Reference the open contract
One skill.
Same contract.
Wherever it runs.
A fast Rust reference implementation for the open Agent Skills SKILL.md format. Check one canonical skill contract locally, then run the same check across your repository in CI.
skills/
research/SKILL.md
---
name: research
description: Find and synthesize...
---$ skref validate skills/research✓ skill is valid
One check becomes a field
Your whole repo speaks the same contract.
A CI matrix repeats the same strict, single-skill validation you use locally. No separate parser. No CI-only interpretation.
research
release-notes
code-review
support-triage
data-analysis
incident-response
uses: alephic-ai/skref@v1check passedThe contract
Strict by default. Extensions only when you ask.
skref validates the open base specification. Use --allow-claude-fields explicitly when a skill depends on Claude-specific frontmatter.
Validate
$ skref validate skills/researchCheck the canonical SKILL.md contract before an agent ever sees it.
Inspect
$ skref read-properties skills/researchRead frontmatter properties as JSON for scripts and build systems.
Render
$ skref to-prompt skills/researchRender the open <available_skills> prompt block consistently.
Dependency-free static binary
Make skill validity boring.
Install with Cargo or download a prebuilt release. Add the GitHub Action when the local contract is ready to become repository policy.
cargo install skref