Guide · Agent skill
How to use the AI.MD CLAUDE.md Converter agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The ai-md skill is an agent skill that helps an AI agent rewrite a CLAUDE.md file, or another system instruction file, into a structured, labelled format. It is aimed at developers whose instruction file is long and whose AI tool sometimes ignores rules, and at people moving rules between AI tools. By the end of this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before accepting any rewrite.
AI.MD CLAUDE.md Convertersickn33/agentic-awesome-skills · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the ai-md skill ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Extract it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or the project's .claude/skills/ for one project.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 4Ask in plain language. Describe the long or ignored rules in your CLAUDE.md and ask for a structured-label rewrite.
- 5Review each rule. Check that every rewritten rule keeps its original meaning before adopting it.
- 6Measure the result. Test the new file on real tasks and compare against the original before relying on it.
What is an agent skill, and what does ai-md make the agent do?
An agent skill is a folder of instructions and reference files that an AI agent can load when a task matches it. The ai-md skill, listed under sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills, covers one job: converting human-written CLAUDE.md files (or any LLM system instructions) into a structured-label format.
The agent proposes rewrites, checks that each rule's meaning is preserved, and treats any claimed benefit as something that needs measured evidence rather than an assumption. The skill can also help move rules between Claude, Codex, Gemini and Grok.
- Turns prose rules into labelled, one-rule-per-line structure
- Proposes and evaluates rewrites while preserving rule meaning
- Helps migrate instruction files between AI tools
Install the ai-md skill
Download the ZIP for the skill from this page. It contains SKILL.md and references/detailed-guide.md. Then choose one of the two installation routes below.
For Claude Code, unzip the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ to make it available everywhere, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder to make it available only in that project.
In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. The skill is meant for requests that match its description, so describe your problem in plain terms. The skill's own guidance says to use it when your CLAUDE.md is long but the AI still ignores rules, when token usage is too high from verbose system instructions, when you want to optimise a system prompt for compliance, or when you are migrating rules between AI tools.
Good requests name the file and the goal, for example asking the agent to rewrite your CLAUDE.md into structured labels and explain how it kept each rule's meaning.
- "My CLAUDE.md is long and Claude keeps ignoring some rules. Propose a structured-label rewrite."
- "Convert this system prompt into labelled rules and check that no rule's meaning changed."
- "Move these rules from my CLAUDE.md into a format for Gemini and list anything that might not carry over."
Review the rewrite before you use it
The skill asks the agent to read its detailed guide before working, and to treat that guide's safety, prerequisites and validation requirements as mandatory. For focused work the agent loads only the relevant sections; for end-to-end work it reads the guide completely.
The skill's own limitations say the output is not a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing or expert review, and that the agent should stop and ask when inputs, permissions, safety boundaries or success criteria are missing. Its detailed guide also states that a before-and-after comparison can be confounded by added rules or changed tests, and that no reproducible benchmark artifacts are bundled.
- Compare the old and new file rule by rule
- Test the new file on tasks where the old rules mattered
- Have a human review every change to safety or compliance rules
Safety notes and requirements
The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network, according to its listing. Its files are a SKILL.md and one reference guide.
Because rewriting a rule can silently change its meaning, the skill is not suited to safety or compliance rules unless a human reviews every change. Keep your original file so you can revert.
- Requirements: none listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Licence: MIT
Tips for getting useful results
Start with a long, clearly underperforming file. If your instruction file is short and working well, the skill's listing notes that rewriting adds risk for little gain.
Ask the agent to list any rule whose meaning it was unsure about, and to keep rules one per line so each can be checked separately.
- Keep the original file under version control
- Change one section at a time and test between changes
- Do not expect guaranteed better compliance; the skill itself says benefits need measured evidence
What people use it for
- Shortening a long CLAUDE.md while keeping each rule's intent
- Restructuring a verbose system prompt into one rule per line
- Moving rules from a Claude instruction file to another AI tool such as Codex, Gemini or Grok
Frequently asked questions
Is the ai-md skill free to use?
The skill is listed under the MIT licence. The source does not mention pricing for the skill itself, so check the licence text and the page for any further terms.
What do I need to run the ai-md skill?
The listing states no requirements, and it does not run scripts or use the network. You do need an AI tool that supports agent skills, such as Claude Code or the Claude apps with Skills.
Where do I install the ai-md skill in Claude Code?
Unzip the skill into ~/.claude/skills/ for all your projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project. Restart or reload your tool if the skill does not appear.
Will converting my CLAUDE.md make the AI follow rules better?
Not guaranteed. The skill treats any benefit as a claim that needs measured evidence, and its guide notes that no reproducible benchmark artifacts are bundled. Test the new file against your real tasks.
Is ai-md safe for compliance or safety rules?
Only with human review. A rewritten rule can silently change meaning, so a person should check every change to safety or compliance rules.
What are alternatives if ai-md is not right for me?
If your instruction file is short and working well, the skill's listing advises leaving it alone. You can also edit the file by hand, one rule per line, and test it yourself. This page does not compare ai-md with other specific tools.
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Our verdict
Use ai-md if your CLAUDE.md or system prompt is long, the AI keeps missing rules, or you are moving rules between AI tools, and you are willing to test each change. Skip it if your file works well already, or if your rules cover safety or compliance and no human will review the rewrite.
Download the skill