Create Your First Skill

By the end of this guide, you will have a working skill that agents can discover and use.

Prerequisites: At least one MCP server installed and running in your workspace. If you have not done this yet, see Browse & Install from Registry.

Step 1: Start Creating a Skill

You can create a skill from two places:

• From the Skills page -- Click Skills in the top navigation bar, then click the create button.
• From a Hat -- Open a hat and add a new skill directly. The skill will be associated with that hat automatically.

Step 2: Name and Describe the Skill

Enter a name that clearly describes what the skill does. Agents use this name to discover the skill, so make it specific.

• Good: Summarize Slack Threads
• Too vague: Slack Stuff

Add a description that explains the skill's purpose and when to use it. The description helps agents decide whether this skill is relevant to a given task.

Step 3: Open the Skill Editor

After creating the skill, open it in the skill editor to configure its contents. The editor is a full-screen environment with three panels: a file tree on the left, a code/markdown editor in the center, and a settings panel on the right.

See Skill Editor for a complete guide to the editor interface.

Step 4: Add Instructions

Create a reference (instruction document) to guide the agent. In the file tree, add a new reference, give it a name, and write your instructions in markdown.

Example instructions for a web research skill:

When asked to research a topic:
1. Use the fetch tool to retrieve the top 3 search results.
2. Extract the main points from each page.
3. Combine the findings into a concise summary with source links.

Instructions tell the agent how to use the skill's tools effectively. Be specific about the workflow, expected output format, and any constraints.

Step 5: Select Tools

In the settings panel, add the MCP tools this skill needs. Each installed MCP server lists the tools it provides. Select the tools that are relevant to this skill.

For example, if you are building a "Web Research" skill using the fetch MCP server, select the fetch tool.

You can select tools from multiple MCP servers in a single skill.

Step 6: Choose an Execution Mode

By default, skills use LIST mode, which exposes all selected tools directly to the agent. This works well for most skills.

If your skill includes many tools, consider OPTIMIZED mode to reduce token usage. If you need a specialized sub-agent to handle the tools, use SMART mode.

See Skill Modes for guidance on choosing the right mode.

Step 7: Add Scripts or Assets (Optional)

You can enrich the skill with additional components:

• Scripts -- Add embedded code in Python, Bash, JavaScript, or TypeScript. Scripts can automate steps within the skill.
• Assets -- Attach binary files like images, PDFs, or reference documents (up to 10 MB).

Add these from the file tree in the skill editor using the context menu.

Step 8: Save and Verify

The skill editor saves your changes automatically (watch for the saving indicator in the editor). To verify the skill works:

1. Review the skill details -- name, description, tools, instructions, and mode.
2. Confirm the skill appears in the appropriate hat's skill list.
3. Connect an AI agent to your workspace (see Quickstart) and ask it to perform a task that matches the skill.

Alternative: AI-Powered Skill Generation

Instead of building a skill manually, you can use AI-powered generation. Describe what you want the skill to do in natural language, and Skilder suggests a name, description, and relevant tools from your installed MCP servers. You can then refine the generated skill in the editor.

Troubleshooting

• No tools appear in the picker -- Make sure at least one MCP server is installed and has a Connected status. See Tools.
• Agent does not find the skill -- Verify the skill is assigned to a hat and the agent's API key has access to the workspace.
• Skill behaves unexpectedly -- Review the instructions in your references. Vague or contradictory instructions lead to inconsistent agent behavior. Be specific about what you want the agent to do.
• Skill is not visible to agents -- Check that the skill is not disabled. Disabled skills are hidden from agents.

Next Steps

• Skill Modes -- Learn about LIST, OPTIMIZED, and SMART execution modes.
• Skill Editor -- Master the full-screen editing environment.
• Organize Skills with Hats -- Group your skills into role-based collections for easier management.