Skills

What is a Skill?

A Skill contains:

• System Prompt Snippets: Behavior instructions injected into the agent
• Workflow Rules: Execution steps for specific tasks
• Reference Documentation: Domain knowledge and best practices
• Executable Scripts: Automation for common tasks

By activating different Skills, agents can quickly acquire specialized capabilities in specific domains.

Agent Skills Standard

TalkCody's Skills system is based on the Agent Skills Specification, an open industry standard that defines a universal format for AI agent skills.

Standard Directory Structure

skill-name/
├── SKILL.md          # Required: skill definition and description
├── scripts/          # Optional: executable scripts
│   ├── setup.py
│   └── analyze.sh
├── references/       # Optional: detailed reference documentation
│   ├── REFERENCE.md
│   └── api-guide.md
└── assets/           # Optional: static resources
    ├── template.json
    └── diagram.svg

Interoperability

Because it fully complies with the standard, TalkCody can:

• ✅ Import Skills from other tools (such as Claude Code Skills)
• ✅ Export Skills for use in other tools
• ✅ Share Skill repositories with tools that support this standard

Use Cases

• Database Development: SQL syntax, query optimization, database design
• Code Review: Coding standards, security checks, performance analysis
• Documentation Writing: API docs, technical specs, user guides
• Test Development: Unit testing, integration testing, test strategies

How to Use

Activate a Skill

1. Click the Skills icon (puzzle icon) in the chat interface
2. Select the desired Skill from the list
3. The selected Skill is automatically applied to the current conversation

Install Skills

Install from Marketplace

1. Go to the Skills page
2. Check the "Remote Skills" tab
3. Click Install to download the desired Skill

Import from GitHub

TalkCody supports direct import of standard-format Skills from GitHub.

Import a Single Skill

1. Click Import from GitHub on the Skills page
2. Enter the GitHub URL of a single Skill directory, for example:

   https://github.com/anthropics/skills/tree/main/skills/canvas-design

3. Click Scan to scan
4. Click Import to import after confirmation

Batch Import Skills

1. Click Import from GitHub on the Skills page
2. Enter the directory URL containing multiple Skills, for example:

   https://github.com/anthropics/skills/tree/main/skills

3. Click Scan to scan all subdirectories
4. Select the Skills you want to import
5. Click Import to batch import

Manage Skills

View Installed Skills

• Go to the Skills page
• Check the "Local Skills" tab

Create Custom Skill

1. Click Create New Skill
2. Fill in name and description
3. Write system prompt snippet
4. Add workflow rules (optional)
5. Save

Edit Skills

• Find the Skill you want to edit in the Local Skills list
• Click the edit button to modify content
• Save changes

Relationship with Agents

Differences between Skills and Agents:

Best Practices

Writing Skill Prompts

• Focus on a single domain
• Provide specific guidance
• Include example output formats
• Avoid conflicts with other Skills

Combined Usage

Scenario: Backend API Development

Activated Skills:
- REST API Design
- SQL Query Optimization
- API Security
- Error Handling