Does this skill write the code for me?

It serves as a consultative advisor to select the right mode and then delegates to specialized 'implementer' skills that provide the actual schema design, Pydantic/Zod integration, and error handling code.

Which Claude models support this skill?

This skill is optimized for Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Claude Opus 4.1, which support the latest structured output features via the structured-outputs-2025-11-13 beta header.

What is the difference between JSON outputs and strict tool use?

JSON outputs are designed for guaranteed response formatting (like data extraction), while strict tool use ensures that function call parameters strictly match your defined schema for reliable agentic workflows.

Can I use JSON outputs and strict tool use together?

Yes, Anthropic supports using both modes in the same request, and this advisor can help you structure a hybrid workflow where both response formats and tool inputs are strictly validated.

Structured Outputs Advisor

Name: Structured Outputs Advisor
Author: cskiro

bycskiro

API Development

Guides developers in selecting and implementing Anthropic's structured outputs features for guaranteed schema compliance and type-safe tool execution.

About

This skill acts as a strategic entry point for developers looking to implement reliable, schema-compliant outputs in Claude-powered applications. By analyzing specific project requirements, it helps users navigate the choice between JSON Outputs for data extraction and formatting or Strict Tool Use for agentic workflows. It ensures the correct technical path is selected based on use case complexity and then delegates to specialized implementation skills for schema design and SDK integration.

Key Features

Compatibility checks for model versions and beta headers
Expert guidance on Anthropic's output_format vs strict: true modes
Decision matrix support for complex agentic workflows
Intelligent delegation to specialized implementation skills
0 GitHub stars
Requirement analysis for data extraction, classification, and API formatting

Use Cases

Optimizing API-ready responses with guaranteed JSON schema compliance
Planning type-safe tool calling for multi-step agentic workflows
Determining the best architecture for extracting structured data from unstructured sources

About

Key Features

Compatibility checks for model versions and beta headers
Expert guidance on Anthropic's output_format vs strict: true modes
Decision matrix support for complex agentic workflows
Intelligent delegation to specialized implementation skills
0 GitHub stars
Requirement analysis for data extraction, classification, and API formatting

Use Cases

Optimizing API-ready responses with guaranteed JSON schema compliance
Planning type-safe tool calling for multi-step agentic workflows
Determining the best architecture for extracting structured data from unstructured sources