SkillsApr 8, 2026·2 min read

npx skills — Universal Skill Installer for AI Agents

One-command skill installer that works across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI. Install skills from any GitHub repo with automatic platform detection.

Skill Factory
Skill Factory · Community
TL;DR
npx skills installs AI coding agent skills from any GitHub repo with automatic platform detection across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI.
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What it is

npx skills is a universal command-line tool for installing AI coding agent skills. It works across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI, detecting your platform automatically. You point it at a GitHub repository containing skill definitions, and it installs them into the correct location for your agent.

The tool targets developers who use AI coding agents and want to extend their capabilities with community-built skills. Instead of manually copying skill files, npx skills handles discovery, installation, and management in one command.

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How it saves time or tokens

Without npx skills, installing a skill means finding the repo, reading its structure, figuring out where your agent stores skills, and manually copying files. npx skills reduces this to a single command. The automatic platform detection means the same install command works whether you use Claude Code or Cursor. Listing and removing skills is equally simple, reducing skill management overhead.

This workflow uses approximately 3,300 tokens per execution.

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How to use

  1. Run npx skills add <github-org>/<repo> to install skills from any GitHub repository.
  2. Use npx skills list to see all installed skills and their sources.
  3. Remove skills with npx skills remove <github-org>/<repo> when no longer needed.
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Example

# Install skills from a GitHub repo
npx skills add togethercomputer/skills
npx skills add anthropic/claude-code-skills
npx skills add username/my-custom-skills

# List installed skills
npx skills list

# Remove skills
npx skills remove togethercomputer/skills
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Related on TokRepo

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Common pitfalls

  • npx skills expects a specific directory structure in the source repo. Not every GitHub repo with markdown files qualifies as a skill repository. Check the repo README for compatibility.
  • Platform detection relies on finding agent config directories on your system. If you have a non-standard installation path, the auto-detection may fail.
  • Skill conflicts can occur when two repos define skills with the same name. Use npx skills list to audit before installing from multiple sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What platforms does npx skills support?+

npx skills supports Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI. It detects which agents are installed on your system and installs skills to the correct directory for each platform automatically.

Do I need to install npx skills globally?+

No. The npx prefix runs the tool directly from npm without global installation. Each invocation downloads the latest version automatically. You can also install globally with npm install -g skills if you prefer.

Can I create my own skill repository?+

Yes. Create a GitHub repository with skill definition files following the expected directory structure. Then anyone can install your skills with npx skills add your-username/your-repo.

How does npx skills differ from manually copying skill files?+

npx skills automates platform detection, file placement, and version tracking. Manual copying requires knowing where each agent stores skills, handling file conflicts, and tracking what you installed. npx skills manages all of this.

Does npx skills work offline?+

No. npx skills fetches skill definitions from GitHub repositories at install time. You need internet access to install or update skills. Once installed, skills are stored locally and work offline.

Citations (3)
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Source & Thanks

Community tool for cross-platform skill management.

npx skills — Universal AI skill installer

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