3.4 Creating Your First Custom Skill¶

Skill Design Principles¶

Anatomy of an Effective Skill¶

Clear Purpose
Structured Instructions
Input/Output Specification
Example Patterns
Error Handling

Skill Creation Process¶

Step 1: Task Identification¶

Recurring work task
Complex but repetitive workflow
Needs consistent output

Step 2: Template Design¶

Break down the task into steps
Define exact input requirements
Specify precise output format

Use Case Examples¶

1. Weekly Report Generator¶

Input: Performance metrics
Output: Formatted executive summary
Skill goal: Consistent reporting style

2. Data Validation Skill¶

Input: Raw spreadsheet
Output: Cleaned, validated data
Skill goal: Standardized data processing

3. Meeting Summary Formatter¶

Input: Meeting transcript/notes
Output: Structured action items
Skill goal: Consistent communication

Practical Implementation¶

Markdown Skill Structure¶

# Skill: [Skill Name]

## Description
[What the skill does]

## Input Requirements
- [Detailed input specifications]
- [Formatting guidelines]

## Output Format
- [Precise output structure]
- [Formatting rules]

## Example Patterns
- [Successful implementation example]
- [Edge case handling]

## Constraints
- [Limitations]
- [Performance expectations]

Hands-on Lab¶

Exercise: Build a Skill¶

Choose a recurring task from your work
Design a skill template
Test and iterate
Document the skill creation process

Best Practices¶

Start simple
Document thoroughly
Test extensively
Continuously refine

Common Pitfalls¶

Overly complex skills
Vague instructions
Lack of example patterns
Ignoring edge cases

Advanced Skill Techniques¶

Conditional logic
Multi-step workflows
Error handling strategies
Performance tracking