# Where to Find the Contributing Guide for OpenAI Skills

> Find the contributing guide for OpenAI Skills in the openai/skills repositorys top-level contributing md file. Learn about community values, security reporting, and PRs.

- Repository: [OpenAI/skills](https://github.com/openai/skills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-16

---

**The contributing guide for OpenAI Skills is located in the top-level [`contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md) file in the `openai/skills` repository, which outlines community values, security reporting procedures, and the pull request workflow.**

The `openai/skills` repository hosts the Agent Skills ecosystem for OpenAI's Codex and related tools. If you want to add new capabilities or improve existing ones, you'll need to follow the project's contribution standards defined in the official contributing guide.

## Location of the Contributing Guide

The primary contributing guide for OpenAI Skills resides at the repository root in **[`contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md)**. This file serves as the central reference for all contribution-related policies, including the code of conduct, security disclosure requirements, and technical submission guidelines. You can view the complete document directly in the repository at [`openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md).

## What the Contributing Guide Covers

The [`contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md) file establishes three core pillars for community participation: behavioral expectations, security protocols, and development workflow.

### Community Values and Code of Conduct

According to the source code analysis, the guide emphasizes **open-source etiquette** grounded in the Contributor Covenant. Contributors are expected to **be kind and inclusive**, **assume good intent** in all interactions, and embrace a **teach and learn** mentality when engaging with maintainers and other community members.

### Security Disclosure Process

For vulnerabilities or responsible AI concerns, the guide mandates private disclosure rather than public issues. The specified contact is **`security@openai.com`**. The protocol requires emailing this address with a subject line prefixed by `[Security]` followed by a brief description. No public GitHub issues should be created for security matters.

## How to Contribute to OpenAI Skills

The technical workflow follows standard GitHub practices with repository-specific conventions for skill organization.

The typical contribution workflow involves:

1. **Fork** the repository on GitHub.
2. **Clone** your fork locally:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/skills.git
cd skills

```

3. **Create a new branch** for your changes:

```bash
git checkout -b my-feature

```

4. **Make your changes** following the project structure.
5. **Stage and commit**:

```bash
git add .
git commit -m "Add new experimental skill: my-skill"

```

6. **Push** to your fork and open a pull request against `openai/skills`.

### Adding Experimental Skills

New capabilities should typically be added to the **`skills/.experimental/`** directory. This location houses skills that are still in testing phases before potential promotion to the curated collection. The guide indicates that system-installed skills reside in `skills/.system/` and production-ready curated skills live in `skills/.curated/`, so contributors should place new submissions appropriately based on maturity level.

## Summary

- The contributing guide for OpenAI Skills is located in **[`contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md)** at the repository root.
- The guide enforces the **Contributor Covenant** with emphasis on kindness, good intent, and teaching.
- Security issues must be reported privately to **`security@openai.com`** with `[Security]` in the subject line.
- Contributions follow standard GitHub fork-and-branch workflow.
- New experimental skills belong in **`skills/.experimental/`** while curated and system skills have dedicated directories.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Where exactly is the contributing guide file in the OpenAI Skills repository?

The contributing guide is located at the top level of the repository in the file named **[`contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md)**. You can access it directly via the GitHub web interface at [`github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md`](https://github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/github.com/openai/skills/blob/main/contributing.md).

### What email address should I use to report security vulnerabilities in OpenAI Skills?

For security vulnerabilities or responsible AI concerns, email **`security@openai.com`** with `[Security]` in the subject line. The contributing guide explicitly prohibits opening public GitHub issues for security matters.

### Which directory should I use when submitting a new experimental skill?

Place new experimental skills in the **`skills/.experimental/`** directory. This folder contains skills that are still in testing phases, distinct from production-ready skills in `skills/.curated/` and system skills in `skills/.system/`.

### Does the OpenAI Skills repository follow a specific code of conduct?

Yes, the repository adheres to the **Contributor Covenant** code of conduct. The contributing guide emphasizes being kind and inclusive, assuming good intent, and maintaining a teach-and-learn mentality in all community interactions.