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Getting Started

What is a skill?

An agent skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI agent (Codex, Claude Code, Cortex Code) how to do a specific task the Aimpoint way: consistently, and without you re-explaining it every session.

A skill is just a folder:

apd-<skill-name>/
├── SKILL.md          # Required: instructions + YAML frontmatter (name, description, version)
├── scripts/          # Optional: executable code the skill calls
├── references/       # Optional: docs, examples, standards the agent reads on demand
├── assets/           # Optional: templates, fonts, images
└── agents/           # Optional: provider-specific config (e.g. openai.yaml)

The description in the frontmatter matters most: it's how the agent decides when to trigger the skill. The body of SKILL.md is what the agent does once triggered.

Skills vs plugins vs prompts

  • Prompt: one-off instruction; nothing persists.
  • Skill: versioned, reviewed instructions + supporting files that any agent session can load. This repo.
  • Plugin (Claude Code): a distribution wrapper that can bundle skills, commands, and connectors for one-click install. A skill can ship inside a plugin; see Deployment Options.

Your first install (5 minutes)

  1. Clone the repo: git clone <repo-url>
  2. Pick your agent:
  3. Codex: run codex in the repo, then $skill-installer Install the skills in the "skills/shared/" folder
  4. Claude Code: copy skills/shared/<skill> into your project's .claude/skills/ (or ~/.claude/skills/ for everywhere)
  5. Invoke it:
  6. Codex: $apd-brand-voice draft a LinkedIn post about our new Databricks accelerator
  7. Claude Code: /apd-brand-voice draft a LinkedIn post about our new Databricks accelerator

If you're unsure of exact wording, describe intent in plain language and include the skill name. If multiple skills apply, name them all in one prompt so the agent can sequence them.

Where to go next

Reference material