create-agent
Create a new Claude Code agent with proper YAML frontmatter structure. Use when the user wants to add a specialized agent to a plugin. Handles agent file creation with name, description, tools, model selection, and color configuration.
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill automates the creation of specialized Claude Code agents by generating standardized markdown files with precise YAML frontmatter. It streamlines the developer workflow by handling complex configurations such as tool selection, model optimization (Opus, Sonnet, Haiku), and semantic activation triggers, ensuring all agents are properly structured, indexed, and ready for immediate deployment within a plugin ecosystem.
Use Cases
- Rapidly bootstrapping new specialized agents (e.g., Code Reviewer, Security Auditor) with pre-configured toolsets and optimized model settings.
- Standardizing agent file structures across a development team to ensure consistent metadata and compatibility with the forge-index.
- Automating the setup of complex agentic workflows by defining specific 'when' triggers and tool combinations without manual formatting errors.
- Efficiently managing model selection for different tasks, such as assigning Opus for strategic analysis and Sonnet for technical implementation.
| name | create-agent |
|---|---|
| short | Create Claude Code agents with proper structure |
| description | Create a new Claude Code agent with proper YAML frontmatter structure. Use when the user wants to add a specialized agent to a plugin. Handles agent file creation with name, description, tools, model selection, and color configuration. |
| when | User wants to create a new agent, add a specialized agent to a plugin, or asks how to define an agent |
Create Agent Skill
Create new Claude Code agents with proper configuration and structure.
Agent File Format
Agents are markdown files in the agents/ directory with YAML frontmatter:
---
name: agent-name
short: Brief 5-8 word description
description: Full description of what the agent does
when: Semantic activation - describe when to use this agent
tools: Glob, Grep, Read, Write, Edit, Bash, WebFetch, WebSearch, TodoWrite
model: sonnet
color: green
---
# Agent Title
Agent prompt content goes here...
Required Frontmatter Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
name |
Unique identifier (kebab-case) | code-reviewer |
description |
One-line summary of agent's purpose | Reviews code for quality and best practices |
tools |
Comma-separated list of available tools | Glob, Grep, Read, Write, Edit, Bash |
model |
Model to use: opus, sonnet, or haiku |
sonnet |
color |
Status line color | green, blue, purple, red, orange, cyan, magenta, yellow, pink, teal, violet |
Optional Frontmatter Fields
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
short |
Brief 5-8 word summary for index display | Reviews code for security and quality |
when |
Semantic activation trigger for index display | User wants code reviewed, needs security audit, or asks about code quality |
Note: short and when are used for forge-index display. The description field is used by Claude Code for agent invocation.
Model Selection Guidelines
- opus: Strategic decisions, complex architecture, security-critical, compliance, executive-level analysis
- sonnet: Technical implementation, code writing, general development tasks (most common)
- haiku: Quick lookups, simple transformations, fast responses
Available Tools
Common tool combinations by agent type:
Code Development Agents
Glob, Grep, Read, Write, Edit, Bash, TodoWrite
Research/Analysis Agents
Glob, Grep, Read, WebFetch, WebSearch, TodoWrite
Full-Featured Agents
Glob, Grep, Read, Write, Edit, Bash, WebFetch, WebSearch, TodoWrite
Creation Process
- Determine the agent's purpose and expertise area
- Choose appropriate model based on complexity
- Select tools needed for the agent's tasks
- Write clear, actionable agent prompt
- Save to
plugins/<plugin-name>/agents/<agent-name>.md
Example Agent
---
name: code-reviewer
short: Reviews code for security and quality
description: Reviews code changes for quality, security, and best practices
when: User wants code reviewed, needs security audit, or asks about code quality
tools: Glob, Grep, Read, TodoWrite
model: sonnet
color: yellow
---
# Code Reviewer Agent
You are an expert code reviewer focused on quality, security, and maintainability.
## Review Checklist
- Code correctness and logic
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance considerations
- Code style and consistency
- Test coverage
- Documentation
## Output Format
Provide structured feedback with:
1. Summary of changes
2. Issues found (categorized by severity)
3. Recommendations
4. Approval status