claude-engineering-plugin/plugins/compounding-engineering/skills/create-agent-skills/workflows/get-guidance.md

Workflow: Get Guidance on Skill Design

<required_reading> Read these reference files NOW:

1. references/core-principles.md
2. references/recommended-structure.md </required_reading>

## Step 1: Understand the Problem Space

Ask the user:

• What task or domain are you trying to support?
• Is this something you do repeatedly?
• What makes it complex enough to need a skill?

Step 2: Determine If a Skill Is Right

Create a skill when:

• Task is repeated across multiple sessions
• Domain knowledge doesn't change frequently
• Complex enough to benefit from structure
• Would save significant time if automated

Don't create a skill when:

• One-off task (just do it directly)
• Changes constantly (will be outdated quickly)
• Too simple (overhead isn't worth it)
• Better as a slash command (user-triggered, no context needed)

Share this assessment with user.

Step 3: Map the Workflows

Ask: "What are the different things someone might want to do with this skill?"

Common patterns:

• Create / Read / Update / Delete
• Build / Debug / Ship
• Setup / Use / Troubleshoot
• Import / Process / Export

Each distinct workflow = potential workflow file.

Step 4: Identify Domain Knowledge

Ask: "What knowledge is needed regardless of which workflow?"

This becomes references:

• API patterns
• Best practices
• Common examples
• Configuration details

Step 5: Draft the Structure

Based on answers, recommend structure:

If 1 workflow, simple knowledge:

skill-name/
└── SKILL.md (everything in one file)

If 2+ workflows, shared knowledge:

skill-name/
├── SKILL.md (router)
├── workflows/
│   ├── workflow-a.md
│   └── workflow-b.md
└── references/
    └── shared-knowledge.md

Step 6: Identify Essential Principles

Ask: "What rules should ALWAYS apply, no matter which workflow?"

These become <essential_principles> in SKILL.md.

Examples:

• "Always verify before reporting success"
• "Never store credentials in code"
• "Ask before making destructive changes"

Step 7: Present Recommendation

Summarize:

• Recommended structure (simple vs router pattern)
• List of workflows
• List of references
• Essential principles

Ask: "Does this structure make sense? Ready to build it?"

If yes → offer to switch to "Create a new skill" workflow If no → clarify and iterate

<decision_framework>

Quick Decision Framework

Situation	Recommendation
Single task, repeat often	Simple skill
Multiple related tasks	Router + workflows
Complex domain, many patterns	Router + workflows + references
User-triggered, fresh context	Slash command, not skill
One-off task	No skill needed
</decision_framework>

<success_criteria> Guidance is complete when:

• User understands if they need a skill
• Structure is recommended and explained
• Workflows are identified
• References are identified
• Essential principles are identified
• User is ready to build (or decided not to) </success_criteria>