Skills

Skills are reusable instruction bundles with file attachments that teach Stilla how to handle specific tasks. Think of them as saved expertise that Stilla can reference whenever relevant.

What skills are

A skill is a package containing:

• Name: A short identifier using only letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores — no spaces, commas, or special characters (e.g., api-review-checklist)
• Description: When this skill should be used (e.g., "Use when reviewing API endpoint changes")
• Instructions: Detailed markdown instructions for how to perform the task
• Files (optional): Scripts, templates, reference documents, or other attachments

When a request matches a skill's description, Stilla automatically loads the skill's instructions and files to improve its response. You can also reference skills explicitly by name.

If you'd rather invoke a skill manually, you can turn off automatic loading for it and reference it by name instead.

How skills work

1. You import, or create a skill with instructions and optional file attachments
2. When you (or an agent) make a request, Stilla checks if any skill matches
3. If a skill matches, Stilla loads its instructions and files before responding
4. The skill's guidance shapes how Stilla handles the task

Skills are loaded progressively — Stilla reads the main instructions first, then loads specific files only as needed to keep responses fast and focused.

Creating skills

The quickest way to add skills is to import them from a GitHub repository or a zip file. This is also the easiest way to share skills across teams.

You can also create skills manually in the Stilla app:

1. Give the skill a name and description
2. Write instructions in markdown
3. Attach any reference files (scripts, templates, examples)

Use cases

• PR review standards: What to check before approving — security, test coverage, style
• Writing style guide: Tone, formatting, and terminology rules for docs or communications
• Onboarding checklist: Steps and questions for getting a new teammate or customer set up
• Meeting summary format: How to structure summaries for standups, retros, or customer calls
• Escalation playbook: When and how to escalate issues, who to notify, and what info to include
• Release notes template: How to write and format release notes from a set of changes

Sharing skills

Skills are available to the user who creates them. To share across teams:

• GitHub installation: Publish skills to a GitHub repository and install them from the URL
• Organization sharing: Skills installed from GitHub can be shared across your organization