only-skill-you-need

SkillProductivity

The first and only skill a beginner should install. Bootstraps the rest of the agent skill stack for this project, then routes every task to the current best skill for that job. Keeps a dual ledger (global defaults + project overlay) so the same use-case never gets two skills and a worse skill never replaces a better one. This skill should be used when starting a new project, setting up Claude Code / Cursor / Codex / Copilot, asking "what skills should I use", "best skills right now", "bootstrap my skills", "the only skill I need", beginning any coding task where the right skill might already exist, or when the agent is about to write code without first checking the skill ledger.

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

No other account needed.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the only-skill-you-need skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by endokelp/only-skill-you-need in SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Announce: Using only-skill-you-need to [bootstrap | route this task].

This is the first skill. Do not skip it to "just start coding." Read the winners it names, then do the user's actual work.

Scripts live next to this file. Run them from the skill root (SKILL.md's directory).

python scripts/cli.py detect --root <project>
python scripts/cli.py status --root <project>
python scripts/cli.py bootstrap --root <project> --offline
python scripts/cli.py route --root <project> --offline "<user task>"
python scripts/cli.py --self-check

--offline uses the bundled seed list. Omit it to live-search via npx skills find. Never pass --apply until the user says yes.

Procedure

Run detect, then status.
If project_ledger_empty is true → bootstrap path. Print the proposed pack. Stop and ask before any install. After yes, run bootstrap with --apply, then npx skills add using the printed install_commands (or run those commands). Refresh STATUS.md.
Else run route "<user task>".
Read each winner's SKILL.md (installed copy under ~/.claude/skills, ~/.cursor/skills, or ~/.agents/skills) before doing the user's work.
Empty relevant slot → propose the live best from the route/bootstrap output. Wait. Install. Record via --apply or occupy through bootstrap.
Occupied slot + upgrade listed → mention the better skill. Do not replace it unless the user asks to switch.
Do the actual task following those skills.
Run status again so .agents/only-skill-you-need/STATUS.md is current.

Sticky rules

Empty slot → propose, install only after yes.
Occupied slot → keep the installed skill.
Same use-case → refuse a second install; it lands in rejected[].
Unknown source with under 100 installs → never propose.
Project ledger wins over global per slot.

Do not invent a parallel registry. Installs go through npx skills add <owner/repo> -s <skill> -g -y plus -a only for agents detect found.

Slot taxonomy: references/slots.md
Scoring and sticky gate: references/quality.md
Stack packs: references/bootstrap.md
Agent install paths: references/agents.md

Signals

GitHub stars: 36
Last commit: Aug 2026

Advanced

Catalog kind: skill
Gateway key: only-skill-you-need
Source: github.com/endokelp/only-skill-you-need

github.com/endokelp/only-skill-you-need

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