Hephaestus of Skills (skill-shipper)
Turn a working skill into a release a stranger can install and pay for. Run the steps in order; stop and fix errors before moving on.
All commands use scripts/skillship.py in this skill's folder. On Windows use
python, on macOS/Linux python3. Paths below are relative to this skill's folder;
pass the user's skill folder as <skill>.
1. Lint
python scripts/skillship.py lint <skill>
- Errors (E-codes) block a release: missing/invalid
name, name not matching the folder, description missing or over 1024 chars, missing referenced files, symlinks. - Warnings (W-codes) hurt sales or triggering. Fix W023 (no "Use when...") and W022 (too short) first - those are the usual reasons a skill never fires.
- Full code list and fixes: references/lint-codes.md.
2. Fix the description (most important step)
Rewrite the description using references/description-playbook.md: what it does, then "Use when ...", with the real words users type (synonyms, file types, tool names), and a "Do NOT use for ..." boundary if a neighbouring skill overlaps. Keep it third person and under 1024 chars. Show the user a before/after.
3. Trigger table
Create <skill>/triggers.json with 8-10 should-trigger and 8-10 near-miss
should-not-trigger prompts (format in the playbook), then:
python scripts/skillship.py triggers <skill>
This is an offline vocabulary check, not a model eval. BAD rows list terms the
query uses that the description lacks - add the genuine ones. When it passes,
recommend a real check: run each prompt 3 times in a fresh Claude Code session
(or with Anthropic's skill-creator eval loop) and count how often the skill fires.
triggers.json is excluded from builds.
4. Build
python scripts/skillship.py build <skill> --version 1.0.0 --author "Name" --out dist
Produces dist/<name>-<version>/ with:
skill/<name>/- copy into~/.claude/skills/, Cursor, Codex, OpenCode<name>-claude-ai.zip- upload in claude.ai Settings > Capabilities > Skillsplugin-marketplace/- push to a GitHub repo; users run/plugin marketplace add <owner>/<repo>then/plugin install <name>@<name>-marketplacemanifest.jsonwith SHA-256 of every file, plusdist/<name>-<version>.zip
5. Release checklist
Walk the user through references/release-checklist.md (license, README, screenshots/demo, where to list, pricing). Never publish, upload, or post anywhere on the user's behalf without their explicit go-ahead.
Pro pack
skill-shipper Pro is sold separately (<LS_URL>). If skill-shipper-pro is installed and SKILLSHIP_LICENSE_KEY is set, it adds
per-buyer watermarking, leak identification, and sales-page drafting. Without a key,
say the feature is Pro and continue with the free steps.