Guide · Agent skill
How to use the C++ Coding Standards agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The C++ Coding Standards skill is a set of written instructions that tells an AI agent to follow the C++ Core Guidelines, a widely used community rulebook for modern C++, when it writes, reviews or refactors code. It is useful for C++ developers, teams reviewing C++ pull requests against a shared standard, and anyone modernising older C++. By the end of this guide you will know what the skill changes about the agent's behaviour, how to install it, how to trigger it with plain requests, and where it fits poorly.
C++ Coding Standardsaffaan-m/ECC · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it so you have a folder containing SKILL.md.
- 2Choose where to install. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
- 3Or upload it in the apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 4Ask for a C++ task. Request writing, reviewing or refactoring in plain language and mention C++.
- 5Check the rule references. Read the rule codes the agent cites, such as P.10 or F.20, and look them up in the C++ Core Guidelines.
- 6Verify with your toolchain. Build and test the output with your own compiler and tests, since the skill runs nothing itself.
What a skill is and what this one makes the agent do
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. The file describes when the skill applies and what guidance the agent should follow. The agent reads it when the task matches its description.
This skill is based on the C++ Core Guidelines (isocpp.github.io) and targets C++17, C++20 and C++23. Once it is active, the agent favours const and constexpr, smart pointers and RAII for resource handling, explicit interfaces, return values over output parameters, and Rule of Zero and Rule of Five class design. It also names the rule it is applying, such as P.10 or C.20.
- Prefers immutable data and const/constexpr by default
- Uses unique_ptr and shared_ptr for ownership instead of raw new and delete
- Returns values or structs instead of output parameters
- Marks single-argument constructors explicit and virtual overrides with override
- Follows Rule of Zero where possible, and Rule of Five when managing a resource
Install the skill from a ZIP file
Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. The package contains SKILL.md. Put the unzipped skill folder in one of two places: ~/.claude/skills/ to make it available to you across projects, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder to make it available only in that project.
You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal install: place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: place the folder in the project's .claude/skills/
- Claude apps: upload under Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. The skill's description says it applies when writing, reviewing or refactoring C++ code, so ask for those tasks in ordinary language and mention C++ explicitly so the match is clear.
The guidance also covers choices between features, such as enum versus enum class or a raw pointer versus a smart pointer, so you can ask those questions directly.
- "Write a C++17 class that owns a file handle, following the C++ Core Guidelines."
- "Review this C++ header for ownership and const-correctness problems."
- "Refactor this function to return a struct instead of using output parameters."
- "Should this enum be an enum class? Explain which rule applies."
Example: what changes in the code
The skill's own examples show the kind of change to expect. A function that takes a raw pointer to a double and returns a double is considered a weak interface because ownership and units are unclear. The guidance replaces it with a strongly typed struct and a const reference.
For output parameters, the skill prefers returning a struct. Its example replaces two output arguments with one ParseResult return value. Rule of Zero is preferred, so a simple struct with std::string members needs no custom destructor or copy operations.
struct Temperature {
double kelvin;
};
Temperature boil(const Temperature& water);What the skill needs and what it does not do
The skill lists no requirements. It runs no scripts and uses no network access. It contains only guidance and code examples, so it does not compile, test or lint your code by itself. Your own compiler and tools still decide whether the code builds.
Check the agent's output against your build and tests, as you would with any suggestion.
- Requirements: none listed
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files: SKILL.md
When not to use it
The skill is for C++ only, so it does not apply to other languages. The guidance assumes modern C++ features, so it is a poor fit for legacy C codebases that cannot adopt them. Embedded and bare-metal work can conflict with some guidelines; the skill itself says to adapt selectively in those cases.
- Non-C++ projects
- Legacy C codebases that cannot use modern C++ features
- Embedded or bare-metal code where guidelines conflict with hardware constraints
What people use it for
- Writing a new C++ class with RAII ownership via unique_ptr
- Reviewing a pull request against a shared C++ standard
- Refactoring functions from output parameters to returned structs
- Choosing between enum and enum class, or raw and smart pointers
- Converting constants and globals toward const and constexpr
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the cpp-coding-standards skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What does the C++ Coding Standards skill require?
The source lists no requirements. It runs no scripts and uses no network access. It contains only SKILL.md with guidance and code examples.
Is the cpp-coding-standards skill free?
The item is listed under the MIT licence. The source does not mention pricing, so check the listing for any licence details beyond that.
Does the skill compile or lint my C++ code?
No. The skill contains only guidance and examples and does not run anything. Use your own compiler, tests and static analysis tools to check the output.
Can I use this skill for embedded or legacy C code?
It is not a good fit for legacy C codebases that cannot adopt modern C++ features. For embedded or bare-metal work, the skill says to adapt its guidelines selectively where they conflict with hardware constraints.
Which C++ standards does the skill target?
It targets modern C++ in the C++17, C++20 and C++23 range, based on the C++ Core Guidelines.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you write or review modern C++ with an AI agent and want it to apply the C++ Core Guidelines consistently and cite the rules it follows. Pick something else for non-C++ work, legacy C code, or embedded projects where the guidelines conflict with hardware limits, and remember that the skill does not compile or test anything itself.
Download the skill