---
name: skill-authoring
description: Create and validate tinyagent v0.7 Workspace Skills safely.
version: "0.7"
author: tinyagent contributors
license: MIT
compatibility: tinyagent >=0.7,<0.8
allowed-tools:
  - read_file
  - write_file
metadata:
  category: authoring
---
# Authoring tinyagent Skills

A Workspace Skill is `skills/<name>/SKILL.md`. The directory and frontmatter `name`
must match and use lowercase kebab-case. Include a non-empty `description` and body;
use `always: true` only when every turn genuinely needs the complete instructions.

Run `tinyagent skills validate` after editing. Skill files are strict UTF-8 YAML plus
Markdown: duplicate keys, unknown top-level fields, custom YAML tags, symlinks, special
files, and resources outside the Skill directory are rejected. `allowed-tools` and
`metadata` are informational in v0.7 and cannot grant tools or execute code.

Invoke a non-always Skill for one user turn with its exact, case-sensitive reference,
for example `$skill-authoring`. Write `$$skill-authoring` when showing the syntax without
activating it. When the user does not explicitly activate a Skill, tinyagent may select it
from its name and description and call `read_skill` before following its instructions. Keep
any supporting resources inside the Skill directory.