Claude Code skill recipes
Jason Varbedian
New in Claude Code, you can compose multiple skills in the same prompt to combine workflows, like piping GNU tools together.
Here are some useful recipes you can cook up.
/skill-a /skill-b do XYZ
That used to look like a pipeline, but only /skill-a loaded. In 2.1.199, Claude Code started loading all leading skills, up to five.
The useful pattern is:
shape -> act
Put the skill that shapes the work first. Put the skill that acts on the shaped work second.
Recipes
| Recipe | Use it when | Why this order |
|---|---|---|
/grilling /highsignal this launch post |
The post has a point, but the arc is still soft. | Pressure-test the argument before cleaning the prose. |
/research /to-prd spec the draft preview flow |
You need a feature plan grounded in the repo and docs. | Gather evidence first, then turn it into requirements. |
/diagnosing-bugs /tdd fix the flaky checkout test |
A bug report names a symptom, not the cause. | Find the root cause before writing the regression test. |
/codebase-design /implement add draft auth |
The change touches a boundary or shared module. | Decide the shape first, then write the smallest diff. |
/code-review /make-pr-easy-to-review prep this branch |
The work is done, but the PR still needs to land cleanly. | Find the real issues before packaging the review surface. |
The max is five leading skills.
Artifacts
- Claude Code changelog, 2.1.199
The trick is not to stack five skills because five is allowed. The trick is to compose skills that hand off cleanly.