# apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices

Comprehensive guide for skill development based on Anthropic's official best practices. Use for complex skills requiring detailed structure and optimization.

* Purpose - Apply official guidelines to skill authoring
* Output - Optimized skill with improved discoverability

```bash
/customaize-agent:apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices ["skill path"]
```

## Arguments

Optional skill name or path to skill being reviewed.

## Usage Examples

```bash
# Optimize an existing skill
> /customaize-agent:apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices pdf-processing

# Review a skill by path
> /customaize-agent:apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices ~/.claude/skills/bigquery/

# Start optimization workflow
> /customaize-agent:apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices
```

## How It Works

1. **Structure Review**: Checks skill organization
   * YAML frontmatter (name: 64 chars max, description: 1024 chars max)
   * SKILL.md body under 500 lines
   * Progressive disclosure with separate files
   * One-level-deep references
2. **Description Optimization**: Improves discoverability
   * Third-person writing (injected into system prompt)
   * "Use when..." trigger conditions
   * Specific keywords and terms
   * Both what it does AND when to use it
3. **Content Guidelines**: Applies best practices
   * Avoid time-sensitive information
   * Consistent terminology throughout
   * Concrete examples over abstract descriptions
   * Template patterns and examples patterns
4. **Workflow Enhancement**: Adds feedback loops
   * Clear sequential steps with checklists
   * Validation steps for critical operations
   * Conditional workflow patterns
5. **Token Efficiency**: Optimizes for context window
   * Remove redundant explanations
   * Challenge each paragraph's token cost
   * Use progressive disclosure appropriately

## Key Principles

| Principle                            | Description                                                      |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Progressive Disclosure**           | Metadata always loaded, SKILL.md on trigger, resources as needed |
| **CSO (Claude Search Optimization)** | Rich descriptions with triggers, keywords, and symptoms          |
| **Degrees of Freedom**               | Match specificity to task fragility                              |
| **Conciseness**                      | Only add context Claude doesn't already have                     |

## Best Practices

* Test with all models - What works for Opus may need more detail for Haiku
* Iterate with Claude - Use Claude A to design, Claude B to test
* Observe navigation - Watch how Claude actually uses the skill
* Build evaluations first - Create test scenarios BEFORE extensive documentation
* Gather team feedback - Address blind spots from different usage patterns


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://cek.neolab.finance/plugins/customaize-agent/apply-anthropic-skill-best-practices.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.