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CLAUDE CODE

Build Claude Code Skills from Scratch

Automate your dev workflow with Claude Code skills and hooks

Build it
Build Claude Code Skills from Scratch project preview
Claude Code
Git

Difficulty

Intermediate

Time to complete

60 minutes

Availability

Free

BUILD

What you'll build

Build custom Claude Code skills that generate changelogs from git history, create conventional commits, and chain into automated pipelines. Learn to build skills, configure permissions, and wire hooks that run automatically.

1. Set Up Claude Code and Git

Install Claude Code, create a project folder with a Git repository, and make your first commit with starter code.

2. Write Your First Skill

Create a changelog skill that reads git log output and generates a real CHANGELOG.md from your commit history.

3. Add Frontmatter and Metadata

Configure YAML frontmatter with name, description, and allowed-tools so Claude triggers your skill automatically.

4. Build a Skill Pipeline

Create a smart-commit skill and chain it with changelog into a dev pipeline orchestrator that runs both in sequence.

Your portfolio builds as you work.

Every project documents itself as you go. Finish the work, and your proof is ready to share.

PROJECT

Real world application

Skills you'll learn

  • Claude Code Skills

    Create custom SKILL.md files that extend Claude Code with new capabilities

  • Git Automation

    Read commit history and generate changelogs from real git log output

  • YAML Configuration

    Configure frontmatter with triggers, tool permissions, and metadata

  • Orchestrator Patterns

    Chain multiple skills into automated pipelines that run in sequence

  • Tool Permissions

    Scope skills to specific tools with allowed-tools security boundaries

  • Hook Triggers

    Wire automatic code formatting hooks that fire on every file edit

Tech stack

  • Claude Code logo

    Claude Code

    Anthropic terminal-based AI coding agent that runs skills, hooks, and automation workflows.

  • Git logo

    Git

    Distributed version control system providing the commit history that powers changelog generation.

OUTCOME

Where this leads.

Relevant Jobs

Roles where these skills matter:

  • AI Engineer
  • DevOps Engineer
  • Full Stack Developer
  • Platform Engineer

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Continue the Journey

FAQs

Everything you need to know

Basic terminal familiarity is helpful, but we explain every command step-by-step. You will write simple Python code and markdown files. No advanced programming required.

Claude Code uses pay-as-you-go Anthropic API billing. This project typically costs $2-5 USD. You can monitor usage with the /cost command and choose faster, cheaper models to reduce spending.

A skill is a SKILL.md file inside .claude/skills/ that gives Claude specific instructions for a task. Skills can be triggered manually with slash commands or automatically based on your prompt. They replace the older Commands feature.

Yes. You should complete the Claude Code setup project and be comfortable with basic terminal commands and git before starting this one.

Yes. Skills are portable markdown files. Copy the .claude/skills/ folder into any project with Claude Code and they work immediately. Your team gets the same automation with no setup.

An orchestrator is a skill whose instructions reference other skills by name. Claude reads the steps and executes each sub-skill in sequence, so you get multiple tasks done with one command.

One Project. Real Skills.

60 minutes from now, you'll have completed Build Claude Code Skills from Scratch. No prior experience needed. Just step-by-step guidance and a real project for your portfolio.

Let's Build This

Intermediate level