Overview
Skills are reusable prompt templates that encapsulate:- Instructions: Specific guidance for the AI
- Context: Background information and resources
- Tool configuration: Which tools to enable/disable
- Examples: Sample inputs and expected outputs
- Workflows: Multi-step procedures
Using Skills
List Available Skills
Invoke a Skill
- Interactive
- Command Line
- Natural Language
Skill Structure
Skills are defined inSKILL.md files:
Advanced Skill with Configuration
References
Bundled Resources
Include files with your skill:Skill Composition
Skills can invoke other skills:Conditional Logic
Use conditional instructions:Built-in Skills
Qwen Code includes several built-in skills:code-review
code-review
Comprehensive code review covering:
- Security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues
- Best practices
- Code style
- Test coverage
/skills code-reviewdebug-assistant
debug-assistant
Systematic debugging workflow:
- Gather symptoms
- Reproduce issue
- Form hypothesis
- Test hypothesis
- Implement fix
- Verify fix
/skills debug-assistanttest-generator
test-generator
Creates comprehensive tests:
- Unit tests
- Integration tests
- Edge cases
- Error scenarios
- Mocking strategies
/skills test-generatordoc-writer
doc-writer
Generates documentation:
- API docs
- README files
- Usage examples
- Architecture diagrams
- Inline comments
/skills doc-writerrefactor-guide
refactor-guide
Safe refactoring workflow:
- Add tests first
- Identify code smells
- Plan refactoring steps
- Refactor incrementally
- Verify behavior preserved
/skills refactor-guideSkill Configuration
Per-Skill Settings
Configure individual skills:Global Skill Settings
Skill Discovery
Qwen Code finds skills by:- Scanning configured locations
- Looking for directories with
SKILL.mdfiles - Parsing the markdown for structure
- Validating required sections
- Caching for fast access
Advanced Patterns
Multi-Phase Skills
Skills with Subagents
Interactive Skills
Skills that ask questions:Sharing Skills
Export Skill
Import Skill
Skill Marketplace
Community skills:Troubleshooting
Skill not found
Skill not found
Problem:
/skills my-skill says skill not found.Solutions:- Check skill is in correct location
- Verify
SKILL.mdfilename (case-sensitive) - Refresh cache with
/memory refresh - Check permissions on skill directory
Skill not following instructions
Skill not following instructions
Problem: AI not following skill instructions precisely.Solutions:
- Make instructions more specific and numbered
- Add examples of desired behavior
- Use imperatives (“Do X”) not suggestions (“You might want to X”)
- Test with a more powerful model
Skill too verbose
Skill too verbose
Problem: Skill generates too much output.Solutions:
- Add instruction: “Be concise”
- Lower temperature in skill config
- Set
maxTokenslimit - Use more specific prompts when invoking
Tool not available in skill
Tool not available in skill
Problem: Skill tries to use a disabled tool.Solutions:
- Add tool to skill’s “Tools” section
- Enable tool in skill config.json
- Check global tool settings
- Verify tool is installed (for MCP/extension tools)
Best Practices
- Be specific: Detailed instructions produce better results
- Include examples: Show the AI what good output looks like
- Define deliverables: Clearly state what the skill should produce
- Set approval modes: Configure appropriate safety for the skill’s actions
- Version control: Keep project skills in git for team collaboration
- Test thoroughly: Try skills with various inputs before relying on them
- Document variables: List all required and optional variables
- Provide context: Include relevant files and references
- Keep focused: One skill = one purpose
- Iterate: Refine skills based on usage and results
Next Steps
Subagents
Combine skills with subagents for powerful workflows
Session Commands
Use /skills and other commands
Extensions
Create extensions that provide skills
Examples
Browse skill examples and templates
