# What Is the Purpose of SKILL.md in Patent-Disclosure-Skill?

> Discover the role of SKILL.md in patent-disclosure-skill. This file acts as the central dispatcher, defining metadata and routing user commands without implementation logic.

- Repository: [handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill)
- Tags: faq
- Published: 2026-09-01

---

**[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) serves as the thin routing manifest and central entry-point dispatcher for the `patent-disclosure-skill` repository**, defining the skill’s metadata, four exclusive workflow modes, and the mapping from user commands to specific prompt directories while containing no implementation logic itself.

The `patent-disclosure-skill` repository by handsomestWei orchestrates complex patent documentation workflows through a declarative, modular architecture. At the center of this system sits [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md), a lightweight YAML-fronted markdown file that functions as the skill's command router rather than its processing engine. Understanding the purpose of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) in `patent-disclosure-skill` is essential for developers extending the tool or agents interpreting its workflow structure.

## Core Architecture of SKILL.md

Unlike traditional entry points that contain business logic, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) operates as a declarative configuration layer. As implemented in handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill, the file uses YAML front-matter to declare the skill’s identity and a structured routing table to delegate execution to discrete prompt files.

### Metadata Declaration

Lines 12–19 of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) establish the skill’s identity block. This section declares the **name**, **description**, **version**, and invocation permissions. Crucially, it sets `user-invocable: true`, allowing direct user activation of the skill. This metadata ensures that skill discovery systems can index the repository without parsing implementation files.

### The Routing Manifest

The same line range (12–19) defines the **mode routing** specification. Rather than embedding logic, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) maintains a thin router pattern where every operational step is executed by reading corresponding markdown prompt files from dedicated subdirectories. This design enforces a strict separation between routing configuration and functional implementation.

## The Four Operating Modes

According to the routing table defined in lines 12–19 and expanded in lines 24–34, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) dispatches user intent into four mutually exclusive workflow modes. Each mode points to a specific prompts directory that contains the actual conversation flows and processing instructions.

- **Mode A – Disclosure Writing**: Triggered by commands like `/patent-disclosure-skill` or `/交底书`, this routes to `prompts/disclosure/` to guide users through creating technical disclosure documents.

- **Mode B – Plain-Language Reading**: Activated by `/patent-read` or `/读专利`, this directs to `prompts/reader/` for translating dense patent claims into accessible language.

- **Mode C – Skill Evolution**: Invoked via `/patent-evolve` or `/技能进化`, this maps to `prompts/evolution/` for policy sniffing and capability refinement workflows.

- **Mode D – Office-Action Response**: Triggered by `/oa` or `/审查答复`, this routes to `prompts/oa/` to assist with patent examination rebuttals and amendment strategies.

## Safety Guards and Directory Mapping

Lines 63–70 of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) implement **safety guards** that prevent accidental mode crossover. For example, the router explicitly blocks evolution or office-action workflows when the user intent is strictly document reading. This ensures that high-stakes patent operations execute in controlled contexts.

The file also provides a comprehensive **directory map** listing the repository layout—encompassing `prompts/`, `references/`, `tools/`, and `outputs/` directories—so that both human developers and autonomous agents understand where functional components reside without hardcoding paths.

## Programmatic Usage

Downstream tools consume [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) to dynamically load the correct workflow. Below are practical implementations showing how to parse the routing manifest and dispatch commands.

```python
import yaml
import pathlib

# Load the skill’s routing map from SKILL.md

skill_path = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.parent / "SKILL.md"
with skill_path.open(encoding="utf-8") as f:
    # Read YAML front-matter only (lines 12-19 typically)

    meta = yaml.safe_load(f)
    # meta now contains name, description, version, modes, etc.

def pick_mode(command: str) -> str:
    """Route user commands to prompt directories based on SKILL.md triggers."""
    if command in ("/patent-disclosure-skill", "/交底书"):
        return "disclosure"
    if command in ("/patent-read", "/读专利"):
        return "reader"
    if command in ("/patent-evolve", "/技能进化"):
        return "evolution"
    if command in ("/oa", "/审查答复"):
        return "oa"
    raise ValueError("Unsupported command: not defined in SKILL.md routing table")

```

```bash

# CLI invocation using the SKILL.md router

# The driver reads SKILL.md to determine which prompt to load

$ claude-skill run --skill ./SKILL.md --mode disclosure

# Internally, the driver performs a Read operation on prompts/disclosure/intake.md,

# then chains subsequent prompts as defined in the manifest routing table.

```

## Summary

- **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md)** functions as a declarative routing manifest, not an implementation file.
- It defines **four exclusive modes** (Disclosure, Reader, Evolution, OA) mapping to `prompts/disclosure/`, `prompts/reader/`, `prompts/evolution/`, and `prompts/oa/`.
- The file contains **metadata** (name, version, user-invocable status) in lines 12–19.
- **Safety guards** in lines 63–70 prevent workflow mode crossover and enforce context-appropriate prompt loading.
- All heavy processing is delegated by **reading** markdown prompt files; [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) only routes.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What file format does SKILL.md use?

[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) is a markdown file with YAML front-matter. The YAML block (lines 12–19) contains the structured metadata and routing configuration, while the remaining markdown sections provide human-readable documentation about the skill's purpose and directory structure.

### How does SKILL.md prevent workflow conflicts?

According to lines 63–70 of the source file, [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) enforces **safety guards** that block mode crossover. For instance, if a user invokes a reading command, the router prevents accidental execution of evolution or office-action prompts, ensuring that destructive or high-stakes operations only run in explicitly intended contexts.

### Where is the actual implementation logic stored?

The implementation logic resides entirely within the `prompts/` subdirectories (`prompts/disclosure/`, `prompts/reader/`, `prompts/evolution/`, `prompts/oa/`) and the `tools/` directory. [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) only stores references to these locations; it delegates execution by issuing `Read` operations on the specific markdown prompt files that contain the conversational workflows and processing instructions.

### Which commands trigger the different routing modes?

As defined in the routing table, Mode A (Disclosure) responds to `/patent-disclosure-skill` or `/交底书`; Mode B (Reader) to `/patent-read` or `/读专利`; Mode C (Evolution) to `/patent-evolve` or `/技能进化`; and Mode D (OA Response) to `/oa` or `/审查答复`. These trigger conditions map directly to the directory structure outlined in lines 12–19 of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/handsomestWei/patent-disclosure-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md).