make-skill-template
Create new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot from prompts 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.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill make-skill-template- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads make-skill-template automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
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.
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:
skills/<skill-name>/
└── SKILL.md # Required
Step 2: Generate SKILL.md with Frontmatter
Every skill requires YAML frontmatter with name and description:
---
name: <skill-name>
description: '<What it does>. Use when <specific triggers, scenarios, keywords users might say>.'
---
Frontmatter Field Requirements
| Field | Required | Constraints |
|---|---|---|
name | Yes | 1-64 chars, lowercase letters/numbers/hyphens only, must match folder name |
description | Yes | 1-1024 chars, must describe WHAT it does AND WHEN to use it |
license | No | License name or reference to bundled LICENSE.txt |
compatibility | No | 1-500 chars, environment requirements if needed |
metadata | No | Key-value pairs for additional properties |
allowed-tools | No | Space-delimited list of pre-approved tools (experimental) |
Description Best Practices
CRITICAL: The description is the PRIMARY mechanism for automatic skill discovery. Include:
- WHAT the skill does (capabilities)
- WHEN to use it (triggers, scenarios, file types)
- Keywords users might mention in prompts
Good example:
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:
description: 'Web testing helpers'
Step 3: Write the Skill Body
After the frontmatter, add markdown instructions. Recommended sections:
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
# Title | Brief overview |
## When to Use This Skill | Reinforces description triggers |
## Prerequisites | Required tools, dependencies |
## Step-by-Step Workflows | Numbered steps for tasks |
## Troubleshooting | Common issues and solutions |
## References | Links to bundled docs |
Step 4: Add Optional Directories (If Needed)
| Folder | Purpose | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
scripts/ | Executable code (Python, Bash, JS) | Automation that performs operations |
references/ | Documentation agent reads | API references, schemas, guides |
assets/ | Static files used AS-IS | Images, fonts, templates |
templates/ | Starter code agent modifies | Scaffolds to extend |
Example: Complete Skill Structure
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
- Copy the
make-skill-template/folder - Rename to your skill name (lowercase, hyphens)
- Update
SKILL.md:- Change
name:to match folder name - Write a keyword-rich
description: - Replace body content with your instructions
- Change
- Add bundled resources as needed
- Validate with
npm run skill:validate
Validation Checklist
- Folder name is lowercase with hyphens
-
namefield matches folder name exactly -
descriptionis 10-1024 characters -
descriptionexplains WHAT and WHEN -
descriptionis wrapped in single quotes - Body content is under 500 lines
- Bundled assets are under 5MB each
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Skill not discovered | Improve description with more keywords and triggers |
| Validation fails on name | Ensure lowercase, no consecutive hyphens, matches folder |
| Description too short | Add capabilities, triggers, and keywords |
| Assets not found | Use relative paths from skill root |
References
- Agent Skills official spec: https://agentskills.io/specification
FAQ
What does the make-skill-template skill do?
Create new Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot from prompts 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.
How do I install make-skill-template?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill make-skill-template in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/make-skill-template/ (personal) or .claude/skills/make-skill-template/ (project).
Which AI agents can use make-skill-template?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is make-skill-template safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; Runlayer passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains make-skill-template?
It is published by github in github/awesome-copilot, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 8,877 recorded installs.
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