Skill Archetypes
Identify which archetype fits best and follow its structure.
1. CLI Reference Skill
For tools, CLIs, APIs. Structure by operations, minimize prose.
## Authentication
[How to authenticate]
## Core Operations
| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `tool init` | Initialize project |
| `tool run` | Execute task |
## Common Workflows
[Task-oriented examples]Examples: kamal-coder, wrangler-coder, gh-cli
2. Methodology Skill
For development practices, workflows, philosophies.
## Core Philosophy
[Why this approach matters - 2-3 sentences max]
## The Process
1. [Step with criteria]
2. [Step with criteria]
## Decision Criteria
| Situation | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| [condition] | [response] |Examples: tdd-workflow, dhh-coder, founder-mode
3. Safety/Security Skill
For operations with risk. Include tiered approvals.
## Risk Tiers
| Tier | Operations | Approval |
|------|------------|----------|
| Low | Read-only queries | Auto |
| Medium | Modifications | Confirm |
| High | Destructive ops | Explicit |
## Blocking Patterns
[What to never do]
## Allowing Patterns
[Safe operations]Examples: infra-security-review, devops-verifier
4. Orchestration Skill
For multi-step processes that coordinate other tools.
## Quick Start
[Minimal invocation]
## Workflow Phases
1. [Phase]: [What happens]
2. [Phase]: [What happens]
## Machine-Readable Output
[JSON/YAML schema for automation]Examples: build-task-workflow, quality-gate
Advanced Patterns
THE EXACT PROMPT Pattern
For reproducible agent-to-agent handoffs, encode prompts in ALL CAPS:
## THE EXACT PROMPT
ANALYZE THE FOLLOWING CODE FOR SECURITY VULNERABILITIES:
1. CHECK FOR HARDCODED SECRETS
2. IDENTIFY SQL INJECTION RISKS
3. FLAG INSECURE DEPENDENCIES
RETURN FINDINGS AS JSON WITH SEVERITY LEVELS.Checklist Pattern
For multi-step processes with progress tracking:
## Checklist
- [ ] Step 1: [Action with success criteria]
- [ ] Step 2: [Action with success criteria]
- [ ] Step 3: [Action with success criteria]
Mark each complete before proceeding.Feedback Loop Pattern
For operations requiring validation:
## Validation Loop
1. Execute action
2. Verify result matches criteria
3. If FAIL: diagnose → fix → goto 1
4. If PASS: proceed to next step
Never advance without validation passing.