# How to Find the Source Code for a Specific Skill in the HumanLayer Skills Repository

> Easily find the source code for any skill in the humanlayer/skills repository. Learn the simple file path structure to locate skill logic and documentation.

- Repository: [HumanLayer/skills](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-09-12

---

**To find the source code for a specific skill like `improve-claude-md`, navigate to `plugins/<skill-name>/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` within the repository, where each skill's logic and documentation are stored as self-contained markdown packages.**

The `humanlayer/skills` repository organizes capabilities as modular plugins under a centralized `plugins` directory. Each skill maintains its own isolated folder structure containing the authoritative [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) definition and a [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest. Understanding this layout allows you to quickly locate and inspect the source code for any skill, including the `improve-claude-md` text processing utility.

## Understanding the Skill Directory Structure

According to the source code, the repository enforces a strict naming convention that nests skill definitions two levels deep under their plugin folder. This isolation ensures that each skill's behavior, documentation, and metadata remain self-contained.

The directory layout follows this pattern:

```

/plugins
│
├─ <skill-name>                # e.g., improve-claude-md

│   ├─ .claude-plugin/        # plugin metadata directory

│   │   └─ plugin.json        # manifest file

│   └─ skills/
│       └─ <skill-name>/      # skill source folder

│           └─ SKILL.md       # authoritative skill definition

```

## Locating the improve-claude-md Skill Source Files

For the `improve-claude-md` skill specifically, the source code resides in two critical locations that together constitute the complete plugin definition.

### The SKILL.md Definition File

The **primary source file** for any skill is its [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md), which contains the full markdown description of the skill's behavior, prompts, and documentation.

For `improve-claude-md`, the exact path is:

```

plugins/improve-claude-md/skills/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md

```

This file serves as the single source of truth for what the skill does and how it operates.

### The Plugin Metadata Manifest

The **metadata and configuration** for the skill are stored in the plugin manifest, which contains the skill's identifier, description, version, and asset references.

For `improve-claude-md`, locate the manifest at:

```

plugins/improve-claude-md/.claude-plugin/plugin.json

```

## Three Methods to Find Any Skill's Source Code

You can locate skill source code using manual navigation, file system searches, or manifest inspection.

**Browse the repository structure** by navigating directly to `plugins/<skill-name>/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` in your file explorer or GitHub interface. This method works best when you already know the skill's exact identifier.

**Search with glob patterns** using your terminal or file system API to discover skills dynamically. Run a pattern like `plugins/**/SKILL.md` to list all available skill definitions across the repository.

**Inspect the plugin manifest** at `plugins/<skill-name>/.claude-plugin/plugin.json` to verify the skill's metadata before accessing its source. This JSON file confirms whether the folder contains a valid skill and provides context about its purpose.

## Programmatically Accessing Skill Definitions

When building tools or automation around the `humanlayer/skills` repository, you can retrieve skill source code programmatically using standard file system operations.

### Bash Command Line

Locate a specific skill's definition using standard Unix utilities:

```bash

# Find the SKILL.md for "improve-claude-md"

ls plugins/improve-claude-md/skills/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md

```

### Node.js Implementation

Read skill definitions asynchronously in JavaScript applications:

```javascript
import { readFile } from 'fs/promises';
import path from 'path';

async function loadSkill(name) {
  const skillPath = path.join(
    __dirname,
    'plugins',
    name,
    'skills',
    name,
    'SKILL.md'
  );
  const content = await readFile(skillPath, 'utf8');
  console.log(`--- ${name} skill ---\n${content}`);
}

loadSkill('improve-claude-md');

```

### Python Scripting

Enumerate and read all available skills using Python's pathlib:

```python
import pathlib

repo_root = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent
for skill_file in repo_root.glob('plugins/**/SKILL.md'):
    print(skill_file.relative_to(repo_root))

```

These snippets enable you to extract the raw markdown that defines a skill, supporting use cases like automated documentation generation, skill validation, or custom rendering pipelines.

## Summary

- **Skill source code** in the `humanlayer/skills` repository is stored under `plugins/<skill-name>/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md`.
- The **[`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file** contains the complete markdown definition and behavior description for a specific skill.
- The **[`plugin.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest** at `plugins/<skill-name>/.claude-plugin/plugin.json` stores metadata including the skill's name, version, and description.
- Skills follow a **self-contained package structure**, making it possible to treat each folder as an independent unit of functionality.
- You can locate skills manually, via **glob patterns**, or by **programmatically scanning** the `plugins` directory.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where is the SKILL.md file located for a specific skill?

The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file is always located at `plugins/<skill-name>/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` relative to the repository root. For example, the `improve-claude-md` skill's definition lives at [`plugins/improve-claude-md/skills/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugins/improve-claude-md/skills/improve-claude-md/SKILL.md).

### What information does the plugin.json file contain?

The [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) file located in `plugins/<skill-name>/.claude-plugin/` contains JSON metadata about the skill, including its unique identifier, human-readable description, version number, and references to any additional assets required by the skill.

### Can I list all available skills programmatically?

Yes, you can enumerate all skills by searching for files matching the pattern `plugins/**/SKILL.md` using your programming language's glob or file-walking utilities. Each match represents one skill definition in the repository.

### How do I know which files constitute the complete source for a skill?

A skill's complete source comprises two files: the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/SKILL.md) definition file containing the behavioral logic and documentation, and the [`plugin.json`](https://github.com/humanlayer/skills/blob/main/plugin.json) manifest containing configuration metadata. Both files must be present in their respective locations within the `plugins/<skill-name>/` directory for the skill to be considered valid.