What Is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI (command-line interface) tool for interacting with Claude AI directly from your terminal. Unlike the web-based Claude.ai interface, Claude Code integrates into developer workflows — it reads your project files, understands your codebase, and follows instructions from skill files.
For professionals who work in the terminal, Claude Code transforms pre-built skills from helpful prompts into automated workflow tools.
The SKILL.md File Format
When Claude Code starts in a directory, it automatically looks for a SKILL.md file. If found, Claude loads the file's instructions and follows them throughout the session. This is how pre-built skills integrate with Claude Code.
The process is simple: save your .md skill file as SKILL.md in your project directory. Claude Code detects it on startup and immediately operates according to those instructions.
You can also keep multiple skill files in a project and rename the one you want active to SKILL.md. Some teams maintain a /skills directory with all their purchased skills, copying the relevant one to SKILL.md when needed.
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Install Claude Code if you have not already. Follow Anthropic's official documentation for your operating system.
Step 2: Obtain your skill files. Purchase individual skills or bundles from Claude Protocol, and download the .md files from your email.
Step 3: Navigate to your project directory in the terminal.
Step 4: Copy or move the skill file into your project directory and rename it to SKILL.md.
Step 5: Launch Claude Code. It automatically detects and loads the skill.
Step 6: Interact with Claude as normal. It follows the skill's instructions automatically — just provide the inputs the skill requires.
Managing Multiple Skills
Most professionals need different skills for different tasks. Here are proven approaches for managing multiple skills:
Directory-based approach. Create a skills/ folder in your project with all your purchased skill files. When you need a specific skill, copy it to the root as SKILL.md. This keeps your skills organized and version-controlled.
Project-based approach. Different projects get different skills. Your marketing project has the content writing skill, your legal project has the contract review skill, your finance project has the financial modeling skill. Each project directory has its own SKILL.md.
Task-based switching. For projects that require multiple skills, swap the SKILL.md file between sessions. Start with the research skill, switch to the writing skill, then switch to the editing skill.
Combining Skills with Claude.ai Projects
Some workflows benefit from using both Claude.ai Projects and Claude Code. You might use Claude.ai Projects for brainstorming and strategy (loading multiple skills as knowledge), then switch to Claude Code for execution (loading the specific execution skill as SKILL.md).
This hybrid approach gives you the web interface's convenience for exploration and the terminal's power for production work.
Best Practices
Keep skill files in version control. Track your skill files in Git alongside your project code. This ensures your team always has access to the latest versions and can see the history of any customizations.
Customize skills for your context. Purchased skills provide excellent starting points, but you will get even better results by adding your specific brand voice, industry terminology, or workflow requirements. Since skills are plain text files, customization takes minutes.
Document which skills you use where. As your skill library grows, maintain a simple reference of which skills are active in which projects. A README note or a small manifest file keeps everyone aligned.
Get Started
Claude Protocol offers 501 pre-built skills that work seamlessly with Claude Code. Browse skills at claudeprotocol.com/skills and start automating your CLI workflow today.