Source Formats

Learn about all the ways to install skills from various sources

The Skills CLI supports multiple source formats for installing skills, from GitHub shorthand to local directories. Understanding these formats helps you install skills from anywhere.

Supported Formats

The CLI automatically detects the source type and handles installation appropriately.

GitHub Shorthand

The simplest way to install skills from GitHub:

# Owner/repo format
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills

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

# Install from a subdirectory
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills/skills/web-design

The owner/repo format is automatically expanded to https://github.com/owner/repo.git

Full GitHub URLs

You can also use complete GitHub URLs:

# Standard repository URL
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills

# URL with branch
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main

# URL pointing to specific skill folder
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/web-design

GitLab URLs

Full support for GitLab repositories, including subgroups:

# GitLab repository
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo

# GitLab with subgroups
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/group/subgroup/repo

# GitLab with branch
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/main

# GitLab with branch and path
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/main/skills/my-skill

GitLab URLs use the /-/tree/ pattern which is unique to GitLab. The CLI automatically detects this.

Git URLs

Any valid git URL is supported:

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

# Git HTTP URL
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills.git

# Self-hosted git server
npx skills add [e-mail]:team/skills.git

Local Paths

Install skills from your local filesystem:

# Relative path
npx skills add ./my-local-skills

# Absolute path
npx skills add /home/user/my-skills

# Current directory
npx skills add .

# Parent directory
npx skills add ..

Local paths must start with ./, ../, /, or be absolute (e.g., C:\ on Windows). This prevents ambiguity with GitHub shorthand.

Source Detection Logic

The CLI parses sources in this order:

1. Local paths - Absolute or relative paths (., .., ./, /, C:\)
2. GitHub URLs with paths - github.com/owner/repo/tree/branch/path
3. GitHub URLs with branch - github.com/owner/repo/tree/branch
4. GitHub repository URLs - github.com/owner/repo
5. GitLab URLs with paths - gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/branch/path
6. GitLab URLs with branch - gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/branch
7. GitLab repository URLs - gitlab.com/org/repo
8. GitHub shorthand with skill filter - owner/repo@skill-name
9. GitHub shorthand with path - owner/repo/path/to/skill
10. GitHub shorthand - owner/repo
11. Well-known endpoints - HTTP(S) URLs with /.well-known/skills/index.json
12. Direct git URLs - Any other git-compatible URL

Special Formats

Installing Specific Skills

You can filter which skills to install using the @skill-name syntax or --skill flag:

# Using @ syntax (shorthand)
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills@frontend-design

# Using --skill flag
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design

# Install multiple specific skills
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill frontend-design --skill skill-creator

# Skill names with spaces (must be quoted)
npx skills add owner/repo --skill "Convex Best Practices"

# Install all skills (explicit wildcard)
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --skill '*'

Branches and Refs

Install from specific branches or tags:

# GitHub URL with branch
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/develop

# GitLab URL with branch
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/develop

For GitHub shorthand (owner/repo), the default branch is used automatically.

Subpaths

Install skills from a subdirectory within a repository:

# GitHub shorthand with subpath
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills/skills/web-design

# Full URL with subpath
npx skills add https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/web-design

# GitLab with subpath
npx skills add https://gitlab.com/org/repo/-/tree/main/skills/my-skill

When a subpath is provided, the CLI searches for skills starting from that directory.

Source Aliases

Some commonly used repositories have aliases:

Alias	Expands to
coinbase/agentWallet	coinbase/agentic-wallet-skills

More aliases may be added in future releases.

Listing Available Skills

Before installing, preview available skills from a source:

# List skills in a repository
npx skills add vercel-labs/agent-skills --list

# List skills from local directory
npx skills add ./my-skills --list

# List skills from specific path
npx skills add https://github.com/org/repo/tree/main/skills --list

This displays all discoverable skills without installing them.

Private Repositories

For private repositories, ensure you have git credentials configured:

SSH Authentication

# Use SSH URL format
npx skills add [e-mail]:your-org/private-skills.git

HTTPS with Credentials

Configure git credentials helper:

# macOS/Linux
git config --global credential.helper store

# Windows
git config --global credential.helper wincred

# Then install (you'll be prompted for credentials once)
npx skills add https://github.com/your-org/private-skills

The CLI uses git to clone repositories. Make sure you have read access to the repository with your configured git credentials.

Examples by Use Case

Installing from a monorepo

# Install all skills from a specific directory in the monorepo
npx skills add org/monorepo/packages/agent-skills

# Install a specific skill from nested path
npx skills add org/monorepo/packages/agent-skills/skills/my-skill

Testing local skills before publishing

# Install from current directory
npx skills add .

# Install from local clone of repository
npx skills add ~/projects/my-skills

# Install specific skill from local directory
npx skills add ./my-skills --skill test-skill

Installing from self-hosted git

# SSH URL to self-hosted GitLab
npx skills add [e-mail]:team/agent-skills.git

# HTTPS URL to self-hosted GitHub Enterprise
npx skills add https://github.company.com/team/agent-skills.git

Installing from a fork

# Your forked repository
npx skills add your-username/agent-skills

# Specific branch in your fork
npx skills add https://github.com/your-username/agent-skills/tree/my-feature

Troubleshooting

No skills found

Ensure the repository contains valid SKILL.md files with name and description in the frontmatter. Check that skills are in recognized directories.

Git authentication failed

For private repositories:

• Verify your SSH keys are configured: ssh -T [e-mail]
• Or use HTTPS with credentials helper configured
• Check that you have read access to the repository

Ambiguous source format

If the CLI misinterprets your input:

• Use explicit URLs instead of shorthand
• For local paths, always start with ./ or use absolute paths
• Check for typos in owner/repo names

Next Steps

Creating Skills

Learn how to create your own skills

Installation Methods

Understand symlink vs copy installation