Best use case
update-skills is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Check for and apply updates to installed skill branches from upstream.
Teams using update-skills should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/update-skills/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How update-skills Compares
| Feature / Agent | update-skills | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Check for and apply updates to installed skill branches from upstream.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# About
Skills are distributed as git branches (`skill/*`). When you install a skill, you merge its branch into your repo. This skill checks upstream for newer commits on those skill branches and helps you update.
Run `/update-skills` in Claude Code.
## How it works
**Preflight**: checks for clean working tree and upstream remote.
**Detection**: fetches upstream, lists all `upstream/skill/*` branches, determines which ones you've previously merged (via merge-base), and checks if any have new commits.
**Selection**: presents a list of skills with available updates. You pick which to update.
**Update**: merges each selected skill branch, resolves conflicts if any, then validates with build + test.
---
# Goal
Help users update their installed skill branches from upstream without losing local customizations.
# Operating principles
- Never proceed with a dirty working tree.
- Only offer updates for skills the user has already merged (installed).
- Use git-native operations. Do not manually rewrite files except conflict markers.
- Keep token usage low: rely on `git` commands, only open files with actual conflicts.
# Step 0: Preflight
Run:
- `git status --porcelain`
If output is non-empty:
- Tell the user to commit or stash first, then stop.
Check remotes:
- `git remote -v`
If `upstream` is missing:
- Ask the user for the upstream repo URL (default: `https://github.com/sbusso/claudeclaw.git`).
- `git remote add upstream <url>`
Fetch:
- `git fetch upstream --prune`
# Step 1: Detect installed skills with available updates
List all upstream skill branches:
- `git branch -r --list 'upstream/skill/*'`
For each `upstream/skill/<name>`:
1. Check if the user has merged this skill branch before:
- `git merge-base --is-ancestor upstream/skill/<name>~1 HEAD` — if this succeeds (exit 0) for any ancestor commit of the skill branch, the user has merged it at some point. A simpler check: `git log --oneline --merges --grep="skill/<name>" HEAD` to see if there's a merge commit referencing this branch.
- Alternative: `MERGE_BASE=$(git merge-base HEAD upstream/skill/<name>)` — if the merge base is NOT the initial commit and the merge base includes commits unique to the skill branch, it has been merged.
- Simplest reliable check: compare `git merge-base HEAD upstream/skill/<name>` with `git merge-base HEAD upstream/main`. If the skill merge-base is strictly ahead of (or different from) the main merge-base, the user has merged this skill.
2. Check if there are new commits on the skill branch not yet in HEAD:
- `git log --oneline HEAD..upstream/skill/<name>`
- If this produces output, there are updates available.
Build three lists:
- **Updates available**: skills that are merged AND have new commits
- **Up to date**: skills that are merged and have no new commits
- **Not installed**: skills that have never been merged
# Step 2: Present results
If no skills have updates available:
- Tell the user all installed skills are up to date. List them.
- If there are uninstalled skills, mention them briefly (e.g., "3 other skills available in upstream that you haven't installed").
- Stop here.
If updates are available:
- Show the list of skills with updates, including the number of new commits for each:
```
skill/<name>: 3 new commits
skill/<other>: 1 new commit
```
- Also show skills that are up to date (for context).
- Use AskUserQuestion with `multiSelect: true` to let the user pick which skills to update.
- One option per skill with updates, labeled with the skill name and commit count.
- Add an option: "Skip — don't update any skills now"
- If user selects Skip, stop here.
# Step 3: Apply updates
For each selected skill (process one at a time):
1. Tell the user which skill is being updated.
2. Run: `git merge upstream/skill/<name> --no-edit`
3. If the merge is clean, move to the next skill.
4. If conflicts occur:
- Run `git status` to identify conflicted files.
- For each conflicted file:
- Open the file.
- Resolve only conflict markers.
- Preserve intentional local customizations.
- `git add <file>`
- Complete the merge: `git commit --no-edit`
If a merge fails badly (e.g., cannot resolve conflicts):
- `git merge --abort`
- Tell the user this skill could not be auto-updated and they should resolve it manually.
- Continue with the remaining skills.
# Step 4: Validation
After all selected skills are merged:
- `npm run build`
- `npm test` (do not fail the flow if tests are not configured)
If build fails:
- Show the error.
- Only fix issues clearly caused by the merge (missing imports, type mismatches).
- Do not refactor unrelated code.
- If unclear, ask the user.
# Step 5: Summary
Show:
- Skills updated (list)
- Skills skipped or failed (if any)
- New HEAD: `git rev-parse --short HEAD`
- Any conflicts that were resolved (list files)
If the service is running, remind the user to restart it to pick up changes.Related Skills
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