Writing Skills FAQs

Question 1

How do I ensure my skills are token-efficient?

Accepted Answer

Keep instructions concise, move heavy references to separate files, use cross-references instead of repeating logic, and aim for word counts under 200 for frequently loaded skills.

Question 2

Where should I store my personal Claude Code skills?

Accepted Answer

Personal skills for Claude Code are typically stored in the ~/.claude/skills directory, while project-specific conventions should go in CLAUDE.md.

Question 3

What is the TDD approach to writing skills?

Accepted Answer

It involves creating a pressure scenario to watch the AI fail (Red), writing the skill documentation (Green), and then refining the instructions to close loopholes (Refactor).

Question 4

What is Claude Search Optimization (CSO)?

Accepted Answer

CSO is a set of practices designed to help Claude efficiently find and load the most relevant skills by using specific keyword coverage and trigger-based descriptions.

Question 5

Why shouldn't skill descriptions summarize the workflow?

Accepted Answer

Summarizing the workflow in the description can cause Claude to skip the full skill content and follow the brief summary instead, often missing critical nuances or steps.

Writing Skills

Key Features

Use Cases

Writing Skills

Key Features

Use Cases