config-reader
Read project config from .agents.yml and .agents.local.yml with local overrides. Supports dot notation for nested fields. Invoke with args "<field> <default>".
When & Why to Use This Skill
The Config Reader skill empowers Claude agents to dynamically retrieve and manage project-specific configurations from YAML files. It features a robust hierarchical system that merges base settings from '.agents.yml' with local overrides from '.agents.local.yml', supporting dot notation for deep-field access. This ensures agents remain context-aware and adaptable to different development environments without manual reconfiguration.
Use Cases
- Environment Customization: Automatically adjust agent behavior, such as tech stack selection or Git workflow styles, based on project-specific configuration files.
- Workflow Automation Toggling: Enable or disable automated features like 'auto_preview' for markdown or 'auto_create_task' for project management by reading boolean flags from the config.
- Local Path Management: Override shared team defaults with local-only settings, such as specific design system paths or local tool locations, ensuring the agent works correctly on individual developer machines.
| name | config-reader |
|---|---|
| description | Read project config from .agents.yml and .agents.local.yml with local overrides. Supports dot notation for nested fields. Invoke with args "<field> <default>". |
| argument-hint | "<field> [default]" |
Config Reader
Read and merge .agents.yml and .agents.local.yml configuration files. Local config overrides base config.
Requires: yq (brew install yq or snap install yq)
Arguments
$ARGUMENTS format: <field> [default]
Examples:
auto_preview false- get top-level field, default to "false"plan.auto_create_task false- get nested field, default to "false"tech_stack generic- get top-level field, default to "generic"browser.type chrome- get nested browser typetoolbox.build_task.design_system_path- get deeply nested field
Execution
Run the config reader script with parsed arguments:
bash {baseDir}/scripts/config_reader.sh FIELD DEFAULT
Replace FIELD and DEFAULT with the parsed arguments from $ARGUMENTS.
Return Value
Return ONLY the config value (single line):
truerailsgithub
Merge Logic
- Local checked first -
.agents.local.ymlwins if key exists - Fall back to base -
.agents.ymlif not in local - Default - provided default if neither has the key
Common Fields
| Field | Description | Typical Default |
|---|---|---|
auto_preview |
Auto-open markdown files | false |
plan.auto_create_task |
Auto-create tasks from plans | false |
tech_stack |
Primary tech stack | generic |
task_management |
Task tracking backend | none |
workflow |
Git workflow style | branches |
toolbox.build_task.design_system_path |
Design system location | (none) |