Preamble (run first)

_VS_DIR=""
for _d in \
  "${VARA_SKILLS_DIR:-}" \
  "$HOME/.claude/skills/vara-skills" \
  ".claude/skills/vara-skills" \
  "$HOME"/.claude/plugins/cache/vara-skills/vara-skills/*; do
  if [ -n "$_d" ] && [ -f "$_d/bin/vara-skills-update-check" ]; then
    _VS_DIR="$_d"; break
  fi
done
if [ -n "$_VS_DIR" ]; then
  export VARA_SKILLS_DIR="$_VS_DIR"
  _UPD=$("$_VS_DIR/bin/vara-skills-update-check" 2>/dev/null || true)
  [ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true
fi

If output shows UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>: read skills/vara-skills-upgrade/SKILL.md and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise ask user with 3 options, write snooze if declined). If JUST_UPGRADED <from> <to>: tell user "Running vara-skills v{to} (upgraded from v{from})!" and continue.

Vara Skills

This repository is the portable router for the provisional vara-skills pack.

Use skills/ship-sails-app/SKILL.md first when the task is about standard greenfield or unreleased Gear/Vara Sails application work.

The repo is intended to be self-contained: use local references/ handbook files before depending on sibling repositories or machine-local skill directories.

What This Router Covers

• Codex: install the local skill directories with bash scripts/install-codex-skills.sh
• Claude: use the same repo content through plugin metadata
• OpenClaw: use the same markdown surface through the wrapper skill

Route By Builder Intent

• Prepare or repair the local Rust or Gear toolchain first: skills/sails-dev-env/SKILL.md
• Start a new Sails workspace: skills/sails-new-app/SKILL.md
• Add or change a feature in an existing Sails repo: skills/sails-feature-workflow/SKILL.md
• Rework service or program boundaries: skills/sails-architecture/SKILL.md
• Debug message flow, replies, delays, or reservations: skills/gear-message-execution/SKILL.md
• Design or debug calls into runtime builtin actors (staking, proxy, BLS12-381, ETH bridge): skills/gear-builtin-actors/SKILL.md
• Fix build.rs, IDL, or generated clients: skills/sails-idl-client/SKILL.md
• Write or debug gtest: skills/sails-gtest/SKILL.md
• Run typed local-node smoke after green gtest: skills/sails-local-smoke/SKILL.md
• Add a fungible token layer with awesome-sails: skills/awesome-sails-vft/SKILL.md
• Interact with Vara Network or Vara.eth on-chain (deploy, call, transfer, monitor): skills/vara-wallet/SKILL.md
• Build or extend a React frontend for a Sails app: skills/sails-frontend/SKILL.md
• Build or extend a read-side indexer and query API for a Sails app: skills/sails-indexer/SKILL.md
• Evolve a released Sails contract, prepare a new deployed version, plan cutover, or design V1->V2 migration: skills/sails-program-evolution/SKILL.md
• Plan or scope an ethexe (EVM-compatible Gear) program: skills/sails-ethexe-architecture/SKILL.md
• Implement Rust code for an ethexe program (Syscall gating, #[export(ethabi|payable)], emit_eth_event): skills/sails-ethexe-implementer/SKILL.md
• Look up network endpoints, testnet/mainnet RPC, account format, or program lifecycle: references/vara-network-endpoints.md
• Look up where to buy VARA on centralized exchanges (Coinbase, Gate, Crypto.com): references/vara-token-exchanges.md
• Look up bridge contract addresses or bridged token program IDs: references/vara-eth-bridge-contracts.md
• Understand Vara-Ethereum bridge flows, fee model, or integration patterns: references/vara-eth-bridge-flows.md

Guardrails

• This catalog is still provisional and is expected to change as vara-skills-evals measures uplift.
• Stay on the standard Gear/Vara Sails path for v1.
• For ethexe-specific work, use skills/sails-ethexe-architecture/SKILL.md or skills/sails-ethexe-implementer/SKILL.md; do not blend ethexe and standard Sails patterns in the same skill invocation.
• Bridge reference knowledge (addresses, flows, fees) is in scope as a lookup resource. Vara.eth wallet workflows route through skills/vara-wallet/SKILL.md; Sails program implementation for ethexe still routes through the dedicated ethexe skills.