Three checks before you install a Claude Code skill (from a review of 783 skills)
Before you install a Claude Code skill, open its SKILL.md and check three things. Does it contain real steps? A one-line stub, a pointer to another file, or unreadable ciphertext means there is nothing to install. Where does your data go? Search the file for URLs, keys and sign-up links. Calling an outside service is fine when you know about it and chose it. Would it work on your machine?…
Before installing a Claude Code skill, inspect three key points listed within the skill's SKILL.md file. Confirm the presence of functional steps; avoid one-line stubs, external links, or unreadable ciphertext. Determine where the skill stores data by searching for URLs, keys, or sign-up requests. Finally, assess if the skill operates correctly on your system, avoiding hardcoded paths, external channels, or sandbox bypass instructions.
A study of 783 skills from the AgentCraft directory identified 317 as unsuitable, with 128 potentially removed by merely checking the first condition alone. Stars on GitHub did not significantly predict which skills were discarded; even highly starred repositories contained dropped skills.
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