llm agent skills

Focused Codex and Claude skills, currently centered on Windows Office automation plus reusable research and planning workflows.

Canonical GitHub About settings:

• Description: Windows-native Codex skills for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel using Microsoft Office COM automation.
• Topics: codex, skills, windows, powershell, python, microsoft-office, office-automation, word, powerpoint, excel, com-automation
• Homepage: leave blank until the repository has a real external docs or project site

Why This Repo Exists

This repository started as a home for Office-oriented skills ported from Anthropic's skills repository into Codex-friendly Windows workflows.

It now also hosts narrowly scoped original skills when the workflow is stable, reusable, and benefits from explicit operating guidance. The current catalog is still Office-heavy, but not Office-exclusive.

For the Office skills, the core design choice remains deliberate: prefer local Microsoft Office desktop automation over LibreOffice-style file transformation whenever Word, PowerPoint, or Excel fidelity matters. Those skills are Windows-specific and environment-dependent by design.

The Office COM entrypoints now share a common runtime for session preflight, input-desktop checks, and normalized reroute behavior when COM is unavailable from a sandboxed or non-interactive shell.

The shared visual runtime gives future Codex visual skills a browser and image evidence layer for no-template design work. It is separate from Office COM and supports a render-inspect-lint-revise loop with screenshots, console capture, PDF export, image bounds, and contact sheets.

Skill Catalog

Skill	Engine	Upstream source	Smoke test
adversarial-plan-review-codex	Codex hostile plan review	dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96 -> deep_planning.txt	Live flawed-plan fixture plus repo metadata validation
artifact-runtime-codex	Browser runtime handoff + evidence bundles	repo-owned original	Visual skills contract validation
canvas-design-codex	Canvas, SVG, WebGL, and pixel evidence QA	repo-owned original	Visual skills contract validation
deep-planning-codex	Codex-native gated planning workflow	dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96 -> deep_planning.txt	Live subagent forward-tests plus artifact validator
docx-win	Microsoft Word COM + no-template document polish	anthropics/skills -> skills/docx	powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\docx-win\scripts\smoke-test.ps1
frontend-design-codex	Responsive frontend design + screenshot QA	repo-owned original	Visual skills contract validation
grill-me-codex	Codex read-only design interview	mattpocock/skills -> skills/productivity/grill-me	Live interview scenario tests plus repo metadata validation
grill-with-docs-codex	Codex docs-backed design interview	mattpocock/skills -> skills/engineering/grill-with-docs	Live docs fixture tests plus repo metadata validation
handoff-codex	Codex continuation document workflow	mattpocock/skills -> skills/productivity/handoff	Temp-file handoff scenario plus repo metadata validation
pptx-win	Microsoft PowerPoint COM + no-template deck design, OOXML fallback	anthropics/skills -> skills/pptx	powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\pptx-win\scripts\smoke_test.ps1
repo-map-codex	Codex project and evidence mapping	dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96 -> deep_planning.txt	Live mixed-project fixture plus repo metadata validation
theme-factory-codex	Design tokens, palettes, and theme QA	repo-owned original	Visual skills contract validation
web-artifacts-builder-codex	Standalone web artifact packaging + visual evidence	repo-owned original	Visual skills contract validation
xlsx-win	Microsoft Excel COM + chart-ready workbook reliability	anthropics/skills -> skills/xlsx	powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\xlsx-win\scripts\self_test_xlsx_win.ps1
ultraplan-codex	Codex-native deep implementation planning workflow	6missedcalls/ultraplan -> .	Live subagent forward-tests plus repo metadata validation
verification-plan-codex	Codex proof and rollback planning	dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96 -> deep_planning.txt	Live verification fixture plus Python artifact validation

Prerequisites

• Codex or Claude configured to load local skills from your skills directory
• For docx-win, pptx-win, and xlsx-win: Windows with a local interactive desktop session
• For docx-win, pptx-win, and xlsx-win: Microsoft 365 desktop apps installed for the relevant skill
• PowerShell for the Office automation entrypoints and repo validation scripts
• Python 3 for the bundled Python helpers and repo tooling
• Node.js and npm for .shared/visual-runtime Playwright helper validation
• For ultraplan-codex: a Codex session that can read the target codebase and write .ultraplan/plan.md
• For grill-me-codex: a Codex session that can read the target codebase or artifacts before asking the user discoverable questions
• For grill-with-docs-codex: permission to update project documentation such as CONTEXT.md and accepted ADRs
• For handoff-codex: permission to write a redacted continuation document to the operating system temporary directory
• For the Codex deep planning suite: permission to create or update .deep-planning/ planning artifacts in the target project, and optionally .ultraplan/plan.md when ultraplan-codex is part of the selected workflow

Design Upskill Provenance

The Office skills are the first foundation for upskilling Codex on no-template design work. Before adding stronger deck, document, spreadsheet, and visual artifact behavior, the repository pins the upstream source used for each Office-derived skill and documents why the local Windows/Codex implementation intentionally diverges.

This matters because no-template design quality depends on more than attractive output. Codex needs traceable guidance for:

• which upstream skill behavior is being adapted;
• why local Windows Office COM automation is the fidelity path;
• which changes are meant to improve layout, rendering, screenshot review, and repair loops;
• which checks can run in normal Codex execution and which checks require a desktop-user or elevated Office COM context.

The lock file is .upstream/anthropic-skills.lock.json. Each in-scope Office skill has a PROVENANCE.md file with source, port classification, intentional divergences, design-upskill contribution, and COM boundary notes.

pptx-win is the first Office skill to add a no-template visual design layer on top of provenance: it now includes deck concepting guidance, reusable layout patterns, a screenshot QA rubric, render/inspect guidance, non-COM metadata inspection, static text-density risk checks, and visual QA fixtures. True rendering, PDF export, and text-bound verification still require PowerPoint COM from a desktop-user/elevated session or the Office runner.

docx-win and xlsx-win now extend that design-upskill foundation beyond decks. docx-win documents how Word styles, sections, tables, review markup, field refresh, and PDF evidence contribute to polished no-template documents. xlsx-win documents how calculation correctness, Power Query load behavior, formula-error checks, and chart-ready output tables contribute to trustworthy no-template visuals. Both skills explicitly split normal Codex preparation from true Office COM work that may need desktop-user or elevated PowerShell.

.shared/visual-runtime is the browser-native layer for future visual skills. It gives Codex reusable scripts and references for screenshot capture, console capture, visual lint, PDF export, image bounds inspection, contact sheets, accessibility checks, and design-token discipline. This phase requires no Office COM: browser rendering and image inspection can run in normal Codex execution, while later Office embedding or export still belongs to the Office COM skills.

Codex visual skills now consume that runtime directly. frontend-design-codex, web-artifacts-builder-codex, theme-factory-codex, canvas-design-codex, and artifact-runtime-codex each document what they teach Codex, why the lesson matters when no template exists, how .shared\visual-runtime supplies screenshot/visual-lint/evidence loops, and how users or agents should verify the result. These skills are browser-first and do not require Office COM.

.codex/agents and .codex/hooks.json add warning-only reminders for visual QA, PowerPoint rendering evidence, provenance review, accessibility checks, and Office COM boundary honesty. They help Codex avoid skipping no-template visual QA and provenance review. The Office COM validator agent reviews COM logs and artifacts; it does not instantiate Office.

Installation

Codex

1. Clone this repository locally.

2. Copy the shared runtime folders .shared\office-com and .shared\visual-runtime, plus the skill folders you want to use, into your Codex skills directory, for example %USERPROFILE%\.codex\skills\.

3. Keep the directory names unchanged: .shared, adversarial-plan-review-codex, artifact-runtime-codex, canvas-design-codex, deep-planning-codex, docx-win, frontend-design-codex, grill-me-codex, grill-with-docs-codex, handoff-codex, pptx-win, repo-map-codex, theme-factory-codex, ultraplan-codex, verification-plan-codex, web-artifacts-builder-codex, and xlsx-win.

4. Use the skill by name from Codex, for example $deep-planning-codex, $repo-map-codex, $verification-plan-codex, $adversarial-plan-review-codex, $artifact-runtime-codex, $canvas-design-codex, $docx-win, $frontend-design-codex, $grill-me-codex, $grill-with-docs-codex, $handoff-codex, $pptx-win, $theme-factory-codex, $ultraplan-codex, $web-artifacts-builder-codex, or $xlsx-win.

5. Before relying on Excel, PowerPoint, or Word COM from a new machine or session, run the shared preflight from a signed-in desktop-user PowerShell window:

   & "$env:USERPROFILE\.codex\skills\.shared\office-com\scripts\office_com_preflight.ps1" -Apps @('Excel','PowerPoint','Word')

6. Run the relevant smoke test or live validation before relying on a new machine or session.

Claude Code

1. Clone this repository locally.
2. In your project's .claude/skills/ directory, copy or symlink the desired subdirectories from .claude/skills/ in this repository: docx-win, pptx-win, and xlsx-win.
3. If you plan to use the Office skills, also copy the shared runtime folder .shared\office-com from this repository into .claude\skills\.shared\office-com so the skill wrappers can resolve their shared preflight module. If you plan to use browser visual QA helpers, copy .shared\visual-runtime as well.
4. Keep the directory names unchanged.
5. Reference each skill from a CLAUDE.md or system prompt by its name, for example docx-win, pptx-win, or xlsx-win.
6. Run the relevant smoke test or live validation before relying on a new machine or session.

Validation And CI

The repository uses a two-tier validation model.

Hosted validation runs in GitHub Actions on windows-latest:

• YAML parse and required-field validation for every agents/openai.yaml
• SKILL.md front matter and internal scripts/... and references/... path validation
• PowerShell parser checks plus PSScriptAnalyzer with a repo-owned rule set
• Python syntax compilation for the bundled .py files
• shared visual runtime contract validation plus JavaScript syntax checks through npm
• warning-only Codex hook and agent validation through tools/validate_codex_hooks.py

Office runtime validation is separate because GitHub-hosted runners do not provide reliable Microsoft Office COM automation:

• .github/workflows/office-smoke.yml is designed for a self-hosted Windows runner labeled office
• it runs the Word, PowerPoint, and Excel smoke tests
• it uploads logs and generated artifacts for debugging
• it can be started manually or requested from a pull request with /office-smoke

Planning workflow skills use live agent validation instead of runtime smoke scripts. For ultraplan-codex, the validation covers baseline planning, normal skill-guided planning, existing-plan refinement, parallel-agent fallback behavior, and report-only planning in a non-Git fixture.

The Codex deep planning suite was adapted from the deep_planning.txt gist at revision 6ea4c02e5aa60c9991e1e4d1c50089c01cd6ec83. Unlike the Claude-native source prompt, the Codex version is split into a master orchestrator plus focused companion skills. Slash-command choreography is replaced with Codex skill invocation, Claude handoff loops are replaced with durable .deep-planning/ artifacts, model routing is replaced with phase contracts and optional subagent strategy, and execution safety is enforced through write scopes, proceed gates, and artifact validation.

Interactive workflow skills use scenario validation. For grill-me-codex, validation covers one-question-at-a-time plan interrogation and repo exploration before asking discoverable questions. For grill-with-docs-codex, validation covers CONTEXT.md discovery, lazy docs creation, glossary-only updates, and ADR gating. For handoff-codex, validation covers temp-directory output, redaction, artifact references, and suggested skill handoff content.

Local validation commands:

pwsh -NoLogo -NoProfile -File .\tools\validate_repo.ps1
pwsh -NoLogo -NoProfile -File .\tools\validate_powershell.ps1 -SettingsPath .github\PSScriptAnalyzerSettings.psd1
python .\tools\validate_provenance.py
python .\tools\check_upstream_drift.py --json .\.upstream\reports\latest-drift.json
python .\tools\generate_alignment_report.py --json .\.upstream\reports\latest-drift.json --markdown .\.upstream\reports\latest-alignment-report.md
python .\tools\test_deep_planning_validator.py
python .\tools\test_office_com_contract.py
python .\tools\test_visual_runtime_contract.py
python .\tools\test_visual_skills_contract.py
python .\tools\validate_codex_hooks.py
Push-Location .shared\visual-runtime
npm ci --ignore-scripts
npm run check
Pop-Location
$compilePaths = @('.\tools')
$compilePaths += Get-ChildItem -Path . -Directory -Recurse -Filter scripts |
  Where-Object { $_.FullName -notmatch '\\node_modules\\' } |
  ForEach-Object { $_.FullName }
python -m compileall -q @compilePaths

Repo Layout

• .upstream/: pinned upstream source metadata, Office skill snapshots, and generated alignment reports
• .shared/office-com/: shared Office COM preflight and guard runtime used by Excel, PowerPoint, and Word wrappers
• .shared/visual-runtime/: shared Playwright and image utilities for browser screenshot evidence, visual lint, PDF export, image bounds, and contact sheets
• .codex/agents/: reviewer, builder, packager, accessibility, and Office COM evidence-review agent prompts for no-template design work
• .codex/hooks.json: warning-only reminders for visual QA, PowerPoint rendering, provenance review, accessibility, and COM boundary checks
• adversarial-plan-review-codex/: Codex hostile review skill for execution plans
• artifact-runtime-codex/: runtime and evidence handoff skill for browser visual artifacts
• canvas-design-codex/: drawn-visual QA skill for canvas, SVG, WebGL, and pixel evidence
• deep-planning-codex/: master Codex deep planning workflow skill
• docx-win/: Word skill, scripts, no-template document quality references, and agent metadata
• frontend-design-codex/: frontend UI design skill using screenshots, visual lint, and responsive QA
• grill-me-codex/: read-only plan and design grilling interview skill adapted from mattpocock/skills
• grill-with-docs-codex/: docs-backed plan grilling skill with context and ADR references adapted from mattpocock/skills
• handoff-codex/: redacted continuation handoff skill adapted from mattpocock/skills
• pptx-win/: PowerPoint skill, scripts, references, fallback OOXML utilities, and agent metadata
• pptx-win/tests/fixtures/: no-template deck briefs and expected visual QA notes for non-COM agent rehearsal
• repo-map-codex/: Codex project map and evidence catalog skill
• theme-factory-codex/: theme and design-token skill for no-template visual systems
• ultraplan-codex/: Codex-native deep implementation planning skill adapted from 6missedcalls/ultraplan
• verification-plan-codex/: Codex proof criteria and rollback planning skill
• web-artifacts-builder-codex/: standalone web artifact creation and evidence packaging skill
• xlsx-win/: Excel skill, scripts, workbook reliability references, and agent metadata
• .github/workflows/: hosted validation and self-hosted Office smoke workflows
• tools/: repository validation helpers used by CI and local contributors

Contributing

Contributions should preserve each skill's documented contract:

• keep the Office skills Windows-specific and COM-first unless the skill explicitly documents a fallback path
• keep docs-first skills concise, reproducible, and explicit about any search/open constraints
• keep interactive workflow skills strict about their write scope, especially handoff-codex temp files and grill-with-docs-codex documentation-only edits
• keep planning workflow skills strict about .deep-planning/ write scopes, proceed gates, and evidence-backed validation
• update agents/openai.yaml together with any skill behavior changes
• keep SKILL.md examples and referenced scripts in sync
• document no-template design changes with what changed, why it improves Codex's judgment, and how rendered evidence or static risk reports verify the output
• run the hosted validation commands locally before opening a PR
• request the Office smoke workflow when a change affects runtime Office automation behavior

Licensing And Provenance

This repository records provenance for each skill but does not currently publish a root LICENSE file.

Before redistributing or repackaging this repository, review the upstream provenance and decide on an explicit licensing policy for the repo as a whole.

Current Anthropic-derived Office provenance is pinned in .upstream/anthropic-skills.lock.json. Snapshot folders under .upstream/anthropic-skills/57546260929473d4e0d1c1bb75297be2fdfa1949/ preserve upstream comparison baselines and LICENSE.txt files. Upstream drift is reported by .github/workflows/upstream-drift.yml; invalid provenance fails validation.

Current upstream provenance:

Skill	Upstream repo	Source folder	Source branch	Port depth
adversarial-plan-review-codex	https://gist.github.com/dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96	deep_planning.txt	HEAD at 6ea4c02e5aa60c9991e1e4d1c50089c01cd6ec83	New Codex-native derivative
artifact-runtime-codex	dachent/skills	artifact-runtime-codex	repo-owned original	Original Codex visual design skill
canvas-design-codex	dachent/skills	canvas-design-codex	repo-owned original	Original Codex visual design skill
deep-planning-codex	https://gist.github.com/dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96	deep_planning.txt	HEAD at 6ea4c02e5aa60c9991e1e4d1c50089c01cd6ec83	New Codex-native derivative
docx-win	https://github.com/anthropics/skills	skills/docx	main pinned at 57546260929473d4e0d1c1bb75297be2fdfa1949 (2026-06-15)	Windows COM adaptation
frontend-design-codex	dachent/skills	frontend-design-codex	repo-owned original	Original Codex visual design skill
grill-me-codex	https://github.com/mattpocock/skills	skills/productivity/grill-me	main at 694fa30311e02c2639942308513555e61ee84a6f (2026-06-10 16:01:44 +0100)	Light Codex adaptation
grill-with-docs-codex	https://github.com/mattpocock/skills	skills/engineering/grill-with-docs	main at 694fa30311e02c2639942308513555e61ee84a6f (2026-06-10 16:01:44 +0100)	Medium Codex adaptation
handoff-codex	https://github.com/mattpocock/skills	skills/productivity/handoff	main at 694fa30311e02c2639942308513555e61ee84a6f (2026-06-10 16:01:44 +0100)	Light Codex adaptation
pptx-win	https://github.com/anthropics/skills	skills/pptx	main pinned at 57546260929473d4e0d1c1bb75297be2fdfa1949 (2026-06-15)	Windows COM adaptation
repo-map-codex	https://gist.github.com/dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96	deep_planning.txt	HEAD at 6ea4c02e5aa60c9991e1e4d1c50089c01cd6ec83	New Codex-native derivative
theme-factory-codex	dachent/skills	theme-factory-codex	repo-owned original	Original Codex visual design skill
ultraplan-codex	https://github.com/6missedcalls/ultraplan	.	main at 06779940475f9c52b4d3b546d309b2c31ebbf8ea (2026-03-31T21:48:42Z)	Heavy Codex adaptation
verification-plan-codex	https://gist.github.com/dachent/cdc05151d047708c290bd4da0aaeed96	deep_planning.txt	HEAD at 6ea4c02e5aa60c9991e1e4d1c50089c01cd6ec83	New Codex-native derivative
web-artifacts-builder-codex	dachent/skills	web-artifacts-builder-codex	repo-owned original	Original Codex visual design skill
xlsx-win	https://github.com/anthropics/skills	skills/xlsx	main pinned at 57546260929473d4e0d1c1bb75297be2fdfa1949 (2026-06-15)	Heavy Windows COM adaptation