TL;DR
Most builders don't know these skills exist. They are free, open source, and install in one command - and once you add them Claude stops feeling like a chatbot and starts feeling like a real assistant. Here are ten worth installing, grouped by what they do.
How to install any of these
The fastest way: copy the GitHub link, paste it into Claude Code, and say 'install this for me.' Claude reads the repo and sets it up. Each repo also documents a manual install if you prefer.
Cut tokens and watch your spend
Compresses your prompts while keeping the same results. Most people over-explain; caveman translates wordy instructions into tight, precise commands that cost a fraction of the tokens, with no loss in output quality. Works on any prompt you already use.
An interactive dashboard that tracks your AI coding token costs across Claude Code, Codex and Cursor in one view. The built-in /usage command tells you almost nothing; codeburn breaks the spend down by session, project and command so you can cut waste without guessing.
Understand code and content
Point it at any folder of code, docs, SQL or images and it builds a searchable knowledge graph Claude can navigate - project context without setting up RAG or a vector database, no API keys, no extra infrastructure.
Lets Claude finally watch video. It downloads a video, extracts the frames, transcribes the audio, and hands all of it to Claude - which can then summarise it, pull clips, answer questions, or repurpose the content. Works on any video URL.
Do real design work
A design skill with 23 specific commands covering typography, colour, motion, spacing, interaction and responsive behaviour. Pull up a page, click a component, and swap between live variations before committing. UI surgery, not vibes-based design.
One command pulls the full design system from any public URL and outputs production-ready DTCG design tokens organised into semantic, primitive and composite files. Use it to reverse-engineer any site's visual language.
A local, open-source alternative for AI design work. It runs entirely on your machine with no per-generation limits or paywalls, so your data stays yours and you are not capped by a subscription.
Automate the web and your workflows
Self-healing browser automation. When a run fails it rewrites its own strategy and tries again, instead of dumbly repeating the same broken steps - so it learns from the failure and you spend less time debugging.
AI-powered job search with multiple skill modes, PDF generation and batch processing. Not easy-apply spam - it tunes your resume to each specific role and only sends what actually fits.
An MCP server for n8n that type-checks a workflow before it ships any JSON. Most n8n MCPs emit raw JSON and hope for the best; this one validates the workflow first, so you catch broken logic before it fires.
Common questions
Are these skills really free?
Yes. Every one is open source on GitHub at no cost. The only thing they take is a minute to install - paste the GitHub link into Claude Code and say 'install this for me.'
How do I install a skill from GitHub?
Copy the repo link, paste it into Claude Code, and ask Claude to install it - it reads the repo and sets it up. Each repo also lists a manual command on its README if you prefer to do it by hand.
Which ones should I install first?
Start with what you do most. For cost, caveman and codeburn; for working in a codebase, graphify; for design, impeccable or design-extract. Add the rest as the need comes up rather than installing all ten at once.
Do skills slow Claude Code down?
No - a skill only loads when you invoke it. Installed skills sit in ~/.claude/skills/ and stay out of the way until you trigger one, so having several available costs you nothing day to day.
What is the difference between a skill and an MCP server?
A skill is a packaged workflow (a SKILL.md folder) Claude runs on command. An MCP server exposes external tools or data to Claude. Some entries here, like n8n-mcp, are MCP servers; most are skills. Both extend what Claude can do.
Can I build my own instead of installing these?
Absolutely - and you should once you find a repetitive task none of these cover. The skill-creator writes a new skill for you from a plain-English description, no coding required.
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