Managed Deep Agents - Skills
Skills allow managed deep agents to access specialized contexts and executable scripts dynamically, moving beyond static instructions. Skills are defined in a structured folder (`skills`) using `skill.md` files, which utilize 'progressive disclosure'—only basic information is given to the LLM initially. This system enables agents to perform complex tasks, such as asking follow-up questions or running Python scripts, and allows for centralized management of these skills via Context Hub without requiring code redeployment.
Key takeaways
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Skills vs. Instructions
While instructions are always visible in the agent context, skills provide specialized, optional contexts that the agent can read or execute only when needed (progressive disclosure).
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Skill Definition Structure
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Each skill resides in a dedicated folder under `skills/` and requires a `skill.md` file. This file must contain front matter fields: `name` (the skill name) and `description` (what is shown to the LLM).
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Executing Scripts
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Skills can contain executable scripts (e.g., Python files like `hello.py`). The agent can identify, read, execute these scripts, and use their output as part of its response.