedback loops
  • Mandatory validation or review checklists
  • Rules needed on nearly every invocation

Move these to reference files:

  • Element-specific, type-specific, or platform-specific rules
  • Long examples and templates
  • Rare edge cases and background material
  • Appendices or migration notes

Each reference file should state its purpose and when the agent should load it. Keep references one level deep from SKILL.md.

When one skill extends another, state what it inherits, overrides, or adds. Link to the parent skill or reference file and keep child-skill overrides narrow.

Example: Complete Skill Structure

text
my-awesome-skill/
├── SKILL.md                    # Required instructions
├── LICENSE.txt                 # Optional license file
├── scripts/
│   └── helper.py               # Executable automation
├── references/
│   ├── api-reference.md        # Detailed docs
│   └── examples.md             # Usage examples
├── assets/
│   └── diagram.png             # Static resources
└── templates/
    └── starter.ts              # Code scaffold

Quick Start: Duplicate This Template

  1. Copy the make-skill-template/ folder
  2. Rename to your skill name (lowercase, hyphens)
  3. Update SKILL.md:
    • Change name: to match folder name
    • Write a keyword-rich description:
    • Replace body content with your instructions
  4. Add bundled resources as needed
  5. Review with the Reviewing Skills skill

Validation Checklist

  • Folder name is lowercase with hyphens
  • name field matches folder name exactly
  • description is 10-1024 characters
  • description explains WHAT and WHEN
  • description is wrapped in single quotes
  • Body content targets under 500 lines and is reviewed carefully above 600 lines
  • Always-needed workflow and review rules remain in SKILL.md
  • Situational details are split into reference files with clear load conditions
  • Named thresholds, modes, phases, or terms are defined before first use
  • Policy definitions are stated once in a designated authority section and linked from everywhere else; role-specific instructions stay inline
  • Standards/review rules are mandatory unless explicitly marked Optional
  • Deep links, TOC anchors, and referenced files resolve after heading changes
  • Bundled assets are under 5MB each

Troubleshooting

IssueSolution
Skill not discoveredImprove description with more keywords and triggers
Validation fails on nameEnsure lowercase, no consecutive hyphens, matches folder
Description too shortAdd capabilities, triggers, and keywords
Assets not foundUse relative paths from skill root

References

© ruby-git, 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 .github/skills/make-skill-template of ruby-git/ruby-git.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit f3bf20f

Compare with similar skills

Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot 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 Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot compared with similar skills
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Claude Code Skill Developer Guidediet103/claude-code-infrastructure-showcase10k10 repos~3.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Darwin Skill Optimizeralchaincyf/darwin-skill6.2k1 repos~4.7kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Claude Code Command Developmentanthropics/claude-plugins-official37k10 repos~4.8kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0
Claude Code Plugin Structureanthropics/claude-plugins-official37k10 repos~3.4kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0

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Categories

Questions about Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot

What does Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot do?

Creates new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot: scaffolds the skill folder under .github/skills, writes SKILL.md with proper frontmatter and adds optional scripts, references and assets. A meta-skill for authoring other skills.md with valid frontmatter, writes the body and adds optional scripts, references and assets folders only when they are needed.

When should I use Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot?

Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot fits situations like: creating a new skill for a GitHub Copilot setup; scaffolding a skill folder with scripts, references or assets; improving a skill's description so it is easier to trigger; learning what the Agent Skills specification expects.

How do I install Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot in Claude Code?

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

How do I install Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot in Codex?

Run `npx skills add ruby-git/ruby-git --skill make-skill-template -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.github/skills/make-skill-template in ruby-git/ruby-git) into .agents/skills/make-skill-template in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot 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 ruby-git/ruby-git --skill make-skill-template -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/make-skill-template, .gemini/skills/make-skill-template, .github/skills/make-skill-template and .opencode/skills/make-skill-template in your project.

What does Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot is instructions for the agent only. Our summary lists: GitHub Copilot Chat with the skill file attached.

Does Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot access the network?

SKILL.md names 2 domains. As links in the text: agentskills.io and platform.claude.com. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot 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 Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot use?

Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot 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 Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot use?

About 2.5k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 9.8k 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 Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot: Skill Creator (Azure/azqr, 794 stars), Claude Code Skill Developer Guide (diet103/claude-code-infrastructure-showcase, 10k stars), Darwin Skill Optimizer (alchaincyf/darwin-skill, 6.2k stars) and Claude Code Command Development (anthropics/claude-plugins-official, 37k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Skill Scaffolding for GitHub Copilot?

ruby-git (a GitHub organization) maintains it in ruby-git/ruby-git, which has 1,799 GitHub stars. The repository holds 30 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 2, 2026.

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