create-skill

Create a directory containing a SKILL.md file with YAML frontmatter defining a name and description, followed by markdown instructions. Store it in ~/.cursor/skills/ for personal use or .cursor/skills/ for project sharing.

A SKILL.md requires YAML frontmatter with a name (max 64 chars, lowercase with hyphens) and a description (max 1024 chars), followed by a markdown body with step-by-step instructions, examples, and links to optional reference files.

Personal skills live in ~/.cursor/skills/skill-name/ and apply across all projects, while project skills live in .cursor/skills/skill-name/ and are shared with the repository. Never create skills in ~/.cursor/skills-cursor/, which is reserved for built-in skills.

Write in third person, be specific, and include both what the skill does and when to use it with trigger terms. For example, mention file formats and scenarios the agent should match against when deciding to apply the skill.

Keep SKILL.md under 500 lines for optimal performance. Move detailed documentation into separate reference files linked one level deep so the agent reads them only when needed.