SkillX CLI
The skillx CLI searches a skills catalog, vets skills before install, pins versions in a lock file and serves an MCP installer.
- 197 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Extended access
Why this level
- Downloads and installs third-party skills whose instructions the agent then follows.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/skillxDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- Downloads and installs third-party skills whose instructions the agent then follows.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
SkillX combines a web catalog of agent skills, hybrid search and the `skillx-sh` CLI. Search mixes semantics on vector embeddings with keywords on SQLite FTS5, and ranking uses rank fusion with boost scores. The catalog holds about five hundred skills with ratings, reviews and a leaderboard. The CLI searches (`search`, `find`), shows (`use`), vets (`inspect`, `check --target claude-code`) and installs verified releases (`install`, `update`, `uninstall`, `sync --locked`) recording versions in `skillx.lock.json`. For authors there are `validate`, `pack`, `publish` and `import owner/repo`. The `skillx mcp` command serves the local installer as an MCP server, and `report` sends the outcome of using a skill.
Who it is for. Agent users who need to find and install skills with vetting and version pinning, and authors who publish their own.
Good fit when
- A skill is needed for a task and it must be found by meaning rather than exact name.
- Before installing a skill you need to verify it is compatible with Claude Code.
- A team wants to pin skill versions in `skillx.lock.json` and reproduce them.
- An author wants to pack a skill folder and publish it to the registry.
Not a fit when
- You need offline search, as the catalog and search run through a service.
- Copying a single skill from a repository by hand is enough.
- You have Node.js below 22, while the CLI needs version 22 or newer.
Example request
Find a data processing skill with skillx search, check it for Claude Code and install it with a pinned version.Limitations
The `skillx-sh` CLI version 0.8.0 requires Node.js 22 or newer. Search and catalog run through the SkillX service, and `report` needs an API key set with `skillx config set-key`. Installation pins verified registry releases in `skillx.lock.json`, but vetting does not replace reading a skill: instructions from third-party skills steer the agent. The license is not declared in repository metadata. The last commit is dated November 2026.
How to disable. Remove the CLI with `npm uninstall -g skillx-sh`, installed skills with `skillx uninstall <name>`, and delete the API key from configuration.
FAQ
How do I install the CLI?
Run `npm install -g skillx-sh`. Node.js 22 or newer is required.
How does `search` differ from `find`?
`search` prints results while `find` opens them for interactive browsing. Both search the catalog by meaning and keywords.
What do `inspect` and `check` do?
`inspect` shows a skill's contents before use, and `check --target claude-code` exits successfully only when compatibility is declared or verified.
What is skillx.lock.json?
A file where `skillx install` records pinned versions of installed releases. `skillx sync --locked` reproduces them.
How do I use it as an MCP server?
The `skillx mcp` command serves the local installer (inspect, plan, apply) as an MCP server for the agent.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
Related
CLI toolsA skill registry for teams with security scanning and versioning; the MCP server finds and installs skills on request.
A CLI and MCP server for Agent Skills: spec validation, installs from GitHub and on-demand loading of the right skill
Skill search from inside the conversation: the agent finds a SKILL.md, reads it and applies it with no prior install
skillbox hosts a versioned skill library on your own server and serves it to agents over MCP with scoped access keys
An MCP server that opens SKILL.md skills to clients without native support, such as Codex, Copilot and Cursor
A skill that searches three skill catalogs, installs with a scan and compares copies across Claude Code, Codex and Cursor.
Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkillX (this card) | no | 197 | |
| skillfish | no | 330 | installs skills from repositories with one command; SkillX adds a catalog with semantic search, compatibility checks and a lock file |
| Agent Skills CLI | no | 194 | manages skills locally; SkillX relies on a registry with ratings and usage reports |
README in short
The README describes three components: the web catalog, hybrid search and the CLI with a full command list. For development it gives the pnpm web app startup order.