Quick Start Agent Skills Development
Follow these steps to quickly master Agent Skills development and create your first fully functional skill.
Prerequisites
Claude API Access
Need Claude API access permissions and API key
Beta Version Features
Ensure your account has Agent Skills Beta features enabled
Basic Programming Knowledge
Familiarity with at least one programming language (Python/TypeScript recommended)
Development Environment
Configure code editor and necessary development tools
Development Steps
Understand Basic Concepts
Agent Skills are modular capability packages containing YAML metadata and SKILL.md main content
- Each skill is an independent file system directory
- Supports three-level loading: metadata, instructions, resources
- Optimize context usage through progressive disclosure
Set Up Development Environment
Configure API access permissions and necessary development tools
- Get Claude API access permissions
- Ensure Beta version features are enabled
- Prepare development environment and tools
Create Your First Skill
Start with simple skills to understand basic structure and best practices
- Create skill directory structure
- Write YAML metadata
- Implement SKILL.md main content
Test and Optimize
Test skill functionality and optimize performance and user experience
- Test skills using Claude
- Validate output results
- Optimize performance and error handling
What are Agent Skills?
Agent Skills are modular capability packages that extend Claude's functionality. Each skill contains specific instructions, metadata, and optional resource files, enabling efficient content management through file system architecture.
Three-Level Loading Mode
- Level 1: Metadata always loads for skill discovery
- Level 2: Instructions load on trigger
- Level 3: Resources and code load on demand
Completed! What's Next?
Congratulations on completing the quick start! Now you can continue learning more advanced topics or start building your own skills.