Agent Skills Architecture

1. The Concept: "Skill.md"

An Agent Skill is a persistent instruction manual. Instead of repeating context in every chat session ("Use this tone," "Follow this format"), we architect a reusable .md file that acts as the agent's long-term memory for specific tasks.

Metaphor: If the Agent is the "Carpenter," the Prompt is a verbal instruction ("Build a chair"), but the Skill is the Blueprint he keeps in his pocket.

2. The Architecture

A standardized Skill file consists of three core blocks. Save this as .agent/skills/skill_name.md.

# Skill Name: [Academic Citation Auditor]

## Description
[When to use this skill: e.g., "Use this whenever reviewing a draft for citation compliance."]

## Instructions
1. **Scan** the text for claims lacking parentheses.
2. **Verify** format matches APA 7th Edition.
3. **Cross-reference** authors with the `bibliography.json` file.
4. **Flag** any hallucinations with [CITATION NEEDED].

3. The 5 Skill Archetypes

Derived from the "Anti-gravity" methodology, these five patterns cover most academic use cases.

Pattern 1: The Standard (Basic)

Pure instruction. Best for formatting rules or tone enforcement.

• Example: "Always summarize in bullet points with bold keywords."

Pattern 2: The Reference (Grounded)

Instructions + Knowledge Base. The agent is forced to look up a distinct file.

• Structure: "Read style_guide.pdf before generating text."

Pattern 3: The Few-Shot (Mimicry)

Instructions + Examples. We provide "Gold Standard" outputs for the agent to copy.

• Use Case: Writing grant proposals in your specific voice. Include 3 past successful grants in the folder.

Pattern 4: The Tool-User (Scripted)

Instructions + Code. The agent is directed to run a specific Python script to accomplish the task.

• Example: "To analyze data, run stats_analysis.py and interpret the output."

Pattern 5: The Omni-Skill (Complete Workflow)

A combination of all above. A full "SOP" (Standard Operating Procedure) for complex tasks like "Quarterly Literature Review."

4. Implementation Lab

Task: Create a global skill for your specialized domain.

1. Create a folder: .agent/skills/academic_voice
2. Create voice.md.
3. Define your "Non-Negotiables" (e.g., "Never use the word 'delve'", "Always prefer active voice").
4. Test it by asking your Pair Programmer: "Using my @academic_voice skill, rewrite this abstract."