What is npx skills?
npx skills is a universal command-line tool for installing AI coding agent skills. It detects your current platform (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI) and installs skill files to the correct location automatically. One command works everywhere — no manual file copying or path configuration.
Answer-Ready: npx skills is a universal skill installer for AI coding agents. Auto-detects platform (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI) and installs to the correct directory. One command for any GitHub skill repo. Cross-platform compatible.
Best for: Developers installing skills across multiple AI coding tools. Works with: Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI. Setup time: Under 30 seconds.
How It Works
Platform Detection
| Platform | Skill Directory |
|---|---|
| Claude Code | ~/.claude/skills/ |
| Cursor | .cursor/skills/ |
| Codex CLI | .codex/skills/ |
| Gemini CLI | gemini-extensions/ |
Install Flow
npx skills add togethercomputer/skills
1. Detect current platform → Claude Code
2. Clone repo → temp directory
3. Copy skill folders → ~/.claude/skills/
4. Done! Skills available immediatelySkill Structure
A skill is simply a directory with a SKILL.md file:
my-skill/
SKILL.md # Instructions the agent reads
references/ # Optional reference docs
api-docs.md
examples.mdCommands
| Command | What It Does |
|---|---|
npx skills add <repo> |
Install skills from GitHub repo |
npx skills list |
Show installed skills |
npx skills remove <repo> |
Uninstall skills |
npx skills update <repo> |
Update to latest version |
npx skills init |
Create a new skill template |
Creating Your Own Skills
# Initialize a new skill
npx skills init my-awesome-skill
# Edit the generated SKILL.md
# Add references/ for additional context
# Push to GitHub
# Others can install with:
npx skills add your-username/my-awesome-skillSKILL.md Template
---
name: My Skill
description: What this skill teaches the agent
platforms: [claude-code, cursor, codex]
---
# My Skill
## When to Use
Use this skill when the user asks about...
## Instructions
1. Always follow this pattern...
2. Use this API format...
## Examples
(code examples the agent should follow)FAQ
Q: Does it work offline? A: No, it clones from GitHub. Skills are installed locally after that.
Q: Can I install from private repos? A: Yes, if you have GitHub authentication configured (SSH key or token).
Q: Do skills auto-update?
A: No, run npx skills update <repo> manually. Skills are static files.