Get your first Skill working

Prepare a small first task

Use an empty working folder and a short brief. For a presentation, prepare a topic, the audience, a few facts and the number of slides. Avoid a large real client project for the first run: a small example makes it easier to tell setup problems from content problems.

This walkthrough uses Cobalt System Deck, an available public package. Read its current requirements on the detail page. Public access to the package does not include an agent subscription or any outside service costs.

Install the package

On the Skill page, choose Install Skill, then copy the prompt from With your agent and paste it into your agent. If you prefer a terminal, use the command below. Node.js 22 or newer is required for HowAI CLI.

npx --yes https://howai.build/cli/howai-cli-0.1.5.tgz install cobalt-system-deck --api https://howai.build

npx --yes https://howai.build/cli/howai-cli-0.1.5.tgz install cobalt-system-deck --api https://howai.build --agent claude-code

The CLI should report the installed version and directory. Open that directory and confirm that SKILL.md is directly inside the Skill folder. Keep the entire package together. See Install a Skill for ZIP and project-specific installation.

Check that the agent found it

Open your agent's Skill picker or available-Skills list. If the new package does not appear, check the directory printed by the CLI, then start a new session or reload the agent. The relevant agent guide explains which directory and UI to use.

Give it a concrete brief

Use the installed Cobalt System Deck Skill to make a short project update.
Audience: our internal product team.
Source facts: use the attached brief.md; flag missing evidence.
Goal: explain progress, one risk, and the next decision.
Deliver the files described by the Skill and tell me how to open them.

Select the Skill explicitly in your agent for this first test. Before approving execution, check the actions and dependencies it proposes. If a dependency or service credential is missing, resolve that requirement rather than repeatedly asking for the same result.

Inspect the result

• The agent identified or read the intended Skill.
• The promised files exist and open in the required application.
• The result uses your facts, with missing inputs called out rather than invented.
• The layout or structure follows the selected method.
• You know the installed version and what you would change in a second run.

We check package installation separately from generated results. Your local output still needs review. Once this task works, use How to use a Skill to improve briefs and revisions.

FAQ