> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Skill System

> Specialized guidance modules for agent capabilities and domain-specific tasks

Skills provide specialized instructions and workflows for specific tasks. Agents can load skills on-demand to access domain-specific knowledge without bloating their base instructions.

## Overview

Skills are Markdown documents containing:

* **Instructions** - How to perform specific tasks
* **Tool catalogs** - Available tools and their usage
* **Workflows** - Step-by-step procedures
* **Best practices** - Patterns and anti-patterns
* **Examples** - Code snippets and configurations

<Info>
  **Skill Catalog**: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:1`

  All available skills are registered in the catalog with IDs, titles, summaries, and content.
</Info>

## Available Skills

### Web Search

**ID**: `web-search`\
**Use for**: Searching the web or researching topics

<Accordion title="Capabilities">
  * Choosing between `web-search` (Brave) and `research-search` (Exa)
  * Understanding when to use each search tool
  * Guidelines on search frequency and quality
  * Category filtering for research-search

  **Key guidance:**

  * Always start with exactly ONE search call
  * Never call multiple search tools simultaneously
  * Only make follow-up searches if truly necessary
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/web-search/skill.ts:1`

### Slack Integration

**ID**: `slack`\
**Use for**: Sending messages, viewing channels, searching conversations

<Accordion title="Capabilities">
  * Checking Slack connection status
  * Listing users, channels, and DM conversations
  * Getting conversation history
  * Searching messages with Slack syntax
  * Sending messages to channels and DMs
  * Executing Slack actions via Composio
  * Complete tool catalog for all Slack operations

  **Key guidance:**

  * Always check connection before using Slack tools
  * Show drafts before sending messages
  * Summarize channel history, don't dump raw data
  * Cross-reference with knowledge base
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/slack/skill.ts:1`

### Background Agents

**ID**: `background-agents`\
**Use for**: Creating, editing, and scheduling background agents

<Accordion title="Capabilities">
  * Agent file format (Markdown with YAML frontmatter)
  * Schedule configuration (cron, window, once)
  * Multi-agent workflow patterns
  * Tool type schemas (builtin, mcp, agent)
  * Schedule state management
  * Validation and best practices

  **Key guidance:**

  * All agents are Markdown files in `agents/` directory
  * "Workflows" are just agents that orchestrate other agents
  * Schedule configuration goes in `agent-schedule.json`
  * Never modify `agent-schedule-state.json` manually
  * Avoid `executeCommand` for background agents
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/background-agents/skill.ts:1`

### Builtin Tools Reference

**ID**: `builtin-tools`\
**Use for**: Understanding and using builtin tools in agents

<Accordion title="Capabilities">
  * Complete `executeCommand` documentation
  * What can be done with shell commands
  * Agent-to-agent calling patterns
  * Copilot-specific builtin tools
  * File and directory operations
  * MCP operations (addMcpServer, listMcpTools, executeMcpTool)
  * When to use builtin vs MCP vs agent tools

  **Key guidance:**

  * `executeCommand` is the most powerful builtin tool
  * Commands are filtered through `security.json`
  * Agents can call other agents as tools
  * Copilot has access to workspace and MCP operations
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/builtin-tools/skill.ts:1`

### MCP Integration

**ID**: `mcp-integration`\
**Use for**: Discovering and executing MCP tools

<Accordion title="Capabilities">
  * Always check MCP tools first before declining tasks
  * MCP server configuration schemas (stdio vs http)
  * Using `addMcpServer` tool with validation
  * Discovering available servers and tools
  * Executing MCP tools directly (copilot)
  * Schema matching for tool execution
  * Adding MCP tools to agents

  **Key guidance:**

  * ALWAYS check `listMcpServers` before saying "I can't do that"
  * Use `addMcpServer` tool, never manually edit `mcp.json`
  * Carefully examine `inputSchema` before executing tools
  * Common servers: firecrawl, filesystem, github, fetch, time
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/mcp-integration/skill.ts:1`

### Document Collaboration

**ID**: `doc-collab`\
**Use for**: Creating, editing, and refining documents

Collaborate on documents in the knowledge base - create notes, edit content, and refine documentation.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/doc-collab/skill.ts`

### Draft Emails

**ID**: `draft-emails`\
**Use for**: Processing emails and creating responses

Process incoming emails and create draft responses using calendar and knowledge base context.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/draft-emails/skill.ts`

### Meeting Prep

**ID**: `meeting-prep`\
**Use for**: Preparing for meetings

Gather context about meeting attendees from the knowledge base and prepare briefing documents.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/meeting-prep/skill.ts`

### Organize Files

**ID**: `organize-files`\
**Use for**: Finding and organizing files

Find, organize, and tidy up files on the user's machine. Move files to folders, clean up Desktop/Downloads, locate specific files.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/organize-files/skill.ts`

### Create Presentations

**ID**: `create-presentations`\
**Use for**: Creating PDF presentations and slide decks

Create PDF presentations and slide decks from natural language requests using knowledge base context.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/create-presentations/skill.ts`

### Deletion Guardrails

**ID**: `deletion-guardrails`\
**Use for**: Following safe deletion procedures

Follow the confirmation process before removing workflows, agents, and their dependencies.

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/deletion-guardrails/skill.ts`

## Skill Loading

### Resolve Skill

Skills are resolved by ID or file path:

```typescript theme={null}
import { resolveSkill } from "@x/core/skills";

// By ID
const skill = resolveSkill("web-search");

// By path (many variants supported)
const skill = resolveSkill("skills/web-search/skill.ts");
const skill = resolveSkill("src/application/assistant/skills/web-search/skill.ts");
```

<Accordion title="Supported Path Formats">
  The resolver accepts many path variants:

  * `web-search`
  * `web-search/skill`
  * `web-search/skill.ts`
  * `web-search/skill.js`
  * `skills/web-search/skill.ts`
  * `src/application/assistant/skills/web-search/skill.ts`
  * Absolute paths (resolved from CURRENT\_DIR)

  Both `.ts` and `.js` extensions are accepted.
</Accordion>

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:180`

### Skill Catalog

Get a formatted list of all skills:

```typescript theme={null}
import { skillCatalog } from "@x/core/skills";

console.log(skillCatalog);
```

Output:

```markdown theme={null}
# Rowboat Skill Catalog

Use this catalog to see which specialized skills you can load.

## Create Presentations
- **Skill file:** `src/application/assistant/skills/create-presentations/skill.ts`
- **Use it for:** Create PDF presentations and slide decks from natural language requests

## Document Collaboration
- **Skill file:** `src/application/assistant/skills/doc-collab/skill.ts`
- **Use it for:** Collaborate on documents - create, edit, and refine notes

...
```

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:111`

## Using Skills in Agents

### Copilot loadSkill Tool

The copilot can load skills dynamically using the `loadSkill` builtin tool:

```yaml theme={null}
tools:
  loadSkill:
    type: builtin
    name: loadSkill
```

**Usage:**

```typescript theme={null}
// Load skill by ID
await loadSkill({ identifier: "web-search" });

// Load skill by path
await loadSkill({ 
  identifier: "src/application/assistant/skills/web-search/skill.ts" 
});
```

The skill content is injected into the conversation context, providing specialized guidance for the current task.

### When to Load Skills

Load skills proactively when:

* User asks for a task matching a skill's domain
* You need specialized knowledge for a complex operation
* User mentions specific tools or services (Slack, MCP, etc.)
* Creating or modifying agents with specific tool types
* Debugging or troubleshooting domain-specific issues

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript Web Search Example theme={null}
  // User: "Search the web for latest AI news"

  // 1. Load web-search skill
  await loadSkill({ identifier: "web-search" });

  // 2. Follow skill guidance to choose tool
  // Skill says: Use web-search (Brave) for current events

  // 3. Execute tool
  await webSearch({ query: "latest AI news" });
  ```

  ```typescript MCP Integration Example theme={null}
  // User: "Can you search the web?"

  // 1. Load mcp-integration skill
  await loadSkill({ identifier: "mcp-integration" });

  // 2. Follow skill guidance to check MCP tools
  await listMcpServers();
  await listMcpTools({ serverName: "firecrawl" });

  // 3. Execute MCP tool
  await executeMcpTool({
    serverName: "firecrawl",
    toolName: "firecrawl_search",
    arguments: { query: "latest AI news" }
  });
  ```

  ```typescript Background Agent Example theme={null}
  // User: "Create a daily email digest agent"

  // 1. Load background-agents skill
  await loadSkill({ identifier: "background-agents" });

  // 2. Follow skill guidance for agent structure
  // - Create task-specific agents
  // - Create orchestrator agent
  // - Schedule in agent-schedule.json

  // 3. Create agent files with proper format
  await workspaceWriteFile({
    path: "agents/email_reader.md",
    content: "---\nmodel: gpt-5.1\n..."
  });
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Skill Architecture

### Skill Definition

```typescript theme={null}
type SkillDefinition = {
  id: string;              // Skill identifier
  title: string;           // Display name
  summary: string;         // Short description
  content: string;         // Full Markdown content
};
```

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:18`

### Resolved Skill

```typescript theme={null}
type ResolvedSkill = {
  id: string;              // Skill identifier
  catalogPath: string;     // Path in catalog
  content: string;         // Full Markdown content
};
```

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:25`

### Skill Registration

Skills are registered in the catalog with multiple path aliases:

```typescript theme={null}
const definitions: SkillDefinition[] = [
  {
    id: "web-search",
    title: "Web Search",
    summary: "Searching the web or researching topics",
    content: webSearchSkill
  },
  // ... more skills
];

// Register with multiple aliases
for (const entry of skillEntries) {
  const aliases = [
    entry.id,
    `${entry.id}/skill`,
    `${entry.id}/skill.ts`,
    `skills/${entry.id}/skill.ts`,
    `src/application/assistant/skills/${entry.id}/skill.ts`,
    absolutePath
  ];
  
  for (const alias of aliases) {
    registerAliasVariants(alias, resolvedEntry);
  }
}
```

Location: `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts:31`

## Creating Custom Skills

To add a new skill:

1. **Create skill file** - `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/my-skill/skill.ts`

```typescript theme={null}
export const skill = String.raw`
# My Skill

Description of what this skill provides.

## When to Use

Load this skill when...

## Available Tools

### tool-name
Description and usage...

## Workflows

Step-by-step procedures...

## Best Practices

Patterns and anti-patterns...

## Examples

Code snippets and configurations...
`;

export default skill;
```

2. **Import in index** - `apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/index.ts`

```typescript theme={null}
import mySkill from "./my-skill/skill.js";

const definitions: SkillDefinition[] = [
  // ... existing skills
  {
    id: "my-skill",
    title: "My Skill",
    summary: "Short description of my skill",
    content: mySkill
  }
];
```

3. **Use in agents** - Load dynamically or include in instructions

```typescript theme={null}
await loadSkill({ identifier: "my-skill" });
```

## Best Practices

<Accordion title="Skill Design">
  **Focus on specific domains** - Each skill should cover one area deeply

  **Provide concrete examples** - Show exact code, commands, and configurations

  **Include workflows** - Step-by-step procedures for common tasks

  **Document edge cases** - Cover error handling and troubleshooting

  **Keep updated** - Maintain skills as tools and APIs evolve
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Skill Usage">
  **Load proactively** - Don't wait for the agent to get stuck

  **Load multiple skills** - Complex tasks may need several skills

  **Follow skill guidance** - Skills provide tested patterns

  **Update context** - Reload skills if requirements change
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Skill Organization">
  **Modular structure** - Keep skills focused and composable

  **Clear naming** - Use descriptive IDs and titles

  **Comprehensive summaries** - Help agents choose the right skill

  **Version considerations** - Note compatibility and dependencies
</Accordion>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent Overview" icon="robot" href="/platform/agents/overview">
    Learn about agent system architecture
  </Card>

  <Card title="Runtime" icon="microchip" href="/platform/agents/runtime">
    Explore agent execution details
  </Card>

  <Card title="Background Agents" icon="clock" href="/platform/agents/background-agents">
    Understand scheduled execution
  </Card>
</CardGroup>