Skills Catalog

Skills are domain knowledge files that agents load as reference material when doing specific work. They define standards, conventions, and patterns — not step-by-step procedures (that’s what workflows are for).

All Skills

Name	Description	Compatible Agents
api-design-standards	REST API design conventions — URLs, methods, errors, pagination, versioning	backend, fullstack, tech-lead
auth-patterns	Authentication and authorization patterns — flows, tokens, passwords, sessions, access control	backend, fullstack, security
cli-conventions	CLI design conventions — structure, flags, output, exit codes, configuration	backend, fullstack
coding-standards	Language-specific coding standards — formatting, linting, patterns	backend, devops, frontend, fullstack, security
container-standards	Container and orchestration standards — Docker multi-stage builds, image security, Kubernetes manifests	devops
database-conventions	SQL naming, migration patterns, schema design rules	backend, fullstack, tech-lead
design-guide	Bonsai CLI design system — palette, spacing, panels, errors, command flow	backend, frontend, fullstack, tech-lead
dispatch	How to dispatch work to code agents — triage rules, prompt structure, iteration tracking	tech-lead
iac-conventions	Infrastructure-as-code conventions — Terraform naming, state management, modules, tagging	devops
issue-classification	Issue types, importance levels, domain labels, and classification heuristics	tech-lead
mobile-patterns	Mobile development patterns — state management, offline-first, navigation, performance	fullstack
planning-template	Plan format, tier rules, and template for writing implementation plans	tech-lead
pr-creation	How to create well-structured pull requests — branch naming, title conventions, body template, draft workflow	backend, frontend, fullstack, tech-lead
review-checklist	Structured code review checklist — correctness, security, performance, maintainability	security, tech-lead
test-strategy	Test architecture — which tests to write, when, and why; pyramid, coverage, anti-patterns	backend, frontend, fullstack
testing	Testing conventions — frameworks, patterns, coverage requirements	backend, frontend, fullstack, security
workspace-guide	Bonsai workspace operational guide — how to use workflows, skills, routines, sensors, and the Playbook effectively	all

Skills by Domain

Coding and Standards

These skills define how code should be written across different contexts:

• coding-standards — Language-agnostic formatting, linting, and naming conventions. Default for all code agents.
• testing — Test framework conventions, patterns, and coverage rules. Default for backend, frontend, fullstack, and security agents.
• test-strategy — Higher-level test architecture: which tests to write, the testing pyramid, and anti-patterns.
• cli-conventions — How to structure CLI commands, flags, output formatting, and exit codes.

API and Backend

• api-design-standards — REST API conventions: URL structure, HTTP methods, error formats, pagination, and versioning. Default for fullstack.
• auth-patterns — Authentication flows (OAuth, JWT, sessions), password handling, and access control. Default for fullstack and security.
• database-conventions — SQL naming rules, migration patterns, and schema design. Default for backend and fullstack.

Frontend and Design

• design-guide — UI/UX patterns, component conventions, and accessibility standards. Default for frontend and fullstack.
• mobile-patterns — Mobile-specific patterns: state management, offline-first, navigation, and platform APIs.

Infrastructure

• iac-conventions — Terraform naming, state management, module structure, and resource tagging. Default for devops.
• container-standards — Docker multi-stage builds, image security, and Kubernetes manifest conventions. Default for devops.

Project Management (Tech Lead)

• planning-template — The standard plan format with tier rules and verification steps. Default for tech-lead.
• dispatch — Rules for dispatching work to code agents: triage, prompt structure, and iteration tracking. Default for tech-lead.
• issue-classification — How to classify issues by type, importance, and domain. Default for tech-lead.
• review-checklist — Structured checklist for code review: correctness, security, performance, and maintainability. Default for tech-lead and security.
• pr-creation — Pull request conventions: branch naming, title format, body template, and draft workflow.

Universal

• workspace-guide — Operational guide for the Bonsai workspace. How to use workflows, skills, routines, sensors, and the Playbook. Compatible with all agent types.

Default Skills by Agent Type

Agent Type	Default Skills
Tech Lead	planning-template, issue-classification, dispatch, review-checklist
Backend	coding-standards, testing, database-conventions
Frontend	coding-standards, testing, design-guide
Full-Stack	coding-standards, testing, design-guide, database-conventions, api-design-standards, auth-patterns
DevOps	coding-standards, iac-conventions, container-standards
Security	coding-standards, testing, auth-patterns, review-checklist

Tip

Defaults are pre-selected during bonsai add, but you can add or remove any compatible skill during the interactive picker. Skills with path triggers auto-load when agents work with matching files.