> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/nullclaw/nullclaw/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# nullclaw skills

> Discover, install, and manage skill packs

The `nullclaw skills` command manages skill packs - reusable instruction sets and tool configurations that extend the agent's capabilities.

## Subcommands

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills list              # List installed skills
nullclaw skills install <name>    # Install a skill pack
nullclaw skills remove <name>     # Remove a skill pack
nullclaw skills info <name>       # Show skill details
```

## What are Skills?

Skills are packaged instruction sets that provide:

* **Domain expertise**: Specialized knowledge (medical, legal, coding, etc.)
* **Tool configurations**: Pre-configured tool chains
* **Prompt templates**: Reusable prompt patterns
* **Context files**: Reference documentation and examples

Skills are stored in `~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/<name>/` with:

* `SKILL.md` - Main skill instructions
* `skill.toml` - Metadata and dependencies
* Supporting files (examples, references, scripts)

## skills list

List all installed skills:

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills list
```

### Example Output

```
Installed Skills:

✓ python-expert
  Description: Expert Python development with best practices
  Version: 1.2.0
  Source: github.com/skillhub/python-expert
  Tools: shell, file_read, file_write

✓ devops-automation
  Description: DevOps automation and deployment
  Version: 2.0.1
  Source: github.com/skillhub/devops
  Tools: shell, git_operations, docker

✓ data-analysis
  Description: Data analysis with pandas and visualization
  Version: 1.0.0
  Source: local
  Tools: shell, file_read, browser
```

## skills install

Install a skill pack:

```bash theme={null}
# Install from GitHub
nullclaw skills install github.com/skillhub/python-expert

# Install from URL
nullclaw skills install https://example.com/skills/medical.zip

# Install from local path
nullclaw skills install ~/my-skills/custom-skill
```

### Installation Process

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download or copy">
    Skill pack is downloaded from source or copied from local path
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate">
    Check for required files:

    * `SKILL.md` (required)
    * `skill.toml` (optional metadata)

    Validate TOML schema if present
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install">
    Copy to `~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/<name>/`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Register">
    Add to skills registry for auto-loading
  </Step>
</Steps>

## skills remove

Remove an installed skill:

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills remove python-expert
```

This deletes the skill directory and updates the registry.

<Warning>
  Removing a skill deletes all its files. Back up any custom modifications first.
</Warning>

## skills info

Show detailed information about a skill:

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills info python-expert
```

### Example Output

```
Skill: python-expert
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Description: Expert Python development with best practices
Version: 1.2.0
Author: SkillHub Contributors
Source: github.com/skillhub/python-expert
License: MIT

Dependencies:
  - shell tool
  - file_read tool
  - file_write tool

Instructions (SKILL.md):
  - Type hints and docstrings required
  - Follow PEP 8 style guide
  - Use virtual environments
  - Write unit tests with pytest
  - Security: validate inputs, avoid eval()

Files:
  - SKILL.md (4.2 KB)
  - skill.toml (512 bytes)
  - examples/fastapi.py (1.8 KB)
  - examples/pytest.py (1.2 KB)
```

## Skill Manifest Format

### skill.toml

```toml theme={null}
name = "python-expert"
version = "1.2.0"
description = "Expert Python development with best practices"
author = "SkillHub Contributors"
license = "MIT"
source = "github.com/skillhub/python-expert"

[dependencies]
tools = ["shell", "file_read", "file_write"]

[metadata]
tags = ["programming", "python", "backend"]
languages = ["python"]
```

### SKILL.md

```markdown theme={null}
# Python Expert Skill

You are an expert Python developer. Follow these guidelines:

## Code Quality

- Always use type hints
- Write comprehensive docstrings
- Follow PEP 8 style guide
- Use meaningful variable names

## Best Practices

- Virtual environments for all projects
- requirements.txt or pyproject.toml for dependencies
- Unit tests with pytest
- Error handling with specific exceptions

## Security

- Validate all inputs
- Never use eval() or exec() with user input
- Use parameterized SQL queries
- Keep dependencies updated

## Examples

See `examples/` directory for reference implementations.
```

## Skill Discovery

Skills can be discovered from:

* **GitHub**: Search for repositories tagged with `nullclaw-skill`
* **ClawHub**: Official skill registry (coming soon)
* **HuggingFace**: AI/ML focused skills
* **Local**: Create your own custom skills

## Creating Custom Skills

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create directory">
    ```bash theme={null}
    mkdir -p ~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/my-skill
    cd ~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/my-skill
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write SKILL.md">
    Create instructions for the agent:

    ```markdown theme={null}
    # My Custom Skill

    You are an expert in...

    ## Guidelines
    - ...
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optional: Add skill.toml">
    ```toml theme={null}
    name = "my-skill"
    version = "1.0.0"
    description = "My custom skill"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test">
    ```bash theme={null}
    nullclaw skills info my-skill
    nullclaw agent -m "Use my-skill to..."
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Skill Loading

Skills are automatically loaded when:

1. Agent starts
2. Skill is mentioned in prompt ("use python-expert skill")
3. Skill is set as default in config

Loaded skills inject their instructions into the agent's system prompt.

## Examples

### Install Python skill

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills install github.com/skillhub/python-expert
```

### Use in conversation

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw agent -m "Using python-expert skill, write a FastAPI app with authentication"
```

### List all skills

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills list
```

### Remove skill

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills remove python-expert
```

## Troubleshooting

### Skill not loading

```
Error: Skill 'python-expert' not found
```

**Fix**: Verify installation:

```bash theme={null}
nullclaw skills list
ls ~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/
```

### Invalid TOML

```
Error: Failed to parse skill.toml
```

**Fix**: Validate TOML syntax:

```bash theme={null}
cat ~/.nullclaw/workspace/skills/my-skill/skill.toml
# Check for syntax errors
```

### Missing dependencies

```
Warning: Skill requires 'composio' tool which is not available
```

**Fix**: Install required tools or remove dependency from skill.toml

## See Also

* [Agent](/cli/agent) - Use skills in conversations
* [Tools](/tools/overview) - Available tools for skills
* [Configuration](/configuration/overview) - Configure default skills