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Version: v2.0

Manage skills

A skill is a short handbook the agent loads when it needs it. Add one by writing it in the New skill dialog or uploading an existing skill. To learn how agents load skills, see Skills.

Open the New skill dialog​

  1. In the playground, set Playground mode to Build.
  2. In the Configuration column, find Skills.
  3. Click Add skill.

The New skill form opens.

Write a skill in the New skill dialog​

To create a skill, fill in three fields:

FieldWhat to put in it
NameLowercase words joined by hyphens, such as refund-request.
DescriptionWhen the agent should reach for this skill. See the next section.
SKILL.mdThe steps the agent follows. Imperative, numbered where order matters.

Here is a complete example:

# Handling a refund request

1. Look up the account in the billing app and read the plan and the start date.
2. A refund is in scope when the request is within 30 days of the last charge and
   the account has had no prior refund.
3. Up to $200 you can decide. Above that, draft the reply and tell me it needs
   Dana's sign-off before it goes out.
4. Reply in the customer's own language. Lead with the decision, then the reason,
   then the date the money lands.

Click Create, then Commit in the Configuration header to make the skill part of a version.

Write the description​

The agent reads the description before it loads the skill. Describe situations it can recognize, not just the subject.

A description that tells the agent when to use the skill:

Use when a customer asks for a refund, a credit, or to cancel mid-term. Covers the eligibility check, the amount you can approve without a manager, and how to word the reply.

A description that names only the subject:

Our refund policy.

The second description gives the agent no situation to match, so it may not load the skill.

Keep the description to one or two sentences. It is sent on every turn, while the body loads only when the skill fires.

Upload a skill​

Drop a skill folder or archive on Drag a skill folder, .zip, or .skill here, or click Browse files. Agenta uses a shared skill format, so you can also upload skills written for other tools.

The dialog fills itself in from what you dropped:

  • Name and Description come from the YAML frontmatter at the top of SKILL.md.
  • Everything after the frontmatter becomes the SKILL.md body.
  • Any files sitting beside SKILL.md come in as supporting files, keeping their relative paths.

The SKILL.md body is plain text, so you can review it before you click Create. Then click Commit in the Configuration header to make the skill part of a version.

If you have the text but not the folder, paste a whole SKILL.md, frontmatter included, anywhere in the dialog. It fills the same fields.

The two settings: Hide from prompt and Allow executable files​

ToggleEffect
Hide from promptThe skill is not listed to the agent, so it never picks the skill on its own. It runs only when invoked by name.
Allow executable filesBundled files may be executed. The sandbox policy in Advanced must also allow execution.

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