Claude skills best practices
Most broken skills are not broken. Claude just never picks them. These rules fix that.
The rules
- Write the description as what it does plus exactly when to use it, with the words users actually say.
- Keep SKILL.md short. Move long references into separate files and link them.
- Use numbered steps and a defined output format.
- Add rules for what Claude must never do, like inventing numbers.
- Test with three real prompts before you share it.
- Version it in git like code.
Get the best new Claude skills, weekly
One email a week. Tested skills only. Unsubscribe anytime.
Related: What are Claude skills | How to use them | Skills vs MCP