Use your first skill

A prompt or a skill?

Use a prompt to ask for a task now. A skill saves a repeatable way of doing it, so you can request that workflow again. Think of a prompt as today’s order and a skill as the recipe. Try the task manually before turning it into a skill.

1. Choose one repeatable task

For practice, use a checklist for reviewing notes: identify the main point, highlight missing details, and suggest a next step. It should give advice without changing any files. First set up Codex or Claude Code using the other guides.

2. Create a skill file

A skill uses a folder with a SKILL.md text file. Its name and description help the assistant recognise the task. Ask your assistant to create a notes-check skill with the example below, then inspect the file before using it.

---
name: notes-check
description: Review a short note for clarity and missing details.
---
Identify the main point, list missing details, and suggest one next step.
Do not invent facts or edit files. Ask when the purpose is unclear.

3. Put it in your project

For Codex, save the file at .agents/skills/notes-check/SKILL.md. For Claude Code, use .claude/skills/notes-check/SKILL.md. These paths start inside your project folder. Keep the same instructions in each file if you use both tools.

SKILL.md must not accidentally be saved as SKILL.md.txt. These are local project instructions; pasting the text into an ordinary web chat does not install a skill.

4. Invoke it and check the answer

In Codex, mention $notes-check; in Claude Code, type /notes-check. Include the note or its filename. Start a new session if the skill is not visible.

Use the notes-check skill to review notes.txt. Give feedback here without editing the file.

5. Improve the recipe

Try a note with missing context. Does the assistant ask rather than guess? Try a clear note. Is its feedback useful? Refine one instruction at a time. A skill guides behaviour; it does not guarantee correctness or add tools that are not available.

Inspect downloaded skills and any included scripts before installing them. Start with instruction-only skills from a source you trust.