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MakerSkills is an open-source collection of Markdown workflow documents that add reusable agent procedures to Claude Code. On Linux, install it through Claude Code’s plugin marketplace, put configuration variables in the startup file for your shell, and add only the command-line tools required by the skills you intend to run. The plugin reads SKILL.md files when needed, so there is no compiled MakerSkills binary to copy into /usr/local/bin. The current project site lists 20 skills under “Maker Skills, 2026,” but the repository and dependency list can change.
What is MakerSkills, and what does it add to Claude Code?
MakerSkills is an open-source, documentation-first collection of reusable workflows for AI agents. Each workflow is a Markdown file, normally named SKILL.md, that explains the goal, inputs, commands and expected sequence for a task. Claude Code loads those documents at runtime through its plugin system; it does not install a separate MakerSkills daemon or executable.
The project documentation describes a skill as a workflow document that you can invoke with a slash command such as /decide, or open yourself and follow manually. The automation is a side effect of the instructions: a skill may tell Claude Code to call Git, search files, convert a document or update a vault, but the skill itself is not a compiled program.
Examples include:
decide: a structured process for making and recording decisions.deep-research: a repeatable research workflow with citations.second-brain: Markdown-based personal knowledge-vault operations.read-book: extracting and working with PDF or EPUB books.watch-video: obtaining transcripts and identifying key moments.domain: checking availability of a.comdomain.company-brain: maintaining a shared company knowledge vault.
Use the project repository as the authoritative place to inspect current skills and instructions: https://github.com/coreyhaines31/makerskills. Skill names, files and external-tool requirements are not permanently fixed, so check the repository when you are setting up a new machine.
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What must be installed before adding MakerSkills on Linux?
Install Claude Code, sign in, and make sure the shell can reach Git and curl before you add the marketplace. The following checks catch most host problems before plugin installation begins.
| Check | Command | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | claude --version |
Confirms the command is installed and callable from your current shell. |
| Git | git --version |
The marketplace retrieves plugin content through Git. |
| curl | curl --version |
Many workflows use HTTP requests or download instructions that expect curl. |
| Authentication | Sign in to Claude Code before marketplace installation | The Linux installation walkthrough expects an authenticated Claude Code session. |
Run the three version commands in the same terminal environment in which you will launch Claude Code. If one command is missing, install that tool with your distribution’s package manager and repeat the check.
How do I install MakerSkills from the Claude Code marketplace?
Inside an active Claude Code session, add the MakerSkills marketplace and then install its plugin. These are the project’s documented commands and should be entered exactly as shown.
-
Start Claude Code in the terminal and confirm that you are signed in.
-
Add the marketplace:
/plugin marketplace add coreyhaines31/makerskills -
Install the plugin from that marketplace:
/plugin install makerskills@makerskills -
Read the installation result. If Claude Code says plugins need activation or are not visible in the current session, run:
/reload-plugins -
Try a skill command, such as
/decide, or open the relevantSKILL.mdand follow its steps manually.
The marketplace operation installs the documentation where Claude Code expects plugin content. It does not place a MakerSkills executable in a system directory, and you should not create a fake command in /usr/local/bin.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow do I configure MakerSkills for Bash on Linux?
For Bash, place the exports in ~/.bashrc, then reload that file. The upstream examples use ~/.zshenv for zsh; using that file on a Bash system is a common reason variables appear to be missing.
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Add this base configuration to ~/.bashrc:
export MAKERSKILLS_CONFIG="$HOME/.config/makerskills"
export MAKERSKILLS_MEMORY="$HOME/.config/makerskills/memory"
export SECOND_BRAIN_VAULT="$HOME/Documents/SecondBrain"
export COMPANY_BRAIN_VAULT="$HOME/Documents/CompanyBrain"
export COMPANY_CFO_ROOT="$HOME/code/company-cfo"
export SLIDE_DECK_REPO="$HOME/code/your-personal-site-repo"Replace the example directories with paths that exist on your machine. The installation notes say the defaults usually work and that optional variables can be omitted. For example, if you will not use the slide-deck workflow, remove SLIDE_DECK_REPO rather than creating an unrelated repository path.
Reload Bash after saving:
source ~/.bashrcCheck a value before launching a new Claude Code session:
printf '%sn' "$MAKERSKILLS_CONFIG"
printf '%sn' "$MAKERSKILLS_MEMORY"If the values are blank, verify that you edited the startup file for the shell actually running your terminal. A non-login interactive Bash commonly reads ~/.bashrc; zsh users should follow the project’s zsh example instead.
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Create only the directories for workflows you plan to use. The project’s installation file shows this expandable pattern:
mkdir -p ~/.config/makerskills/{jab-hook,pm,decide,business-brainstorm,deep-research,personal-cfo,slide-deck,unstuck,maker-council}Some workflows also use YAML settings. The documented examples include copying template YAML files for Typefully-related settings and portfolio properties into the corresponding configuration directories. Inspect the current files in the repository before copying templates, because filenames and required keys belong to individual skills rather than to the base plugin.
Which Linux dependencies do MakerSkills skills need?
Dependencies are skill-specific. Install a command only when the workflow you selected calls it; the base plugin does not require every utility in the list below.
| Tool | Typical workflow use | Linux installation note |
|---|---|---|
| Git | Marketplace access, repositories and versioned files | Install from your distribution; verify with git --version. |
| curl | HTTP downloads and API-style requests | Usually available as a standard package; verify with curl --version. |
| ffmpeg | Audio and video conversion or extraction | Available in Ubuntu/Debian and RHEL/Rocky repositories, subject to enabled repositories. |
| pandoc | Document-format conversion | Install the distribution package or the version recommended by your organization. |
| git-filter-repo | Rewriting or filtering Git history | Package names and repository availability vary by release. |
| calibre | Book and ebook processing for reading workflows | Use your distribution’s package where available; verify the installed version. |
| whois | Domain registration lookups | Install the command-line package supplied by your distribution. |
| yt-dlp | Video retrieval for workflows such as watch-video |
The walkthrough recommends installing through uv when distribution packages lag. |
On Ubuntu or Debian, a starting point for the commonly packaged utilities is:
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sudo apt install -y git curl ffmpeg pandoc git-filter-repo calibre whoisOn RHEL or Rocky Linux, use the repositories enabled on your system:
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sudo dnf install -y git curl ffmpeg pandoc git-filter-repo calibre whoisSome packages may not be present in a minimal installation or in the default repositories. If a package is unavailable, enable the repository approved for your distribution or install only the tool using its upstream-supported method. For yt-dlp, the documented fallback is:
uv tool install yt-dlpThat command assumes uv is already installed. Do not install every dependency preemptively: a skill that only manages Markdown decisions does not need ebook, video or domain utilities.
How can I install a local MakerSkills checkout for development?
A local checkout is useful when you want to inspect, edit or contribute to skill documents. Clone the repository and symlink it into Claude Code’s plugin directory rather than copying files repeatedly.
-
Clone the project:
git clone https://github.com/coreyhaines31/makerskills -
Create the plugin directory if necessary and link the checkout:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/plugins ln -sfn "$PWD/makerskills" ~/.claude/plugins/makerskills -
Reload plugins in the active Claude Code session:
/reload-plugins
Run the ln command from the parent directory of the clone, or replace $PWD/makerskills with the absolute path to your checkout. A symlink makes edits immediately visible to the runtime, while a marketplace installation is better suited to a normal user who does not need to modify the files.
How do I use a MakerSkills workflow after installation?
Start with the skill’s own SKILL.md, because it defines required inputs, configuration files and external commands. You can invoke a registered workflow directly or execute the documented steps by hand.
Invoke a slash command
In Claude Code, enter the command named by the skill, for example:
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Follow the document manually
Open the relevant SKILL.md and perform its steps in order when you need more control, want to adapt a command, or are diagnosing a failure. This is also the fallback when a skill is not exposed as a slash command in the current plugin session.
Keep data paths deliberate
Vault variables point workflows at real data. Confirm that SECOND_BRAIN_VAULT and COMPANY_BRAIN_VAULT refer to the intended directories before asking a skill to create or modify notes. For company workflows, use a location with the access controls and backup policy your organization requires; MakerSkills does not define those policies for you.
Why did the plugin installation fail, and how can I fix it?
Most Linux failures fall into transport, timeout, activation or shell-configuration problems. Apply the fix that matches the visible error, then retry the marketplace operation.
Permission denied (publickey)
This indicates that Git attempted an SSH connection and the host does not have a usable key for it. Prefer HTTPS for the Claude Code plugin operation by exporting:
export CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_PREFER_HTTPS=1Retry the marketplace add or install command in the same session. You can place the export in ~/.bashrc if you need the preference for future Bash sessions.
Git clone timeout
For a slow connection or a large repository transfer, increase the plugin Git timeout to five minutes:
export CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_GIT_TIMEOUT_MS=300000Retry the failed operation after exporting the variable. This changes the wait period; it does not repair DNS, proxy or firewall problems that prevent Git from connecting at all.
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The plugin installed but commands are missing
If the installation summary requests activation, run /reload-plugins. Also confirm that you reloaded ~/.bashrc after adding variables and that Claude Code is running in the same environment where those variables are set.
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A transcription workflow expects mlx-whisper
The Linux walkthrough identifies mlx-whisper as an Apple-Silicon-oriented dependency. It is not the right assumption for a typical Linux host; choose a Linux-compatible transcription alternative when the watch-video workflow requires transcription, and follow that alternative’s installation instructions.
The wrong shell file was edited
Variables in ~/.zshenv will not automatically appear in Bash. Put Bash exports in ~/.bashrc, run source ~/.bashrc, and verify with printenv MAKERSKILLS_CONFIG.
What are MakerSkills’ practical limits on Linux?
MakerSkills provides procedures, not guaranteed outcomes. The project pages do not publish a stable benchmark for task-success rates, latency or productivity gains, so choose a workflow because its steps fit your process rather than because of an unsupported performance claim.
External commands remain a source of variation. Distribution versions, enabled repositories, network access and file permissions can change whether a skill succeeds. Keep the skill document open when troubleshooting, record the exact command and error, and install or substitute the missing dependency only for that workflow.
The count of available skills and the contents of the repository are volatile. The current site presents 20 skills as “Maker Skills, 2026,” but a later release may add, rename or remove workflows. Recheck the repository before standardizing setup instructions for a team or rebuilding a machine.
Is MakerSkills a good fit for your Claude Code workflow?
It is a good fit when you want transparent, editable procedures stored as Markdown and are comfortable installing occasional command-line dependencies. It is less suitable when you need a packaged application with a fixed binary interface, a vendor-backed success-rate guarantee or a completely dependency-free environment.
- Choose it for: repeatable research, decisions, vault maintenance, document conversion, media processing and other workflows that benefit from visible instructions.
- Plan for: Bash configuration, per-skill tools, writable vault paths and occasional repository or plugin refreshes.
- Keep control by: reading each
SKILL.md, testing on a disposable directory first and granting workflows access only to the files and commands they actually need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a MakerSkills workflow without installing the Claude Code plugin?
Yes. The project documentation treats each skill as a workflow document, so you can open its SKILL.md and execute the steps manually. You lose the convenience of the marketplace and slash-command registration, but the Markdown instructions remain readable.
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Does MakerSkills publish reliable speed or accuracy benchmarks?
No stable benchmark for task-success rates, latency or productivity gains is published in the project material. Evaluate a workflow against your own task and data rather than assuming that the skill guarantees a particular result.
Can I use MakerSkills with Bash instead of zsh?
Yes. Bash is supported when its exports are placed in ~/.bashrc and loaded with source ~/.bashrc. The zsh startup-file example does not automatically configure a Bash session.
Why should I install dependencies one skill at a time?
The collection mixes lightweight Markdown procedures with workflows that call media, ebook, document or network utilities. Installing only the tools a selected workflow names reduces package clutter and makes it easier to identify which missing command caused a failure.
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