---
title: "Skills"
description: "Reusable instruction bundles the agent loads on demand"
canonical_url: "https://hoplite.sh/docs/agent/skills"
markdown_url: "https://hoplite.sh/docs/agent/skills.md"
---

# Skills
URL: /docs/agent/skills
LLM index: /llms.txt
Description: Reusable instruction bundles the agent loads on demand
Related: /docs/agent/instructions, /docs/cli, /docs/automations

# Skills

Skills are versioned instruction bundles that Hoplite agents can load while working in a project. Unlike [instructions](/docs/agent/instructions), which ride along on every run, the agent pulls a skill in only when it applies — using its `load_skill` tool.

Skills come in two flavors: **project skills**, which live in the repository and apply to everyone working in it, and **personal skills**, which live in your personal Hoplite library.

## Create a project skill

Use the [CLI](/docs/cli) to scaffold one in the current repository, with a concise description of when it applies:

```bash title="terminal"
hoplite skills add release-check --description "Prepare and verify a production release"
```

The command creates `.agents/skills/release-check/SKILL.md`, the standard project skill location. Add the project-specific workflow to that file and commit it; agents see it when they work from the repository.

Use `hoplite skills list` to inspect the skills available from `.agents/skills` and the compatible `.claude/skills` location.

## Import personal skills

To copy selected skills you installed locally with `npx skills add ... --global` into your personal Hoplite library, run:

```bash title="terminal"
hoplite skills import-global --name <skill-name>
```

Initial `hoplite onboard` presents these global skills as a default-selected personal-skills step before the final confirmation. You can still run the command later to add selected skills, use `--all --yes` for an explicit bulk import, or use `--replace` to overwrite a same-named personal skill. Every import reads only the root `SKILL.md` instructions.

<Callout type="info" title="Scope of personal skills">
Personal skills apply only to projects you start, never to [automations](/docs/automations). When a personal skill and a repository skill share a name, the repository skill takes precedence.
</Callout>

## Commands

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `hoplite skills add <name>` | Create a versioned project skill in `.agents/skills` |
| `hoplite skills list` | List project skills available to Hoplite agents |
| `hoplite skills import-global` | Add selected local global skills to your personal library |

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/docs/sitemap.md) for all pages.
Well-known sitemap: [/docs/.well-known/sitemap.md](/docs/.well-known/sitemap.md).