# Workflow: Upgrade Skill to Router Pattern **Read these reference files NOW:** 1. references/recommended-structure.md 2. references/skill-structure.md ## Step 1: Select the Skill ```bash ls ~/.claude/skills/ ``` Present numbered list, ask: "Which skill should be upgraded to the router pattern?" ## Step 2: Verify It Needs Upgrading Read the skill: ```bash cat ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}/SKILL.md ls ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}/ ``` **Already a router?** (has workflows/ and intake question) → Tell user it's already using router pattern, offer to add workflows instead **Simple skill that should stay simple?** (under 200 lines, single workflow) → Explain that router pattern may be overkill, ask if they want to proceed anyway **Good candidate for upgrade:** - Over 200 lines - Multiple distinct use cases - Essential principles that shouldn't be skipped - Growing complexity ## Step 3: Identify Components Analyze the current skill and identify: 1. **Essential principles** - Rules that apply to ALL use cases 2. **Distinct workflows** - Different things a user might want to do 3. **Reusable knowledge** - Patterns, examples, technical details Present findings: ``` ## Analysis **Essential principles I found:** - [Principle 1] - [Principle 2] **Distinct workflows I identified:** - [Workflow A]: [description] - [Workflow B]: [description] **Knowledge that could be references:** - [Reference topic 1] - [Reference topic 2] ``` Ask: "Does this breakdown look right? Any adjustments?" ## Step 4: Create Directory Structure ```bash mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}/workflows mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/{skill-name}/references ``` ## Step 5: Extract Workflows For each identified workflow: 1. Create `workflows/{workflow-name}.md` 2. Add required_reading section (references it needs) 3. Add process section (steps from original skill) 4. Add success_criteria section ## Step 6: Extract References For each identified reference topic: 1. Create `references/{reference-name}.md` 2. Move relevant content from original skill 3. Structure with semantic XML tags ## Step 7: Rewrite SKILL.md as Router Replace SKILL.md with router structure: ```markdown --- name: {skill-name} description: {existing description} --- [Extracted principles - inline, cannot be skipped] **Ask the user:** What would you like to do? 1. [Workflow A option] 2. [Workflow B option] ... **Wait for response before proceeding.** | Response | Workflow | |----------|----------| | 1, "keywords" | `workflows/workflow-a.md` | | 2, "keywords" | `workflows/workflow-b.md` | [List all references by category] | Workflow | Purpose | |----------|---------| | workflow-a.md | [What it does] | | workflow-b.md | [What it does] | ``` ## Step 8: Verify Nothing Was Lost Compare original skill content against new structure: - [ ] All principles preserved (now inline) - [ ] All procedures preserved (now in workflows) - [ ] All knowledge preserved (now in references) - [ ] No orphaned content ## Step 9: Test Invoke the upgraded skill: - Does intake question appear? - Does each routing option work? - Do workflows load correct references? - Does behavior match original skill? Report any issues. Upgrade is complete when: - [ ] workflows/ directory created with workflow files - [ ] references/ directory created (if needed) - [ ] SKILL.md rewritten as router - [ ] Essential principles inline in SKILL.md - [ ] All original content preserved - [ ] Intake question routes correctly - [ ] Tested and working