What is the recommended way to use Skillsmith?

The recommended way is to use an MCP client with the Skillsmith MCP server. This allows you to discover and install skills using natural language, like asking 'Find skills for this React project' or 'Install the commit helper skill'.

Where are skills installed?

Skills are installed to ~/.claude/skills/ and are automatically available in all your sessions.

Can I use Skillsmith without an MCP client?

Yes, you can use the Skillsmith CLI directly in any terminal without an MCP client. Install with 'npm install -g @skillsmith/cli' or use npx without installing.

Quickstart Guide

Get Skillsmith running in 5 minutes. Choose your preferred workflow below.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

Node.js 18+ installed (node --version to check)
npm or another package manager

Choose Your Workflow

Recommended

MCP Client Setup

Use natural language to discover and install skills. Just ask your assistant!

• "Find skills for this React project"
• "Install the commit helper skill"
• "What testing skills do you recommend?"

Alternative

Direct CLI

Use traditional command-line tools in any terminal.

• skillsmith search testing
• skillsmith install jest-helper
• skillsmith list

Using an MCP Client (Recommended)

What is MCP? MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets AI assistants like Claude Code connect to external tool servers. Skillsmith provides an MCP server that gives your assistant the ability to search and install skills for you.

1 Install an MCP Client (if not already installed)

# Install via npm (recommended)
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Or via Homebrew
brew install claude-code

# Install via npm (requires Node.js)
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Or download the installer from:
# https://claude.ai/download

# Install via npm
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# Or via the install script
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | sh

2 Add Skillsmith MCP Server

Add this configuration to your MCP client settings (e.g., ~/.claude/settings.json):

Add this MCP server to my settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "skillsmith": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@skillsmith/mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

Tip: You can also paste this snippet directly into your AI assistant's chat, and it can update your settings.json for you.

After updating your settings, restart your MCP client to load Skillsmith.

3 Discover Skills for Your Project

Navigate to your project directory and start your MCP client:

cd /path/to/your/project
claude

Now just ask your assistant to find skills for your project:

You

"What skills would be helpful for this project?"

Based on your package.json, I can see this is a React project with Jest. Here are some recommended skills:

community/jest-helper - Enhanced Jest testing workflows
community/react-patterns - React best practices
verified/commit - Smart commit messages

Would you like me to install any of these?

You

"Yes, install the jest-helper skill"

You're all set!

Skills are installed to ~/.claude/skills/ and automatically available in all your sessions.

Using the CLI Directly

When to use this: Use the CLI if you prefer traditional command-line tools, want to script skill management, or are not using an MCP client.

1 Install the Skillsmith CLI

# Install globally
npm install -g @skillsmith/cli

# Verify installation
skillsmith --version

After this, skillsmith command is available everywhere.

# Run without installing (downloads on first use)
npx @skillsmith/cli search testing

# Short alias
npx sklx search testing

Use npx to run without global installation.

2 Navigate to Your Project

Open your terminal and navigate to your project directory:

# Navigate to your project
cd ~/projects/my-react-app

# Verify you're in the right place
ls package.json

# Navigate to your project
cd C:\Users\YourName\projects\my-react-app

# Verify you're in the right place
dir package.json

Why navigate here? Skillsmith can analyze your project's package.json, dependencies, and file structure to recommend relevant skills.

3 Search for Skills

# Search by keyword
skillsmith search testing

# Search with filters
skillsmith search react --category development
skillsmith search git --tier verified

# Get recommendations for current project
skillsmith recommend

The recommend command analyzes your project and suggests relevant skills.

4 Install Skills

# Install by skill name
skillsmith install jest-helper

# Install by full ID
skillsmith install community/react-patterns

# Install multiple skills
skillsmith install jest-helper commit react-patterns

5 Verify Installation

# List installed skills
skillsmith list

# Show skill details
skillsmith info jest-helper

Skills Installed!

Skills are installed to ~/.claude/skills/. They'll be automatically available when you use your MCP client.

CLI Quick Reference

Command	Description
`skillsmith search <query>`	Search for skills
`skillsmith install <skill>`	Install a skill
`skillsmith uninstall <skill>`	Remove a skill
`skillsmith list`	List installed skills
`skillsmith recommend`	Get project-based recommendations
`skillsmith info <skill>`	Show skill details
`skillsmith --help`	Show all commands

Troubleshooting

"skillsmith: command not found"

The CLI isn't installed globally or isn't in your PATH.

Solution:

# Reinstall globally
npm install -g @skillsmith/cli

# Or use npx instead
npx @skillsmith/cli search testing

Claude Code doesn't show Skillsmith tools

The MCP server isn't configured or Claude Code needs to restart.

Solution:

Verify ~/.claude/settings.json has the skillsmith configuration
Restart Claude Code completely (quit and reopen)
Ask Claude: "List available MCP tools"

"Permission denied" when installing skills

The skills directory doesn't exist or has wrong permissions.

Solution:

# Create the directory with correct permissions
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
chmod 755 ~/.claude/skills

Skills installed but not showing in Claude Code

Claude Code may need to refresh its skill cache.

Solution:

Verify skills are in ~/.claude/skills/
Start a new Claude Code session
Skills should appear automatically

Quickstart Guide

Before You Begin

Choose Your Workflow

MCP Client Setup

Direct CLI

Using an MCP Client (Recommended)

1 Install an MCP Client (if not already installed)

2 Add Skillsmith MCP Server

3 Discover Skills for Your Project

You're all set!

Using the CLI Directly

1 Install the Skillsmith CLI

2 Navigate to Your Project

3 Search for Skills

4 Install Skills

5 Verify Installation

Skills Installed!

CLI Quick Reference

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

Browse Skills

CLI Reference

MCP Server