Designing the Skill System
Skills as Markdown
Every BuddyMe skill is defined by a single SKILL.md file. No Python code, no plugin registry, no compilation step. Just write Markdown instructions that the agent follows when the skill is activated.
Why Markdown?
Skills are prompts, not programs. The agent is already an LLM — it doesn't need code to tell it how to do things. It needs clear, structured instructions. Markdown is the perfect format because:
- Anyone can write or edit skills — no programming required
- Skills are version-controllable and diff-friendly
- The agent can read and understand skills at runtime
Skill Anatomy
A typical skill has three sections:
# API Design Skill
## Description
Design RESTful APIs following best practices for
naming, versioning, and error handling.
## Instructions
1. Analyze the requirements and identify resources
2. Define endpoints following REST conventions
3. Specify request/response schemas
4. Add error handling patterns
## Tools Required
- read_file (to examine existing code)
- bash (to run validation commands)Built-in Library
BuddyMe ships with 30+ skills covering development, content creation, research, and operations. Some highlights:
- tdd-workflow — Guide test-driven development cycles
- frontend-design — Create UI components with design principles
- market-research — Structure competitive analysis
- security-scan — Review code for security vulnerabilities