Agent Skills · Learn · The open SKILL.md standard
Install guide

How to install an agent skill

A SKILL.md is just a file, so installing one is the same idea everywhere: put it where your agent looks for skills or rules. Here's the target for each agent, plus the universal two-step.

The universal two steps

  1. Get the skill — open any skill on GuildSkills and download its SKILL.md (or clone its source repo for the full folder with scripts/ and references/).
  2. Put it where your agent looks — copy it into that agent's skills or rules directory (table below), then reload the agent.

Per-agent target

AgentWhere the skill goesNotes
Claude Code~/.claude/skills/<slug>/SKILL.mdNative loader — folder per skill, bundled files supported.
Hermes Agent~/.hermes/skills/<slug>/Best-known path — confirm in Hermes docs.
OpenAI Codex~/.codex/ configVerify the skills/prompts subdir in current Codex docs.
Gemini CLI~/.gemini/ configVerify the skills/extensions subdir.
OpenCode~/.config/opencode/skill/Project-local .opencode/ also works.
Cursor.cursor/skills/<slug>/Per-project, at the workspace root.
Cline.clinerules/<slug>.mdReads the markdown body as a rule.
Aideraider --read SKILL.mdSupplied as a read-only context file.
Goose.goosehintsAppend the guidance; or package as a recipe.
Windsurf.windsurf/rules/<slug>.mdPick an activation mode.
Roo Code.roo/rules/<slug>.mdReads the body as a rule.
OpenHands.openhands/microagents/<slug>.mdAdd triggers: keywords to the frontmatter.
Zed.rules or Rules LibraryFreeform markdown standing instructions.
GitHub Copilot.github/copilot-instructions.mdNo skill loader — adapt the guidance into custom instructions.

Exact directory names are the known convention for each agent — confirm against that agent's current docs, linked from its dedicated page. For the 25+ other clients (OpenClaw, Kiro, Trae, Amp, Qodo and more), drop the SKILL.md into that agent's rules/instructions directory.

One-click install

A one-click cross-agent installer — pick a skill, pick your agent, done — is coming to the GuildSkills desktop app. Pro members will get it first.

Frequently asked

Install guide — answered

Where do I put a SKILL.md to install it?
Into your agent's skills or rules directory. Claude Code uses ~/.claude/skills/; Cursor uses .cursor/skills/; Cline uses .clinerules/; and so on (full table above). After copying the file, reload the agent.
Can I use the same skill on more than one agent?
Yes — a standard SKILL.md is portable. Copy it into each agent's skills or rules directory. Some agents read the frontmatter natively; others use the markdown body as a rule. The body should stand on its own.
Is there a one-click installer?
It's coming to the GuildSkills desktop app — choose a skill, choose your agent, install. Until then, the manual two-step (download, copy into the agent's directory) works for every agent.