openskills
Universal skills loader for AI coding agents - npm i -g openskills
OpenSkills is a universal command-line loader that brings Anthropic's SKILL.md format to any AI coding agent that can read AGENTS.md files. It installs skills from GitHub repos, local paths, or private repositories into a project or global directory, then generates the necessary XML blocks in AGENTS.md for agents to discover and load them on demand. Compatible with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, Codex, and similar assistants, it enables progressive skill loading while maintaining clean context. Skills are installed locally by default but support global and universal modes for multi-agent setups.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Install Anthropic's official skills marketplace into non-Claude Code agents like Cursor or Windsurf
- 02Share custom skill sets across team projects by versioning them in your repository
- 03Load PDF manipulation, database access, or other specialized skills on demand without cluttering agent context
- 04Manage private skills from internal GitHub repos for proprietary workflows
- 05Use the same skill library across multiple AI coding assistants in a unified setup
- 06Develop and test custom SKILL.md files locally before publishing to a shared repository
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openskills — FAQ
What is OpenSkills?+
OpenSkills is a CLI tool that installs and manages agent skills in Anthropic's SKILL.md format, making them available to any AI coding assistant that reads AGENTS.md files. It brings Claude Code's skills system to agents like Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, and Codex.
How do I install skills with OpenSkills?+
Run 'npx openskills install anthropics/skills' to install from the Anthropic marketplace, or provide a GitHub repo, local path, or private Git URL. Follow with 'npx openskills sync' to update your AGENTS.md file.
Which AI clients work with OpenSkills?+
Any agent that can read AGENTS.md files works with OpenSkills, including Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Aider, and Codex. The agent invokes skills by running 'npx openskills read <skill-name>' in the shell.
Do I need API keys or prerequisites?+
You need Node.js 20.6+ and Git installed. No API keys are required for OpenSkills itself, though individual skills may have their own dependencies (e.g., Python packages).
Is OpenSkills free?+
Yes, OpenSkills is open source under the Apache 2.0 license and free to use. It is not affiliated with Anthropic.
What's the difference between project, global, and universal modes?+
Project mode (default) installs to ./.claude/skills, global mode uses ~/.claude/skills, and universal mode uses ./.agent/skills to avoid conflicts when using Claude Code alongside other agents.
How do I install openskills?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. openskills is a skill — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is openskills free?+
openskills is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.