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agent-development

Explains how to write a subagent: frontmatter, the when-to-use description, tools and the system prompt.

Kind
Skill
Works with
Claude Code
Source
anthropics/claude-plugins-official @ 58267944f921
Path
plugins/plugin-dev/skills/agent-development/SKILL.md
License
Apache-2.0
Jobs
Documentation
InstallInstall it from a plugin marketplace.
/plugin install plugin-dev@claude-plugins-official
# Agent Development for Claude Code Plugins

## Overview

Agents are autonomous subprocesses that handle complex, multi-step tasks independently. Understanding agent structure, triggering conditions, and system prompt design enables creating powerful autonomous capabilities.

**Key concepts:**
- Agents are FOR autonomous work, commands are FOR user-initiated actions
- Markdown file format with YAML frontmatter
- Triggering via description field with examples
- System prompt defines agent behavior
- Model and color customization

## Agent File Structure

### Complete Format

```markdown
---
name: agent-identifier
description: Use this agent when [triggering conditions]. Typical triggers include [scenario 1 in prose], [scenario 2 in prose], and [scenario 3 in prose]. See "When to invoke" in the agent body for worked scenarios.
model: inherit
color: blue
tools: ["Read", "Write", "Grep"]
---

You are [agent role description]...

## When to invoke

[Two to four representative scenarios written as prose, e.g.:]
- **[Scenario name].** [What the situation looks like and what the agent should do.]
- **[Scenario name].** [Same.]

**Your Core Responsibilities:**
1. [Responsibility 1]
…