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Documentation Index

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A Skill component packages reusable task knowledge that teaches an agent runtime how to perform a specific type of task. Unlike a Tool (which an agent calls as a function) or an Agent (which operates autonomously), a Skill provides structured instructions and patterns that the runtime loads into its context and interprets. The runtime — not the skill itself — decides when and how to apply the knowledge.

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What a skill is

A skill is instructions and knowledge, not executable code. When a runtime loads a skill, it becomes part of the agent’s available context. The runtime activates the skill’s guidance when it determines it is relevant to the current task. A skill can include reference materials, templates, example outputs, and step-by-step patterns. This distinction matters: if you need the agent to call an external API, use a Tool. If you need to define an invocable slash command, use a Command. If you want to teach the agent how to approach a category of task, use a Skill.

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Entrypoint format

Skill entrypoints must be Markdown (.md) files with YAML frontmatter compatible with the Agent Skills specification. The Agent Skills spec defines the frontmatter shape; Agent Volumes adds the packaging and distribution layer on top without replacing it. The portable validation minimum requires:
  • The entrypoint file exists and is a Markdown file.
  • The frontmatter is Agent Skills-compatible and includes a description field sufficient for discovery.

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Required frontmatter

At minimum, your skill’s Markdown file must include a description field in its YAML frontmatter: 
---
description: Summarize academic papers with structured section extraction
---

## Instructions

When asked to summarize a research paper, extract the following sections...
The description field is used by runtimes and tooling to discover and select the skill. Keep it concise and specific.

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Declaring a skill in volume.toml

Add a [[components]] entry with type = "skill" and point entrypoint to your Markdown skill file. 
[[components]]
type = "skill"
name = "summarize-paper"
entrypoint = "./skills/summarize-paper/SKILL.md"
description = "Summarize academic papers with structured extraction"
A volume can export multiple skills alongside other component types: 
[volume]
schema = 1
name = "research-agent-pack"
version = "1.4.0"
description = "Research assistant plugin with literature analysis tools"
license = "Apache-2.0"
role = "plugin"
providers = ["arxiv", "semantic-scholar"]

[publisher]
id = "example"

[[components]]
type = "skill"
name = "summarize-paper"
entrypoint = "./skills/summarize-paper/SKILL.md"
description = "Summarize academic papers with structured extraction"

[[components]]
type = "skill"
name = "extract-citations"
entrypoint = "./skills/extract-citations/SKILL.md"
description = "Extract and format citations from academic papers"

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Skill semantics

The spec defines three behavioral properties for skills:
  • Loaded into context: A skill provides structured instructions, patterns, or knowledge that a runtime loads into its context.
  • Not independently executable: A skill does not run on its own — it augments what an agent can do.
  • Reference materials included: A skill can include templates, example outputs, and reference content alongside its instructions.
The Agent Skills spec and Agent Volumes are designed to be compatible. The volume.toml manifest is a package-level addition — it doesn’t replace the skill’s own frontmatter. Both layers coexist in a valid skill component.

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Optional fields

FieldTypeDescription
descriptionstringOne-line description for registry search. Separate from frontmatter.
providersarray of stringsExternal services this skill relates to (e.g., ["arxiv"]).
permissionstableComponent-specific permission overrides. Can only narrow volume-level values.
Place each skill in its own subdirectory to keep related reference materials together: 
skills/
├── summarize-paper/
│   ├── SKILL.md          ← entrypoint
│   └── examples/
│       └── example-summary.md
└── extract-citations/
    ├── SKILL.md          ← entrypoint
    └── citation-formats.md

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Component identifier

Once published, reference the skill component using a purl identifier: 
pkg:volume/research-agent-pack@1.4.0#skill/summarize-paper
Other components in the same or different volumes can declare a dependency on this skill: 
[component-dependencies]
"literature-reviewer" = [
  "pkg:volume/research-agent-pack#skill/summarize-paper",
]