Documentation
mdskills.ai is a directory of skills, plugins, MCP servers, and rules for AI coding agents. Whether you're installing your first skill or building your own, this is where to start.
Getting Started
Install your first skill in under a minute. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, and 20+ other agents.
Browse and pick a skill
Explore skills, plugins, MCP servers, or rules.
Install with one command
Use it
Your agent discovers the skill automatically. Just ask it to do something the skill teaches.
What is mdskills.ai?
AI agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex are powerful out of the box — but they don't know your specific workflows, conventions, or domain. The AI agent ecosystem has converged on a set of open formats to bridge this gap:
- Skills (SKILL.md) — modular capabilities loaded on demand. “How to generate release notes in our format.”
- Plugins — full-featured extensions bundling skills, commands, hooks, and agents into one installable package.
- MCP Servers — external tools that let agents call APIs, query databases, and access services via the Model Context Protocol.
- Rules (CLAUDE.md, .cursorrules, AGENTS.md) — project-level constraints. “Never commit .env files. Always run tests before pushing.”
mdskills.ai indexes all of these so you can find, compare, and install them in one place.
The three-layer architecture
Rules
Project-wide constraints that apply to every task. Rules tell agents what to always (or never) do — coding conventions, safety constraints, testing requirements.
Skills & Plugins
Modular capabilities loaded on demand. Skills teach agents how to do specific tasks. Plugins bundle multiple skills with commands, hooks, and agents.
Tools & Servers
External capabilities that let agents take action — call APIs, query databases, search the web. MCP is the standard for connecting agents to tools.
Guides
What are Agent Skills?
The SKILL.md format, progressive disclosure, and how agents discover skills.
Create an Agent Skill
Step-by-step guide to writing, validating, and publishing your first SKILL.md.
SKILL.md Best Practices
Practical tips for writing skills that agents use well.
Skills vs MCP Servers
When to write a skill and when to build an MCP server.
How to Install Skills
Where to put SKILL.md files for every major agent.
SKILL.md Examples
Annotated walkthroughs of four skill patterns that work.
What is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol — connecting agents to external tools.
Compatible Agents
27+ AI agents that support SKILL.md, MCP, and more.
Specs & Standards
Technical reference for the open formats powering the AI agent ecosystem.
SKILL.md
The agent skills format
AGENTS.md
Project context for AI agents
MCP Protocol
Model Context Protocol
CLAUDE.md
Project instructions for Claude
.cursorrules
Custom rules for Cursor
llms.txt
Making websites AI-readable
SOUL.md
Personal identity for AI agents