Skills

A skill is a short set of instructions for a kind of work, for example "auditing and refreshing content" or "WooCommerce catalog management". Octo sees a compact list of enabled skills and loads the full instructions only when a task needs them, which keeps chats efficient.

The Skills screen#

Open Settings → Skills. The text at the top explains: "Skills are compact context resources. Enabled skills are listed in future run prompts, and the agent can load full instructions only when needed."

• Filter skills… searches by name, description and slug.
• Skills are grouped by origin: Core (free), Pro and any extension or Custom group.
• Each row shows the name, description, Slug and an Enabled switch.
• Row buttons: View shows the full text; Edit and Delete are available for custom skills.
• Save stores the switches. Create skill opens the editor.

Built-in skills#

Free skills include WordPress Site Management, Content Audit Refresh, Editorial Planning, Accessibility Readability, Data Visualization, Block Editor Content and WooCommerce Basic Content. Data Visualization guides charts and tables in chat. Pro adds development, WooCommerce store, SEO and schedule skills. See Agents and skills reference.

Create a skill#

1. Click Create skill.
2. Fill in:
   • Name
   • Description: "The model sees this in the compact skill list", so make it say when the skill applies.
   • Instructions: the full text, in markdown.
   • Enabled.
3. Click Create skill. Name, description and instructions are required.

To edit, click the pencil on a custom skill and Update skill. To remove one, click the trash icon and confirm.

Let an agent use a skill#

A skill is available to an agent only when it is enabled here and ticked on the agent's Skills tab. See Agents.

Write skills like a short checklist for a colleague: when to use it, the steps, and what to avoid. Keep one topic per skill.