# Where to Find Google Cloud Product Skill Definitions in the google/skills Repository

> Find Google Cloud product skill definitions in SKILL.md files within the google/skills repository. Easily locate essential cloud skills for your projects.

- Repository: [Google/skills](https://github.com/google/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-04

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**Google Cloud product skill definitions are located in [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files within product-specific subdirectories under `skills/cloud/` in the google/skills repository.**

The `google/skills` repository provides structured automation definitions for Google Cloud workflows. Each Cloud product or feature has a dedicated skill package containing a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file that specifies inputs, outputs, and reference materials for programmatic interaction.

## Location and Directory Structure

### Root Path for Cloud Skills

All **Google Cloud skill definitions** reside in the `skills/cloud/` directory. This path serves as the root for every Cloud-related skill module in the repository.

### Standard Package Layout

Each product is organized as a self-contained skill package under `skills/cloud/<product-name>/`. According to the repository structure, a typical skill directory contains:

- **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md)** — The authoritative definition file describing the skill's purpose, parameters, and usage
- **`references/`** — Optional directory containing supplementary documentation, CLI usage guides, and IAM role references
- **`assets/`** — Optional directory containing YAML policy templates, deployment manifests, and configuration scripts

## Examples of Google Cloud Product Skills

The repository contains skill definitions for major Google Cloud products. Each product has a dedicated subdirectory under `skills/cloud/` containing its [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file:

| Product | Directory Path | Definition File |
|---------|----------------|-----------------|
| **Cloud Run Basics** | `skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/` | [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) |
| **BigQuery AI & ML** | `skills/cloud/bigquery-ai-ml/` | [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) |
| **GKE Compute Classes** | `skills/cloud/gke-compute-classes/` | [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) |
| **GKE Workload Security** | `skills/cloud/gke-workload-security/` | [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) |
| **IAM Helper for Privileged Access Management** | `skills/cloud/iam-helper-for-privileged-access-management/` | [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) |

## Anatomy of a SKILL.md File

Every [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) follows a standardized structure to ensure consistent programmatic parsing. The file contains:

- **Description** — Top-level overview of the skill's purpose and capabilities
- **Inputs** — Parameter definitions required to execute the skill
- **Outputs** — Expected results or return values
- **References** — Pointers to additional documentation, example scripts, or external resources

## Accessing Skill Definitions Programmatically

You can load and utilize these skill definitions directly from the repository structure.

### Loading a Skill Definition in Python

To read a skill definition programmatically, navigate to the `skills/cloud/` hierarchy and load the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file:

```python
import pathlib

def load_skill(product):
    """Return the raw Markdown of a Cloud skill."""
    base = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent / "skills" / "cloud" / product / "SKILL.md"
    return base.read_text(encoding="utf-8")

print(load_skill("cloud-run-basics"))

```

### Using Skills in GitHub Actions Workflows

Reference skill definitions in automation workflows by specifying the path to the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file:

```yaml
- name: Deploy Cloud Run service
  uses: google/skills@main
  with:
    skill_path: skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md
    # Pass required inputs defined in the SKILL.md

    service_name: my-service
    image: gcr.io/my-project/my-image:latest

```

### Accessing Skill Assets from Scripts

Apply configuration assets shipped with a skill by referencing the `assets/` subdirectory:

```bash

# Example: apply a GKE policy asset shipped with a skill

kubectl apply -f \
  "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/skills/cloud/gke-workload-security/assets/default-deny-netpol.yaml"

```

## Summary

- **Google Cloud skill definitions** are stored as [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files in the `skills/cloud/` directory of the google/skills repository.
- Each product has a dedicated subdirectory (e.g., `skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/`) containing the definition and optional supporting files.
- The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file structure includes standardized sections for **inputs**, **outputs**, and **references**.
- Supplementary materials reside in `references/` (documentation) and `assets/` (configuration files) subdirectories.
- You can access these definitions programmatically using standard file I/O or through workflow automation tools.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the exact file path pattern for Google Cloud skill definitions in the repository?

Google Cloud product skill definitions follow the pattern `skills/cloud/<product-name>/SKILL.md`. For example, the Cloud Run Basics skill definition is located at [`skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md). The `skills/cloud/` directory serves as the root container for all Cloud-related skill packages.

### What sections are included in a SKILL.md file?

Every [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file contains a top-level description, a list of **inputs** (parameters), **outputs**, and a **references** section. The references section points to additional documentation, example scripts, or YAML assets stored in the accompanying `references/` and `assets/` directories.

### Can I use skill definitions in automated workflows?

Yes. As implemented in `google/skills`, you can reference skill definitions in automation workflows by specifying the `skill_path` parameter (e.g., [`skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/google/skills/blob/main/skills/cloud/cloud-run-basics/SKILL.md)) and passing required inputs defined in the file. The repository structure supports direct integration with GitHub Actions and other CI/CD platforms.

### Where are supporting assets like YAML templates and scripts stored?

Supporting assets are stored in `references/` and `assets/` subdirectories within each product folder. For example, GKE Workload Security includes policy templates in `skills/cloud/gke-workload-security/assets/`, while IAM Helper stores documentation in its `references/` folder.