Claude skills: what they are and how to install them
What Claude skills are, where they live and how to install them in Claude Code, plus step by step guides for open-source skills for Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and app building.
Short answer
A Claude skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file: a short description plus instructions. Claude reads the description and loads the full skill only when your request matches it, or when you call it yourself with /skill-name. In Claude Code, personal skills live in ~/.claude/skills and project skills in .claude/skills, and many skills install as plugins with two commands typed inside Claude Code.
How skills work
- What is inside
- A SKILL.md file with a name and a description at the top, then plain instructions. Some skills add scripts or templates in the same folder.
- When Claude uses one
- Automatically when your request matches the description, or manually when you type /skill-name.
- Where they live
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md. Project: .claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md. Plugin skills are namespaced as /plugin-name:skill-name.
- Installing from a plugin
- Inside Claude Code: /plugin marketplace add owner/repo, then /plugin install plugin-name. Not in a browser chat or a regular terminal.
Skill guides on this site
These are open-source skills made by other developers. I test them and explain them in Arabic and English; review every draft before you publish it.
Instagram Agent Skill
Plan and write Instagram content
Turn an idea into a Reel draft, caption and content plan with Claude.
/plugin marketplace add Jakeschincariol/instagram-agent-skill
/plugin install instagram-agentYouTube Agent Skill
Turn a YouTube idea into a script and plan
Help with scripts, titles and thumbnails; you stay in charge of publishing.
/plugin marketplace add Jakeschincariol/youtube-agent-skill
/plugin install youtube-agentLinkedIn Skills
Improve your LinkedIn content and profile
Skills to turn your real experience into a clearer profile and better posts.
/plugin marketplace add sergebulaev/linkedin-skills
/plugin install linkedin-skills@linkedin-skillsReplica Skill
Build your own independent app alternative
11 Claude Code skills to research features, design, build and test your own original app. Not a one-click clone or browser app.
/plugin marketplace add Jakeschincariol/replica-skill
/plugin install replica-skill@replica-skillMore Claude guides
Questions about Claude skills
What is a Claude skill?
A folder with a SKILL.md file that teaches Claude a repeatable task. Claude loads it when your request matches its description, or when you type its name with a slash.
Do Claude skills cost money?
The skills listed here are free open-source files. Claude Code itself, or the model behind it, may need a paid plan.
Where do I type the /plugin commands?
Inside a Claude Code session on your computer, not in a browser chat and not in a regular terminal window.
Do skills work in the Claude app as well?
Skills enabled for your claude.ai account can load in Claude's apps. Personal skills saved only in ~/.claude/skills on your computer are read by Claude Code on that computer.
Are these your skills?
No. Each skill belongs to its developer and is linked to its GitHub source. My guides explain how to install and use them safely.