How to use the C++ Coding Standards agent skill

What the cpp-coding-standards skill makes the agent do

A skill is a set of written instructions that an agent loads when a task matches its description. This one covers the C++ Core Guidelines, a widely used set of modern C++ best practices. When it applies, the agent favours safe, idiomatic code over older habits.

The skill is a guide of rules, not a tool. It does not run code or change files by itself; the agent uses the rules while it works on your code.

• RAII: tie resource lifetimes to object lifetimes.
• const and constexpr by default, with mutability as the exception.
• Strong type safety, such as enum class over plain enum.
• Smart pointers instead of raw pointers: std::unique_ptr for single ownership, std::shared_ptr for shared ownership, and std::weak_ptr to avoid reference cycles.
• Clear intent in names, types and concepts.

Install the cpp-coding-standards skill

Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it. The package contains a single file, SKILL.md.

To use it across all your projects, unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/. To use it in one project only, unzip it into that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

How to trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. Ask for C++ work in plain language and the agent will load the skill when the request matches its description, which covers writing, reviewing and refactoring C++ code.

The source also lists architecture decisions and language feature choices as triggers, such as enum vs enum class or raw pointers vs smart pointers.

• Write a new C++ class that owns a file handle, following the C++ Core Guidelines.
• Review this C++ file for raw pointers and ownership problems.
• Refactor this legacy C++ code toward safer ownership and const correctness.
• Should I use enum class or enum for these status values in C++?
• Replace these raw pointers with smart pointers where appropriate.

Example: reviewing and refactoring C++ code

Paste a function or file and ask for a review against the C++ Core Guidelines. The agent will look for places where the code breaks the principles, such as mutable data that could be const, raw owning pointers, or global variables that should not be mutable.

Review the output as you would any change. The skill guides the agent's suggestions; you decide what to accept and confirm the code still compiles and passes your tests.

What the skill needs and how it runs

The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network. Its only file is SKILL.md, so installing it adds instructions and nothing that executes on your machine.

Because the skill itself runs nothing, any build, compile or test step is whatever your agent or your project already does.

• Requires: nothing listed.
• Runs scripts: no.
• Uses network: no.
• Files: SKILL.md only.

Tips for getting good results

State your C++ standard version in the request, such as C++17, C++20 or C++23, so the agent does not suggest features your compiler lacks.

Check the skill's rules against your team's conventions before adopting them. The skill is written for the C++ Core Guidelines and may conflict with local style rules or an older standard.

• Name the file or function you want reviewed rather than the whole codebase.
• Ask for the reasoning behind a suggestion when you are learning the guidelines.
• Use it for design choices such as ownership and enum types, not only formatting.