---

name: writing-alto-skills description: Use when creating or editing ALTO skills (skills//SKILL.md) or agents (agents/.md). Guide for skill structure, frontmatter format, and content organization.

Writing ALTO Skills

Frontmatter (Required)

Copy---
name: skill-name
description: Use when [triggering conditions]. [What the skill does].
---

Description Examples

Copy# Specific triggering conditions
description: Use when testing ALTO protocol and finding issues. Run protocol tests, analyze artifacts.

# File-based triggers
description: Use when creating or editing ALTO skills (skills/*/SKILL.md) or agents (agents/*.md).

Content Guidelines

1. Start with key action - What should agent do first?
2. Numbered steps for procedures
3. Tables for reference data
4. Code blocks for commands/examples
5. Bullets over paragraphs - Keep prose minimal

Word limit: 500 words (excludes code blocks). Validator warns above this.

Validate Before Commit

Copydevenv shell -- alto-validate

Reference: superpowers/writing-skills