Skill Evaluation Checklist
A pre-adoption review checklist for any third-party skill: triggers, completeness, boundaries, evidence, docs. Copy it below, fill the bracketed fields, delete what you don't need.
# Skill evaluation: [skill name] ([source])
Date: [date] · Reviewer: [name]
## Trigger precision
- [ ] Description states when to use, in task-shaped language
- [ ] Exclusions stated (when NOT to use)
- [ ] Tried 3 paraphrased matching prompts: fired on [N/3]
## Workflow completeness
- [ ] Steps cover the happy path end to end
- [ ] Failure paths addressed (what to do when a step fails)
- [ ] No step requires information the agent will not have
## Boundaries and safety
- [ ] Explicit never-do list present
- [ ] Destructive actions gated or excluded
- [ ] Install/scripts reviewed (skills can execute code)
## Evidence and verification
- [ ] Skill defines how to check its own output
- [ ] Examples are realistic and complete
- [ ] Ships tests, or outputs are externally checkable
## Documentation
- [ ] Install instructions worked as written
- [ ] Purpose distinguishable from adjacent skills in your set
## Verdict
Adopt / adopt-with-edits / reject, because: [one sentence]
Field notes
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tried 3 paraphrased prompts | Trigger claims are testable in five minutes. A skill that never fires is indistinguishable from no skill. |
| Install/scripts reviewed | Skills are code execution vectors. Reviewing bundled scripts is a security step, not a quality step. |