Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Orbit Gmail Briefing agent skill (orbit-gmail)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The orbit-gmail skill is a template that tells an AI agent how to build a daily summary of your Gmail inbox inside the Open Orbit app. It is designed to run on a schedule rather than on request, so this guide explains what it does, how to add it to your agent, and what it needs before it can work. By the end you will know whether it fits your setup and how to install it safely.
Orbit Gmail Briefingnexu-io/open-design · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the orbit-gmail skill ZIP from the directory page. It contains example.html and SKILL.md.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the ZIP.
- 4Connect Gmail in Orbit. Open the Orbit app and connect your Gmail account, making it your only connected connector if you want the skill chosen automatically.
- 5Let the scheduler run it. The skill is meant to be invoked by Orbit's daily-digest scheduler. Avoid relying on manual triggers.
- 6Review the digest. Check the rendered Orbit Daily Digest email for the action, notice and information sections.
What the orbit-gmail skill makes the agent do
The skill reads the past 24 hours of activity from your authenticated Gmail connection. It looks at replies you are waiting on, mentions, messages where you were cc'd, and automatically categorised bulk mail.
It then renders the result as the Orbit Daily Digest email, shown as if it were already open in Gmail's reading view. The digest is grouped into three sections: items needing action, items worth noticing, and items for information only.
The skill only reads and displays a summary. The source describes no features for sending, replying to, archiving or otherwise changing email.
Install the orbit-gmail skill
Download the skill ZIP from the directory page. Then choose one of the install routes below. The skill's files are example.html and SKILL.md.
For Claude Code, unzip the download into your user skills folder, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder if you want the skill limited to one project. In the Claude apps, you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
- User-wide: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Single project: unzip into the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
~/.claude/skills/Trigger the skill with natural requests
The skill lists these trigger phrases: 'gmail briefing', 'inbox digest', 'email summary', plus the Chinese phrases 'gmail 简报' and '邮件摘要'. The skill's example prompt asks for today's Orbit Gmail briefing using yesterday's mail, with Gmail as the only connected connector.
Be aware that the skill says it should not be triggered manually. It is meant to be invoked by Orbit's daily-digest scheduler against live Gmail data, so typing a request by hand may not produce the expected result outside Orbit.
What you need before it works
The skill is built for the Open Orbit app with a connected Gmail account. The description implies an OAuth connection, which is how the skill gets authenticated access to your mail. It also needs an Open Design runtime that can read SKILL.md and example.html.
The skill is selected by Orbit when Gmail is the user's only connected connector, or when you explicitly scope your daily digest to Gmail.
- Open Orbit app installed
- A connected Gmail account
- An Open Design runtime that reads SKILL.md and example.html
Safety notes on scripts and network access
The skill runs no scripts. It does use the network, because it reads live email content through your authenticated Gmail connection.
Because the skill reads real messages, review how Orbit stores and sends data before connecting a sensitive inbox. The skill also tells the agent to treat any names in the example as mock content and not to assume who the current user is.
- No scripts are run by this skill
- Network access is used to read live Gmail data
- Check Orbit's data handling before connecting a sensitive inbox
Tips for getting a useful digest
The skill asks the agent to copy example.html closely. It should not add a left rail, an inbox list or extra UI, so the page stays a single digest email.
If you are evaluating how Orbit renders digest templates, the example.html file and the design token list in SKILL.md show the expected layout and colours.
- Keep Gmail as your only connected connector if you want the skill selected automatically
- Read example.html to see the exact layout the digest will follow
- Expect a single-column digest, not a Gmail client
What people use it for
- A daily summary of replies you are waiting on, so you can follow up.
- A digest of mentions and cc'd messages from the past 24 hours.
- A grouped view of bulk mail that Gmail has categorised automatically.
- A reference template for designers or developers checking how Orbit renders digests.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the orbit-gmail skill?
Download the ZIP from the directory page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can upload the ZIP under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
What do I need to use the orbit-gmail skill?
You need the Open Orbit app with a connected Gmail account and an Open Design runtime that can read SKILL.md and example.html. The skill uses the network to read live Gmail data and runs no scripts.
Is the orbit-gmail skill free?
The source gives the licence as Apache-2.0 but does not state any price. Check the licence file on the source repository for the terms.
Why doesn't the skill run when I type a request?
The skill says it should not be triggered manually. It is meant to be invoked by Orbit's daily-digest scheduler against live Gmail data, so it may not behave as expected when you ask for it by hand.
Can the skill send or change my emails?
No. The skill describes only reading recent Gmail activity and rendering a summary. It does not describe sending, replying or changing email.
Are there alternatives to this skill?
The source does not name alternatives. If you want a tool that acts as a real Gmail client or sends email, this skill is not designed for that.
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Our verdict
This skill suits people who use Gmail as their main inbox and want a daily digest inside Orbit, or designers and developers studying how Orbit renders digest templates. It is a poor fit if you want to trigger briefings by hand, need a real email client, or are unsure how Orbit stores live mail data.
Download the skill