A practical guide to writing custom Claude Code skills using SKILL.md files. Covers the anatomy of a skill (frontmatter, trigger description, body), how to write effective trigger descriptions that reliably fire the right skill, a full walkthrough creating a conventional-commits skill, and the CLAUDE.md-to-skill promotion path. Also explains when to use skills vs. subagents, hooks, or MCP servers, common failure patterns, versioning via plugin wrappers, and lessons learned after writing 30+ skills.
Table of contents
Why You Should Write Your Own SkillsThe Anatomy Of A SkillThe Trigger Description Is The Whole GameWriting Your First Skill: A WalkthroughThe CLAUDE.md To Skill Promotion PathSkill Versus Subagent Versus Hook Versus MCPPatterns That Work, And Ones I Keep Failing WithVersioning, Shipping, And The Plugin WrapperWhat I Wish I Knew After Twenty SkillsWhere The Skills Ecosystem Is Going155 Impressions