Summary

OpenSkills provides a command-line interface (CLI) tool that implements Anthropic's AI coding agent "skills system" universally. It enables agents like Cursor, Windsurf, and Aider to leverage the same skill format and progressive disclosure mechanisms as Claude Code, simplifying workflow integration and skill management across different AI development environments.

How It Works

The project meticulously replicates Anthropic's skills system, including the SKILL.md format, prompt structure (<available_skills>), and default folder layout (.claude/skills/). Instead of Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool invocation, OpenSkills uses a CLI command (openskills read <name>) to load skill instructions and bundled resources on demand. This approach ensures compatibility while offering a simpler, serverless integration for static, reusable workflows.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install: npm i -g openskills
• Prerequisites: Node.js 20.6+ (for ora dependency), Git.
• Quick Start:
  1. Install the CLI: npm i -g openskills
  2. Install skills (e.g., from Anthropic's repo): openskills install anthropics/skills
  3. Sync skills to agent configuration: openskills sync
• Docs: Authoring guide available via openskills read skill-creator after installation.

Highlighted Details

• Claude Code Compatibility: Achieves 100% replication of Anthropic's skills system, including prompt format, marketplace access (via GitHub), folder structure, and SKILL.md specification.
• Universal Agent Support: Functions across Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Aider, enabling consistent skill usage.
• Progressive Disclosure: Skill instructions and resources are loaded only when invoked, optimizing agent context.
• Universal Mode (--universal): Installs skills to .agent/skills/ for shared use across multiple agents, preventing conflicts with Claude Code's native plugins and supporting unified AGENTS.md configurations.

Maintenance & Community

The project is maintained by numman-ali, who encourages following @nummanthinks for updates on AI tooling. Specific community channels or detailed contributor information are not detailed in the provided README.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License: Apache 2.0. This license permits commercial use and integration into closed-source projects.
• Compatibility: The project is an independent implementation of Anthropic's specification and is not officially affiliated with Anthropic, PBC.

Limitations & Caveats

The core difference lies in the invocation mechanism: OpenSkills uses a CLI (openskills read) whereas Claude Code uses a dedicated tool. While aiming for full compatibility, subtle differences in how various agents parse or execute CLI commands could present integration challenges. The "Universal Mode" requires careful consideration of skill loading priority in complex multi-agent setups.