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Claude Code nested skills load on file read, not startup

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

A technical deep-dive explores how Claude Code's per-package skills function within monorepos, specifically examining the conditions under which nested skills become available. The author found that skills located in subdirectories are not loaded at startup but rather upon the first read or edit of a file within that subdirectory. This behavior was observed consistently across both Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5.5 models, with variations in token growth and cost noted between root and nested skill listings. AI

IMPACT Clarifies nuanced behavior of AI coding assistant features for developers using monorepos.

RANK_REASON Detailed technical exploration of a specific feature's behavior in a software product.

Read on dev.to — Claude Code tag →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Claude Code nested skills load on file read, not startup

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27 / 100
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Tool
Detailed technical exploration of a specific feature's behavior in a software product.
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product, infra
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High
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Breaking (< 6h)
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. dev.to — Claude Code tag TIER_1 English(EN) · Rulestack ·

    Why your monorepo's per-package Claude Code skill says 'Unknown skill': it loaded after a Read in that folder, not after a cat (Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5.5)

    <blockquote> <p>0 of 2 runs that read <code>packages/api/src/index.ts</code> with <code>cat</code> through Bash loaded the skill in <code>packages/api/.claude/skills/</code>, although the skills docs say a nested skill loads "the first time Claude reads or edits a file in that su…

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