openskills
v1.5.0
Universal skills loader for AI coding agents - install and load Anthropic SKILL.md format skills in any agent
0/weekUpdated 3 weeks agoApache-2.0Unpacked: 51.0 KB
Published by OpenSkills Contributors
npm install openskills
Universal skills loader for AI coding agents
One CLI. Every agent. Same format as Claude Code.
Quick Start · How It Works · Commands · Create Skills · FAQ
---
✨ What Is OpenSkills?
OpenSkills brings Anthropic's skills system to every AI coding agent — Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, Codex, and anything that can read AGENTS.md.
Think of it as the universal installer for SKILL.md.
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🚀 Quick Start
``bash`
npx openskills install anthropics/skills
npx openskills sync
By default, installs are project-local (./.claude/skills, or ./.agent/skills with --universal). Use --global for ~/.claude/skills.
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✅ Why OpenSkills
- Exact Claude Code compatibility — same prompt format, same marketplace, same folder structure
- Universal — works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, Codex, and more
- Progressive disclosure — load skills only when needed (keeps context clean)
- Repo-friendly — skills live in your project and can be versioned
- Private friendly — install from local paths or private git repos
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🧠 How It Works
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Claude Code ships skills as SKILL.md files and exposes them inside a block. When the user asks for a task, Claude dynamically loads the matching skill.
`xml`
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OpenSkills generates the exact same XML and loads skills via:
`bash`
npx openskills read
So any agent that can read AGENTS.md can use Claude Code skills without needing Claude Code itself.
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| Aspect | Claude Code | OpenSkills |
|--------|-------------|------------|
| Prompt Format | XML | Same XML | .claude/skills/
| Skill Storage | | .claude/skills/ (default) | Skill("name")
| Invocation | tool | npx openskills read |
| Marketplace | Anthropic marketplace | GitHub (anthropics/skills) |
| Progressive Disclosure | ✅ | ✅ |
Show the exact AGENTS.md format OpenSkills writes
`xml
Available Skills
When users ask you to perform tasks, check if any of the available skills below can help complete the task more effectively.
How to use skills:
- Invoke: npx openskills read (run in your shell)
- The skill content will load with detailed instructions
- Base directory provided in output for resolving bundled resources
Usage notes:
- Only use skills listed in
- Do not invoke a skill that is already loaded in your context
`
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🔧 Install Skills
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`bash`
npx openskills install anthropics/skills
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`bash`
npx openskills install your-org/your-skills
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`bash`
npx openskills install ./local-skills/my-skill
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`bash`
npx openskills install git@github.com:your-org/private-skills.git
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🌍 Universal Mode (Multi-Agent Setups)
If you use Claude Code and other agents with one AGENTS.md, install to .agent/skills/ to avoid conflicts with Claude's plugin marketplace:
`bash`
npx openskills install anthropics/skills --universal
Priority order (highest wins):
1. ./.agent/skills/
2.
3.
4.
---
🧰 Commands
`bash`
npx openskills install
npx openskills sync [-y] [-o
npx openskills list # Show installed skills
npx openskills read
npx openskills update [name...] # Update installed skills (default: all)
npx openskills manage # Remove skills (interactive)
npx openskills remove
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- --global — Install globally to ~/.claude/skills (default: project install)--universal
- — Install to .agent/skills/ instead of .claude/skills/
- — Skip prompts (useful for CI)-o, --output
- — Output file for sync (default: AGENTS.md)
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🧬 The SKILL.md Format
OpenSkills uses Anthropic's exact format:
`markdown
---
name: pdf
description: Comprehensive PDF manipulation toolkit for extracting text and tables, creating new PDFs, merging/splitting documents, and handling forms.
---
PDF Skill Instructions
When the user asks you to work with PDFs, follow these steps:
1. Install dependencies: pip install pypdf2
2. Extract text using scripts/extract_text.py
3. Use references/api-docs.md for details
Skills are loaded on demand, keeping your agent's context clean and focused.
---
🧪 Creating Your Own Skills
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`
my-skill/
└── SKILL.md
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`
my-skill/
├── SKILL.md
├── references/
├── scripts/
└── assets/
Install your own skill:
`bash`
npx openskills install ./my-skill
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`bash`
git clone git@github.com:your-org/my-skills.git ~/dev/my-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
ln -s ~/dev/my-skills/my-skill .claude/skills/my-skill
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`bash`
npx openskills install anthropics/skills
npx openskills read skill-creator
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🔄 Updating Skills
If you installed skills from a git repo, you can refresh them anytime:
`bash`
npx openskills update
To update specific skills, pass a comma-separated list:
`bash`
npx openskills update git-workflow,check-branch-first
If a skill was installed before updates were tracked, re-install it once to record its source.
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✅ Tips
- You can always run OpenSkills via npx; a global install is optional.npx openskills read foo,bar`.
- For multiple reads, prefer comma-separated names:
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❓ FAQ
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MCP is for dynamic tools. Skills are static instructions + resources.
- Skills are just files → no server required
- Works with every agent → no MCP support needed
- Matches Anthropic's design → SKILL.md is the spec
MCP and skills solve different problems. OpenSkills keeps skills lightweight and universal.
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📋 Requirements
- Node.js 20.6+
- Git (for cloning repositories)
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📜 License
Apache 2.0
Attribution
Implements Anthropic's Agent Skills specification.
Not affiliated with Anthropic. Claude, Claude Code, and Agent Skills are trademarks of Anthropic, PBC.