skill-validator
Validates Claude skill files for correct structure, YAML frontmatter, Python imports, naming conventions, and compliance with official documentation
When & Why to Use This Skill
The Claude Skill Validator is a comprehensive utility designed to ensure Claude Skills meet official Anthropic standards and technical specifications. It automates the validation of file structures, YAML frontmatter, Python code, and naming conventions, providing developers with actionable feedback and auto-fix suggestions to streamline the creation and deployment of high-quality AI skills.
Use Cases
- Pre-deployment Quality Assurance: Automatically verify that all required files (SKILL.md, HOW_TO_USE.md, and Python scripts) are correctly structured and formatted before publishing.
- CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Incorporate validation scripts into automated workflows to maintain consistent standards and prevent regressions across large-scale skill repositories.
- Batch Skill Auditing: Efficiently process entire directories of skills to identify non-compliant naming conventions or outdated YAML structures, generating detailed reports in JSON or CSV formats.
- Automated Troubleshooting: Utilize the auto-fix capabilities to instantly resolve common issues like incorrect file naming (kebab-case vs. snake_case) or missing frontmatter fields.
| name | skill-validator |
|---|---|
| description | Validates Claude skill files for correct structure, YAML frontmatter, Python imports, naming conventions, and compliance with official documentation |
Claude Skill Validator
This skill provides comprehensive validation for Claude Skills, ensuring all files follow official Anthropic standards and best practices. It checks structure, formatting, naming conventions, and compliance requirements.
Capabilities
- File Structure Validation: Validates presence and organization of all required skill files (SKILL.md, HOW_TO_USE.md, Python files, sample data)
- YAML Frontmatter Validation: Checks SKILL.md YAML frontmatter for correct format, kebab-case naming, and required fields
- Python Code Validation: Validates Python file imports, structure, error handling, and best practices
- Naming Convention Validation: Ensures kebab-case for skill names, snake_case for Python files, proper file extensions
- Compliance Validation: Checks against official Claude documentation standards
- Batch Processing: Validates multiple skills at once with summary reporting
- Auto-Fix Suggestions: Provides automatic fixes for common issues (renaming files, fixing YAML, etc.)
Input Requirements
Single skill validation:
- Skill folder path (local directory containing skill files)
- Optional: Specific validation focus (structure, yaml, python, naming, all)
Batch validation:
- Directory containing multiple skill folders
- Optional: Validation report format (JSON, CSV, text)
Direct file input:
- SKILL.md file path for YAML validation
- Python file path for code validation
- JSON configuration for custom validation rules
Output Formats
- Validation Report: Structured JSON with detailed findings
- Error Details: Specific error messages with file paths and line numbers
- Severity Levels: Critical, Warning, Info classifications
- Auto-Fix Suggestions: Specific commands to fix common issues
- Summary Statistics: Pass/fail counts, error distribution
- Multiple Formats: JSON, CSV, text, and markdown reports
How to Use
"Validate this skill folder for compliance with Claude standards" "Check the YAML frontmatter in this SKILL.md file" "Batch validate all skills in the skills directory and output a CSV report" "Fix the naming conventions in this skill automatically"
Scripts
validate_skill.py: Main validation orchestrator and batch processorvalidate_yaml.py: YAML frontmatter validation and auto-fixingvalidate_python.py: Python code structure and import validationvalidate_naming.py: Naming convention validation and auto-renaming
Best Practices
- Validate Early: Run validation during skill development, not just before deployment
- Batch Processing: Validate entire skill catalogs regularly to maintain consistency
- Auto-Fix First: Use auto-fix suggestions for common issues before manual intervention
- Documentation Reference: Always cross-check with official Claude documentation
- Version Control: Integrate validation into CI/CD pipelines for automated quality checks
Limitations
- Cannot validate subjective quality (content relevance, usefulness)
- Limited to structural and formatting standards
- Auto-fix may not handle complex refactoring scenarios
- Requires local file system access (cannot validate remote URLs directly)
- Python validation is syntax/import focused, not functional testing
Compliance Standards
This validator checks against:
- Official Claude Skills documentation
- YAML frontmatter specifications
- Python import and structure best practices
- File naming conventions (kebab-case, snake_case)
- Required file presence and organization