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Create a Skill

Create a skill that bundles tools, credentials, and knowledge into a reusable package. Skills are the primary way to give agents capabilities -- assign a skill to an agent, and it gains access to everything the skill contains.

Prerequisites​

  • Tools available in your organization (built-in or from an MCP server)
  • Credentials stored for any tools that need them (see Add a Credential)

Steps​

1. Navigate to Skills​

Open the sidebar and click Settings, then Skills. You see a grid of skill cards, including any platform skills that were auto-installed and a catalog of skill templates.

Skills settings page

2. Choose how to create​

Option A: Use a skill template. The skill catalog shows pre-defined skill packages for common use cases (web research, code execution, file management, etc.). Click a template to create a skill with tools, credential requirements, and knowledge pre-configured.

Option B: Create from scratch. Click the New Skill button to start with a blank skill.

tip

Skill templates include curated tool selections and knowledge text written by the ORQO team. Start with a template and customize it rather than building from scratch.

3. Name the skill​

Enter a clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Web Research", "GitHub Integration", "Email Outbound"). The name appears in the Team Builder palette and agent configuration screens.

4. Add a description​

Write a brief description of what this skill enables an agent to do. This helps other users understand the skill's purpose when browsing the library.

5. Select tools​

Choose tools from the tool library. The tool selector shows all available tools -- built-in tools, MCP server tools, and custom tool definitions. Select each tool this skill should include.

Each tool card shows the tool name and a short description. Selected tools appear as a list on the skill form.

6. Assign credentials​

If any selected tools require credentials (e.g., GITHUB_TOKEN for Git tools, BRAVE_API_KEY for web search), the form shows the required credential keys with their satisfaction status:

  • Satisfied -- A matching credential exists in your organization and is assigned
  • Missing -- No matching credential found; the tool will fail at runtime without it

Select the appropriate credential for each requirement from the dropdown.

info

When you create a skill from a template, ORQO automatically resolves credential assignments by matching the template's required keys against your organization's existing credentials. If a credential does not exist yet, you need to add it and then assign it.

7. Write knowledge text​

The Knowledge field is a free-text area where you provide guidance for agents that use this skill. This text is injected into the agent's context when the skill is active.

Good knowledge text includes:

  • When and why to use specific tools
  • Constraints or best practices
  • Expected input/output formats
  • Error handling guidance
Use the web_search tool to find current information. Always verify facts
from at least two sources before including them in output. Prefer
authoritative sources (.gov, .edu, established publications).

If any tools in the skill require code execution (e.g., bash, python), select a runtime from the dropdown. The runtime provides a sandboxed execution environment during workflow runs.

The form shows a runtime status indicator:

  • Satisfied -- Runtime is assigned and running
  • Not running -- Runtime is assigned but not currently active
  • Missing -- No runtime assigned (tools requiring one will fail)

9. Save the skill​

Click Create Skill. The skill appears in the skill library and is immediately available for assignment to agents via the Team Builder.

10. Assign to agents​

Open the Team Builder for any team. Drag the skill from the Skill Library section in the sidebar palette onto an agent node. The skill's tools and credentials become available to that agent during workflow execution.

What's next​

Learn more​