# How Many Core Skill Modules Are Tracked in reverse-skill?

> Discover how many core skill modules reverse-skill tracks. Learn about the 23 distinct cybersecurity and reverse-engineering domains documented within the repository.

- Repository: [ZhaoXu/reverse-skill](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill)
- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-08-10

---

**The reverse-skill repository tracks exactly 23 core skill modules**, each representing a distinct cybersecurity or reverse-engineering domain with its own [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) documentation file.

The **reverse-skill** project (maintained at `zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill`) organizes penetration testing, malware analysis, and reverse-engineering knowledge into modular, routable skill units. Understanding how these modules are enumerated helps developers and security researchers navigate the repository's structured learning paths.

---

## Where the 23 Core Skill Modules Are Defined

The authoritative count resides in `skills/scripts/verify-routing-coherence.ps1`. This PowerShell validation script contains a `$trackedSkills` array (lines 195–217) that declares every core module the routing engine recognizes.

Each entry follows this pattern:

```powershell
@{ N = 'identifier'; Sub = 'path/to/SKILL.md' }

```

The `N` property provides a short routing key, while `Sub` points to the module's documentation. This array is the single source of truth for module enumeration—no other file in the repository overrides this count.

---

## Complete List of Core Skill Modules

Based on the source code in `verify-routing-coherence.ps1`, the 23 tracked modules cover:

- **Reverse engineering domains**: `dsl` (DSL/VM), `apk` (Android APK), `ghidra` (Ghidra workflow), `protocol` (network protocols), `extension` (browser extensions), `macos` (macOS binaries), `thick` (thick clients), `gorust` (Go/Rust binaries), `hw` (hardware security)
- **Offensive security**: `malware` (analysis), `pentest` (tools), `attack` (kill chains), `ad` (Windows Active Directory), `wifi` (wireless attacks)
- **Infrastructure & cloud**: `cloud` (Kubernetes/container escape), `ot` (ICS/OT systems), `db` (database security), `email` (email security), `sso` (identity federation), `sdr` (software-defined radio)
- **Defensive operations**: `forensics` (digital forensics), `codeaudit` (source code review), `hunt` (threat hunting)

---

## How to Programmatically Verify the Count

You can reproduce the module count using this PowerShell snippet derived directly from the repository's validation logic:

```powershell
$coreSkills = @(
    @{ N = 'dsl';        Sub = 'reverse-engineering/dsl-vm-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'apk';        Sub = 'apk-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'malware';    Sub = 'malware-analysis/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'pentest';    Sub = 'pentest-tools/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'attack';     Sub = 'attack-chain/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'protocol';   Sub = 'protocol-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'ghidra';     Sub = 'ghidra-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'cloud';      Sub = 'cloud-k8s/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'ad';         Sub = 'windows-ad/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'forensics';  Sub = 'digital-forensics/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'codeaudit';  Sub = 'code-audit/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'hunt';       Sub = 'threat-hunting/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'ot';         Sub = 'ot-ics/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'wifi';       Sub = 'wifi-wireless/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'extension';  Sub = 'browser-extension-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'macos';      Sub = 'macos-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'thick';      Sub = 'thick-client/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'gorust';     Sub = 'go-rust-reverse/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'hw';         Sub = 'hardware-security/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'db';         Sub = 'database-security/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'email';      Sub = 'email-security/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'sso';        Sub = 'identity-federation/SKILL.md' },
    @{ N = 'sdr';        Sub = 'radio-sdr/SKILL.md' }
)

# Confirm the official count

"Total core skill modules tracked in reverse-skill: $($coreSkills.Count)"

```

This outputs:

```

Total core skill modules tracked in reverse-skill: 23

```

---

## Key Files Supporting Module Tracking

| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `skills/scripts/verify-routing-coherence.ps1` | Contains the canonical `$trackedSkills` array with all 23 entries |
| `skills/scripts/master-route.ps1` | Routes user queries to the appropriate [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) based on intent matching |
| [`skills/INDEX.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/INDEX.md) | Auto-generated index aggregating module metadata |
| [`skills/apk-reverse/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/apk-reverse/SKILL.md) | Example module documentation for Android reverse engineering |
| [`skills/cloud-k8s/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/cloud-k8s/SKILL.md) | Example module for cloud/container security techniques |

The coherence between `verify-routing-coherence.ps1` and `master-route.ps1` ensures that every tracked module has a routable path and valid documentation.

---

## Summary

- **23 core skill modules** are tracked in **reverse-skill**
- The definitive enumeration lives in `skills/scripts/verify-routing-coherence.ps1`
- Each module maps a short identifier to a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file path
- Modules span reverse engineering, offensive security, cloud infrastructure, and defensive operations
- The routing system validates that all 23 modules have coherent, loadable documentation

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I add a 24th core skill module to reverse-skill?

Yes. To add a new module, append an entry to the `$trackedSkills` array in `verify-routing-coherence.ps1`, create the corresponding [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) file in `skills/<module-name>/`, then run the verification script to ensure routing coherence passes.

### What happens if a module is listed in `$trackedSkills` but its [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) is missing?

The `verify-routing-coherence.ps1` script will fail validation. It explicitly checks that every `Sub` path resolves to an existing file, preventing broken routing in `master-route.ps1`.

### Is the module count of 23 documented anywhere else in the repository?

The [`skills/INDEX.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/skills/INDEX.md) file reflects this count indirectly—it aggregates metadata from all discovered [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) files. However, `verify-routing-coherence.ps1` remains the authoritative source because it actively validates rather than merely indexes.

### Do all 23 modules follow the same documentation structure?

Yes. Each [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/zhaoxuya520/reverse-skill/blob/main/SKILL.md) uses standardized front-matter (title, description, difficulty, prerequisites) parsed by the indexing system. The coherence validator checks for required fields to ensure consistency across the 23 core skill modules.