# Skills

> How Lobu skills work, where they live, and how to install the bundled Lobu starter skill.

A **skill** is a reusable capability bundle for an agent. In Lobu, skills can add:

- markdown instructions
- MCP servers
- system packages
- network requirements

Lobu still discovers local `SKILL.md` files at runtime. The CLI starter-skill commands simply copy a bundled skill folder into your local `skills/` directory so you can commit it and customize it.

## Bundled Starter Skill

The bundled Lobu starter skill includes project, runtime, and memory guidance.

```bash
npx @lobu/cli@latest skills add lobu
```

Use the **Lobu** skill when the agent should understand Lobu projects, `lobu.toml`, prompt files, evals, project structure, memory tools, watchers, and client setup.

<SkillsRegistryTable client:load />

## Local Skill Locations

Lobu supports two local skill locations:

| Type | Path | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Shared skill | `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` | Available to all agents |
| Agent skill | `agents/<agent>/skills/<name>/SKILL.md` | Available to one agent |

If the file exists, Lobu loads it automatically at startup.

## Minimal Example

```markdown
---
name: Internal API
description: Query our internal support API
nixPackages:
  - jq
network:
  allow:
    - api.example.com
mcpServers:
  support-api:
    url: https://api.example.com/mcp
    type: sse
---

# Internal API

Use the support API tools for account lookups and ticket status checks.
```

For instruction-only skills, omit frontmatter and keep only the markdown body.

## What Does Not Belong In A Skill

- Tool visibility and MCP approval bypasses belong in [`lobu.toml`](/reference/lobu-toml/), not in `SKILL.md`
- Destructive MCP tools still follow the normal approval flow unless the operator configures `[agents.<id>.tools].pre_approved`

See [Tool Policy](/guides/tool-policy/) for that split.

## Skills Vs Memory

Skills and memory are related but different:

- **Skills** teach the agent how to work and what capabilities to request.
- **Lobu memory** is the long-term memory and integrations surface.
- **Lobu** can enable memory through `[memory.owletto]` in `lobu.toml`.

Installing the Lobu starter skill teaches the agent the workflow; runtime wiring still lives in Lobu configuration. See [Memory](/getting-started/memory/) for that setup.

## Read Next

- [SKILL.md Reference](/reference/skill-md/)
- [Memory](/getting-started/memory/)
- [`lobu.toml` Reference](/reference/lobu-toml/)
- [Lobu Memory CLI Reference](/reference/lobu-memory/)