skills add

Install skills from GitHub repos, URLs, or local paths

Usage

skills add <source> [options]

Description

The add command installs skills from various sources including GitHub repositories, Git URLs, direct URLs, or local paths. Skills can be installed globally (available across all projects) or locally (scoped to the current project).

Arguments

source · string · required

Source identifier for the skill repository. Supports:

• GitHub shorthand: owner/repo
• Full GitHub URL: https://github.com/owner/repo
• Direct path to skill: https://github.com/owner/repo/tree/main/skills/skill-name
• Git URL: [e-mail]:owner/repo.git
• GitLab URL: https://gitlab.com/org/repo
• Local path: ./my-local-skills
• Skill filter syntax: owner/repo@skill-name

Options

-g, --global · boolean

Install skills globally to the user directory (~/<agent>/skills/) instead of the current project directory (./<agent>/skills/).

Default: false (project-scoped)

-a, --agent · string[]

Target specific agents for installation. Accepts multiple agent names or '*' for all agents.

Examples:

• -a claude-code -a cursor
• --agent '*' (all agents)

Valid agent names: claude-code, opencode, cursor, codex, cline, etc.

-s, --skill · string[]

Install only specific skills by name. Accepts multiple skill names or '*' for all skills.

Examples:

• -s frontend-design -s skill-creator
• --skill '*' (all skills)
• --skill "Convex Best Practices" (skill names with spaces must be quoted)

-l, --list · boolean

List all available skills in the repository without installing them.

Default: false

--copy · boolean

Copy files instead of creating symlinks to agent directories. Use when symlinks aren’t supported.

Default: false (uses symlinks)

-y, --yes · boolean

Skip all confirmation prompts. Automatically accepts all defaults.

Default: false

--all · boolean

Shorthand for --skill '*' --agent '*' -y. Installs all skills to all agents without prompts.

Default: false

--full-depth · boolean

Search all subdirectories for skills, even when a root SKILL.md exists.

Default: false

Examples

Basic Install

# Install from GitHub (shorthand)
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills

# Install from full GitHub URL
skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills

# List all available skills without installing
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list

# Install specific skills by name
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design --skill skill-creator

# Install skill with spaces in name (must be quoted)
skills add owner/repo --skill "Convex Best Practices"

# Install all skills from a repo
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill '*'

# Install using @skill syntax
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills@frontend-design

# Install to specific agents
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -a claude-code -a opencode

# Install to all agents
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --agent '*'

# Install globally (available across all projects)
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -g

# Install globally with specific skill and agent
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -g -s frontend-design -a claude-code

# CI/CD friendly: install without prompts
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design -g -a claude-code -y

# Install everything to everywhere
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --all

# Install from GitLab
skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo

# Install from Git URL
skills add [e-mail]:vercel-labs/agent-skills.git

# Install from local path
skills add ./my-local-skills

# Install from direct skill path
skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/web-design

# Copy files instead of symlinking (Windows without Developer Mode)
skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --copy

Installation Scope

1. Project-Scoped (Default)

   Skills are installed to ./<agent>/skills/ in your current directory. These skills are:

   • Committed with your project
   • Shared with your team
   • Only available in this project

   skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills
   
2. Global Installation

   Skills are installed to ~/<agent>/skills/ in your home directory. These skills are:

   • Available across all projects
   • User-specific (not committed)
   • Persistent after project deletion

   skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -g
   

Installation Methods

Symlink (Recommended)

Creates a canonical copy in .agents/skills/ and symlinks from each agent directory.

Advantages:

• Single source of truth
• Easy updates
• Saves disk space

Example:

.agents/skills/frontend-design/  (canonical)
.claude/skills/frontend-design   → symlink to .agents/skills/frontend-design
.cursor/skills/frontend-design   → symlink to .agents/skills/frontend-design

Copy

Creates independent copies in each agent directory.

Advantages:

• Works on Windows without Developer Mode
• Works in environments where symlinks aren’t supported

Disadvantages:

• Uses more disk space
• Updates require reinstallation

Example:

.claude/skills/frontend-design/  (copy 1)
.cursor/skills/frontend-design/  (copy 2)

Aliases

The following aliases are available:

• skills a → skills add
• skills install → skills add
• skills i → skills add

Interactive Mode

When run without the -y flag, the CLI will prompt you to:

1. Select skills (if multiple skills are found)
2. Select agents (if no agents specified with -a)
3. Choose scope (project vs global)
4. Choose method (symlink vs copy)
5. Confirm installation (review summary before proceeding)

Output Example

$ skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills -s frontend-design -a claude-code

███████╗██╗  ██╗██╗██╗     ██╗     ███████╗
██╔════╝██║ ██╔╝██║██║     ██║     ██╔════╝
███████╗█████╔╝ ██║██║     ██║     ███████╗
╚════██║██╔═██╗ ██║██║     ██║     ╚════██║
███████║██║  ██╗██║███████╗███████╗███████║
╚══════╝╚═╝  ╚═╝╚═╝╚══════╝╚══════╝╚══════╝

◆  Source: vercel-labs/agent-skills
◇  Found 1 skill
◆  Skill: frontend-design
   Comprehensive guidelines for modern web design

┌  Installation Summary
│
│  .agents/skills/frontend-design
│    universal: OpenCode, Claude Code, Codex
│
└

◆  Proceed with installation? … yes
◇  Installation complete

┌  Installed 1 skill
│
│  ✓ .agents/skills/frontend-design
│    universal: OpenCode, Claude Code, Codex
│
└

◆  Done!  Review skills before use; they run with full agent permissions.

Related Commands

• skills list - List installed skills
• skills remove - Remove installed skills
• skills update - Update skills to latest versions
• skills check - Check for available updates