By name: skill-creator description: Transforms documents containing theoretical knowledge or frameworks (PDFs, markdown, book notes, research papers, methodology guides) into actionable, reusable Claude Code skills using systematic reading methodology. Use when user mentions "create a skill from this document", "turn this into a skill", "extract a skill from this file", or when analyzing documents with methodologies, frameworks, or processes that could be made actionable.
Skill Creator
Table of Contents
This skill applies Mortimer Adler's systematic reading methodology ("How to Read a Book") through a six-step progressive approach: inspectional reading, structural analysis, component extraction, synthesis, skill construction, and validation. The process is collaborative -- at decision points, options and trade-offs are presented for the user to choose.
Methodology composition. All five extractable steps are now backed by domain-neutral standalone skills, reusable beyond skill creation. The orchestration is owned by the skill-creator agent; this skill-file remains as documentation of the methodology and as a way to apply the methodology without the agent's session-workspace overhead.
| Step | Standalone skill | purpose_context to pass |
Local resource still useful for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | inspectional-reading |
skill_extraction_from_methodology |
session init mechanics ($SESSION_DIR, global-context.md) |
| 2 | structural-analysis |
skill_extraction_from_methodology |
unity-formula examples specific to skill creation |
| 3 | component-extraction |
skill_extraction_from_methodology |
section-based reading patterns specific to long-form skill sources |
| 4 | synthesis-application |
skill_construction |
completeness inventory specific to skills (terms / propositions / arguments / solutions / decision-criteria / triggers) |
| 5 | skill-construction |
skill_construction |
rubric template + complexity-level decision aid |
| 6 | evaluation-rubrics |
(existing skill, no purpose_context needed) | n/a |
Workflow
COPY THIS CHECKLIST and work through each step:
Skill Creation Workflow
- [ ] Step 0: Initialize session workspace
- [ ] Step 1: Inspectional Reading
- [ ] Step 2: Structural Analysis
- [ ] Step 3: Component Extraction
- [ ] Step 4: Synthesis and Application
- [ ] Step 5: Skill Construction
- [ ] Step 6: Validation and Refinement
Step 0: Initialize Session Workspace
Create working directory and global context file. See resources/inspectional-reading.md#session-initialization for setup commands.
Step 1: Inspectional Reading
Skim document systematically, classify type, assess skill-worthiness. Writes to step-1-output.md. See resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-systematic-skimming for skim approach, resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-document-type-matters for classification, resources/inspectional-reading.md#why-skill-worthiness-check for assessment criteria.
Step 2: Structural Analysis
Reads global-context.md + step-1-output.md. Classify content, state unity, enumerate parts, define problems. Writes to step-2-output.md. See resources/structural-analysis.md#why-classify-content, resources/structural-analysis.md#why-state-unity, resources/structural-analysis.md#why-enumerate-parts, resources/structural-analysis.md#why-define-problems.
Step 3: Component Extraction
Reads global-context.md + step-2-output.md. Choose reading strategy, extract terms/propositions/arguments/solutions section-by-section. Writes to step-3-output.md. See resources/component-extraction.md#why-reading-strategy for strategy selection, resources/component-extraction.md#section-based-extraction for programmatic approach, resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-terms through resources/component-extraction.md#why-extract-solutions for what to extract.
Step 4: Synthesis and Application
Reads global-context.md + step-3-output.md. Evaluate completeness, identify applications, transform to actionable steps, define triggers. Writes to step-4-output.md. See resources/synthesis-application.md#why-evaluate-completeness, resources/synthesis-application.md#why-identify-applications, resources/synthesis-application.md#why-transform-to-actions, resources/synthesis-application.md#why-define-triggers.
Step 5: Skill Construction
Reads global-context.md + step-4-output.md. Determine complexity, plan resources, create SKILL.md and resource files, create rubric. Writes to step-5-output.md. See resources/skill-construction.md#why-complexity-level, resources/skill-construction.md#why-plan-resources, resources/skill-construction.md#why-skill-md-structure, resources/skill-construction.md#why-resource-structure, resources/skill-construction.md#why-evaluation-rubric.
Step 6: Validation and Refinement
Reads global-context.md + step-5-output.md + actual skill files. Score using rubric, present analysis, refine based on user decision. Writes to step-6-output.md. See resources/evaluation-rubric.json for criteria.
Notes
- File-Based Context: Each step writes output files to avoid context overflow
- Global Context: All steps read
global-context.mdfor continuity - Sequential Dependencies: Each step reads previous step's output
- User Collaboration: Always present findings and get approval at decision points
- Quality Standards: Use evaluation rubric (threshold ≥ 3.5) before delivery