SkillNote CLI
SkillNote is a self-hosted SKILL.md registry with per-project collections and sync into Claude Code and OpenClaw
- 68 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- Starts Docker containers with Postgres and opens local ports 3000 and 8082
- The plugin and shell wrapper change how Claude Code starts on this machine
Install
- Works in
Manual install
npx skillnote startNeeds a running Docker and Node.js 20 or newer. The dashboard opens at http://localhost:3000 and the API on port 8082.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- Starts Docker containers with Postgres and opens local ports 3000 and 8082
- The plugin and shell wrapper change how Claude Code starts on this machine
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
SkillNote runs a skill registry for you: a web UI, an API and Postgres in containers. npx skillnote start pulls images from GHCR, waits for health checks and opens the dashboard on localhost:3000, with the API on port 8082. It needs a running Docker and Node.js 20 or newer. The idea is that Claude Code shares about 8,000 characters across all active skill descriptions, and past roughly 15 skills descriptions are silently truncated. Per-project collections limit the set to what is needed. A browser edit reaches connected agents within 60 seconds, and agents rate the skills they use from 1 to 5 with a comment, which builds usefulness statistics. You connect agents to the registry with npx skillnote connect claude-code: it adds the plugin to ~/.claude/settings.json and ~/.claude/plugins/, installs a collection picker and a shell wrapper. For OpenClaw there is clawhub install skillnote. A small Chrome extension, according to the author, syncs collections with plugins in claude.ai.
Who it is for. Teams with more than fifteen Claude Code skills that need a shared store with versions, collections and private procedures.
Good fit when
- Skills began to be silently truncated and you cannot tell which ones the agent sees at all
- New teammates need to see which skills the project depends on
- A change to a shared skill has to reach everyone without re-zipping an archive
- Private deploy and compliance procedures must not leave your network
- You want data on which skills agents rate high and which they barely use
Not a fit when
- You have few skills in one laptop's ~/.claude/skills/: containers and Postgres would be overkill
- Docker cannot run on the machine: npx skillnote start works only with Docker, and Podman goes through Compose
- You want a public skill catalog for everyone: SkillNote is meant for your own server
- Your agent is neither Claude Code nor OpenClaw: ready connections are described for those
Example request
Start SkillNote on my machine, connect it to Claude Code and create a collection for this projectLimitations
- Docker and Node.js 20 or newer are required, and the web UI, API and Postgres come up.
- npx skillnote reset --confirm wipes all data.
- Connecting to Claude Code edits ~/.claude/settings.json and adds a plugin and a shell wrapper, after which you need source ~/.zshrc.
- By default the registry listens on localhost, and the SKILLNOTE_HOST variable opens it to the local network.
- The Chrome extension for claude.ai is described in the README as part of the project, and installing it is your decision.
How to disable. Stop the registry with npx skillnote stop and the volumes stay. npx skillnote reset --confirm deletes all data. Remove the plugin from ~/.claude/plugins/skillnote/ and ~/.claude/settings.json, and the wrapper from ~/.zshrc.
FAQ
Why a registry if skills can live in ~/.claude/skills/?
Claude Code shares about 8,000 characters across active skill descriptions, and past roughly 15 skills descriptions are cut without warning. A registry with per-project collections limits the set, and edits reach every agent within 60 seconds.
How do I start SkillNote?
Run npx skillnote start. It pulls images, brings up the web UI, API and Postgres and opens http://localhost:3000. The alternative without Node: curl the deploy/docker-compose.yml file from the repository and docker compose up -d.
How do I connect agents?
For Claude Code run npx skillnote connect claude-code and source ~/.zshrc, and the collection picker appears on the first claude launch. For OpenClaw clawhub install skillnote is enough.
Do skills leave my network?
The registry is self-hosted on your infrastructure and, by the author's description, skills stay there. The exception is the Chrome extension, which optionally syncs collections with plugins in your claude.ai account.
How do agents rate skills?
After using a skill an agent gives a rating from 1 to 5 and a comment. Together they build data on which skills actually help.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The README opens with the description-limit problem, compares life with and without the registry and gives a one-command quick start. Next come lifecycle commands, connecting Claude Code, OpenClaw and claude.ai, the architecture and an FAQ. Building from source goes through install.sh.