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Write a skill file in PRISM format

Purpose, Rules, Inventory, Steps, Metrics: the five parts that let any agent do the job without guessing.

7 steps4 rulesStep 1 of 6 in Work with your agent

Use this skill

Read https://isklls.com/s/write-a-skill-file and follow it.

Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Gemini or any agent that can open a link, then add your task.

Save.md
write-a-skill-file.md
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Purpose::

Write a skill file any agent can execute without guessing, in PRISM format.

Rules::

  • Five parts in order: Purpose, Rules, Inventory, Steps, Metrics
  • One purpose sentence; 3-4 rules; minimal inventory; 3-8 numbered steps
  • Simple words, short lines, explicit scope; no fluff
  • Self-contained: a fresh chat can run it with nothing else

Inventory::

  • The job you keep explaining to your agent
  • One past result you were happy with

Steps::

  1. 1Write the purpose: the finished job in one sentence
  2. 2Write 3-4 rules: quality bars and what is out of scope
  3. 3List the inventory: only the files, tools and inputs the job needs
  4. 4Write 3-8 steps a new agent can follow in order
  5. 5Write the metrics: how you will judge the result and where you will review it
  6. 6Re-read once as the agent; simplify every word you would stumble on
  7. 7Save it as <name>.md

Metrics::

  • You understand it in one read
  • Another agent executes it without asking
  • Scope is clear in all five parts
Agent work.md

Purpose:: Turn an outside workflow (a guide, a thread, a long prompt) into one PRISM skill file.

Steps::

  1. 1. Read the source once fully; name the one finished job it delivers
  2. 2. Split it if it delivers more than one job
  3. 3. Pull out the quality bars as Rules and the needed inputs as Inventory
  4. 4. Rewrite the method as 3-8 steps in plain words

Convert a workflow into a skill

Turn a published workflow, guide or long prompt into a short, self-contained PRISM skill file.

Agent work.md

Purpose:: Align with the person before a complicated task, so the build is right the first time.

Steps::

  1. 1. Research how the task would be done
  2. 2. Ask 3 questions that make them think "ah yes, what about that?"
  3. 3. Process the answers; research again
  4. 4. Repeat until the open points are gone

Align before a big task

Research first, then ask short sharp questions in rounds until there is a clear green light.

Agent work.md

Purpose:: Shape a loose idea together before anything is executed.

Steps::

  1. 1. Listen to the idea
  2. 2. Reply with compact suggestive bullets
  3. 3. Listen to what they pick up and what they drop
  4. 4. Refine toward the big picture they are after

Brainstorm before you build

Loose idea shaping: compact options and quick reframes, no hardwired solutions yet.

Agent work.md

Purpose:: Be the first customer of a live product and report where it hurts.

Steps::

  1. 1. Choose one customer goal
  2. 2. Try discovery, signup, the core task, the result and a return visit
  3. 3. Note confusion, errors and time to value
  4. 4. Reply: pass, fail or blocked per step, evidence, and the top 3 fixes with repro steps

Be customer zero

Walk your own live product as a new customer and report friction with repro steps.