Skill Updater
This skill provides guidance for updating existing skills based on user feedback.
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- User provides feedback about an existing skill's performance
- User wants to improve or modify a skill
- User reports issues or bugs with a skill
- User wants to add new functionality to an existing skill
Required Inputs
- Skill Path: Path to the skill directory or.skill file to update
- Feedback: Description of what needs to change, improve, or be fixed
Update Process
Step 1: Load and Understand the Skill
Use the analyze_skill.py script to get a quick overview:
scripts/analyze_skill.py <skill-path>This shows:
- Skill name and description
- SKILL.md line/word count
- All bundled resources (scripts/, references/, assets/)
- Any structural issues
Then read SKILL.md to understand the detailed instructions:
cat <skill-path>/SKILL.mdFor.skill files (zip archives), extract first:
unzip <skill-path>.skill -d /tmp/skill-extract/Step 2: Analyze the Feedback
Categorize the feedback into one or more types:
| Type | Example Feedback | Typical Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Bug fix | "The script fails when..." | Fix scripts, add error handling |
| Missing feature | "It should also support..." | Add new functionality |
| Clarity | "Instructions are confusing" | Improve SKILL.md documentation |
| Performance | "Too slow/uses too much context" | Optimize scripts, reduce SKILL.md |
| Trigger | "Doesn't activate when I say..." | Update description in frontmatter |
Step 3: Plan the Changes
Before making changes, create a clear plan:
- List specific files to modify
- Describe what changes each file needs
- Identify any new files to create or files to delete
- Consider impact on other parts of the skill
Step 4: Implement Changes
Apply changes following skill design principles:
For SKILL.md changes:
- Keep body under 500 lines
- Use imperative form
- Move detailed content to references/ if approaching limit
- Ensure frontmatter description captures all trigger scenarios
For script changes:
- Test scripts after modification
- Maintain existing interfaces unless feedback requires changes
- Add error handling for reported edge cases
For reference changes:
- Keep references one level deep from SKILL.md
- Update SKILL.md to reference new files
Step 5: Validate and Package
After implementing changes:
# Validate the skill
scripts/quick_validate.py <skill-path>
# Package if validation passes
scripts/package_skill.py <skill-path>Common Update Patterns
Pattern 1: Fixing Script Bugs
- Read the failing script
- Identify the bug based on feedback
- Apply fix
- Test with the scenario from feedback
- Package
Pattern 2: Improving Trigger Accuracy
- Review current frontmatter description
- Identify missing trigger phrases from feedback
- Update description to include new triggers
- Ensure description remains concise (<100 words)
Pattern 3: Adding New Functionality
- Determine if new functionality needs:
- New script in scripts/ - New reference in references/ - New asset in assets/ - Updates to SKILL.md instructions
- Implement required components
- Update SKILL.md to document new functionality
- Test end-to-end
Pattern 4: Reducing Context Usage
- Identify verbose sections in SKILL.md
- Move detailed content to references/
- Replace with concise summary + link
- Remove redundant examples
- Verify skill still functions correctly
Best Practices
- Minimal changes: Only change what the feedback requires
- Test after changes: Run scripts and validate skill structure
- Preserve intent: Maintain the skill's original purpose
- Document changes: Update SKILL.md if behavior changes
- Version awareness: If the skill has users, consider backward compatibility