[block_dagger]

The skill is deterministically added to the prompt by the harness before the target model is invoked. There is no “choosing” to load a skill. You might be confusing skills with tools (MCP etc).

[ssgodderidge]

The metadata is loaded by the harness, but the LLM still needs to choose to load the rest of the skill, no?

[albedoa]

You are correct. I'm not sure what the parent is trying to say.

[block_dagger]

Define “load.” It follows the instructions in the prompt - its natural behavior.

[ssgodderidge]

I was using the term as you used in your comment. I believe the official term is "Activation" however:

> Activation: When a task matches a skill’s description, the agent reads the full SKILL.md instructions into context.[1]

> Full instructions load only when a task calls for them, so agents can keep many skills on hand with only a small context footprint.

[1]: https://agentskills.io/home#how-do-agent-skills-work

[block_dagger]

Ah, I misunderstood this, thanks for the link. You are correct. I was assuming this system worked like CLAUDE.md in that it was deterministically added to the context without the LLM choosing to add it. My mistake.

[hyperpape]

Concretely, it has to decide whether it is in a circumstance where that skill is useful, pull the instructions into the context and follow them.

[cassianoleal]

Yep, and as with any other instructions, it can sometimes not pull the skill even if the trigger conditions are there.

[cyanydeez]

it depends on the harness. opencode appears to prompt the models with tools and skills when answering questions.