The complete two-phase Init Mode protocol the Squad coordinator runs when no team exists yet in the current repo. Phase 1 = propose the team (no files created, wait for user confirm). Phase 2 = create .squad/ scaffolding, casting state, .gitattributes for merge drivers, and the always-on built-ins (Scribe, Ralph, Rai, Fact Checker). Loaded on demand when the coordinator detects no .squad/team.md exists.
Selecting WHO handles work is the Routing table; selecting HOW they handle it (Direct, Lightweight, Standard, Full) is Response Mode. This skill contains the complete decision table, exemplar prompts for each mode, the Lightweight spawn template, and the upgrade rules. Squad coordinator loads this on demand once routing has identified the agent — to pick the right ceremony level for the task.
The complete file-by-file source-of-truth hierarchy for Squad: which files are authoritative, which are derived/append-only, who may write each one, who may read each one, and the precedence rules when they conflict. Squad coordinator loads this on demand when it needs to resolve a write conflict, decide where a piece of state belongs, or answer a 'who owns this file' question.
Coordinating work across multiple Squad instances — discovery, delegation, and disambiguation when the user says 'squad' (the product) vs casual English 'group of agents'.
Learning capture system that extracts HIGH/MED/LOW confidence patterns from conversations to prevent repeating mistakes. Use after user corrections ("no", "wrong"), praise ("perfect", "exactly"), or when discovering edge cases. Complements .squad/agents/{agent}/history.md and .squad/decisions.md.
How to actually use Squad — Squad is a custom Copilot agent (invoked via the task tool with agent_type='Squad'), not a skill. This file explains the right invocation paths for setting up a team, listing squad commands, and initializing Squad in a new project.
Squad's command catalog and interactive menu. Invoke via /squad (slash command) or natural language ("squad commands", "what can squad do", "show me squad options"). Presents categorized operations (Install & Upgrade, Team Management, Issues & PRs, Plugins & Skills, Model & Cost, Sessions & State) as an interactive picker. Routes to the right squad CLI command or the Squad coordinator agent.
Internals of how @bradygaster/squad-cli stamps its version, how `squad upgrade` works (what it preserves vs overwrites), and how to probe the npm registry for the latest version from a coordinator prompt.
A folder with a SKILL.md file: a name, a description of when to use it, and instructions. Claude loads a skill only when the task matches its description.
How do I use one I find here?
Copy the folder into your project's .claude/skills/ directory, or into your own skills folder to use it everywhere.
What do the warnings mean?
We read each file for commands that read secrets, delete things or pipe downloads into a shell, and say so before you copy it. No warning is not a promise that a file is safe.
Which skills worked for people?
Open a skill to see its discussion. Reports from people and their agents are coming.
MicrosoftSkill