Learn how these new standards for AI agent connectivity and behavior work and when to use each one.
Think of the MCP as a universal “USB-C port” for AI agents; it establishes a standard for how models connect to external systems and data.
Agent Skills sit on top of that. These skills package the expertise an agent needs to perform specific tasks.
<a href="http://AGENTS.md" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">AGENTS.md</a> rounds out the toolkit for developers and Vibe Coders.
<a href="http://AGENTS.md" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">AGENTS.md</a> acts as a README for AI coding agents, instructing tools like Claude Code on how to behave within a specific codebase.
This article explains how MCP, Agent Skills, and <a href="http://AGENTS.md" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">AGENTS.md</a> work and helps you determine when and why to use each one: <a href="https://ai.gopubby.com/mcp-vs-agent-skills-vs-agents-md-2b558f225b75" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://ai.gopubby.com/mcp-vs-agent-skills-vs-agents-md-2b558f225b75</a>
This is my hands-on guide to agent skills: <a href="https://youtu.be/w65tyLWjGqA" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://youtu.be/w65tyLWjGqA</a>

Pavan Belagatti

A comparison of three emerging standards for AI agent connectivity and behavior: MCP (Model Context Protocol), Agent Skills, and AGENTS.md. MCP acts as a universal connector between AI models and external systems. Agent Skills package domain expertise for specific tasks on top of MCP. AGENTS.md serves as a README-style instruction file for AI coding agents like Claude Code, guiding their behavior within a specific codebase. The post helps developers understand when and why to use each standard.

The Agentic AI Toolkit: MCP vs. Agent Skills vs. AGENTS.md