The fragmentation of AI agent tooling just got a bit more unified. A new guide published on DEV.to by SkillGild breaks down exactly how to install "skills"β€”folders containing a SKILL.md fileβ€”across Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and Gemini CLI. The core takeaway is that while the installation paths differ, the underlying format is an open standard, meaning a skill written for one agent can often run on another with minimal changes.

The Three Places Skills Live

For Claude Code users, understanding the scope is critical before touching the terminal. Skills can reside in personal directories at ~/.claude/skills//SKILL.md for global access, or in project-specific .claude/skills//SKILL.md folders for team-wide use. There is also a plugin-based approach where skills live inside installed plugins, managed via the /plugin command. Claude reads these skill descriptions at session start, loading full instructions only when a user's request matches the defined triggers.

Installation Methods: From Manual to Automated

The guide outlines three distinct paths for installation. The most manual option involves cloning a GitHub repository and copying the skill folder, such as using git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/obra/superpowers followed by a cp -r command. For those who prefer automation, the SkillGild CLI handles the clone-and-copy process with a single command: skillgild install grill-me --agent claude-code. This tool also supports flags like --target for project-specific installs and --force to overwrite existing copies. Alternatively, users can install plugins directly within Claude Code using /plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-official.

Cross-Agent Compatibility and Troubleshooting

The real power move here is cross-agent compatibility. Because the folder format adheres to the open Agent Skills standard, the same skill works elsewhere with only path changes. Codex looks in ~/.agents/skills/, Cursor in ~/.cursor/skills/, and Gemini CLI in ~/.gemini/skills/. The SkillGild CLI abstracts this complexity, allowing users to specify --agent codex, --agent cursor, or --agent gemini-cli to write to the correct directory. Hosted skills, which run through SkillGild's MCP server, require a one-time login and MCP registration but then reach every compatible client.

Key Takeaways

  • Skills are just folders with a SKILL.md file; location determines scope.
  • The SkillGild CLI automates installation for Claude, Codex, Cursor, and Gemini.
  • Hosted skills require MCP server registration but offer broader distribution.
  • Always restart your session after installing or modifying a skill.
  • Check SKILL.md frontmatter if a skill fails to trigger; name must match folder.

The Bottom Line

Standardizing skill formats across competing AI agents is the first step toward a true plugin ecosystem. If you're not using the CLI to manage these, you're wasting time on manual file shuffling.

> From The Wire