Feedback on your automating-mac-apps skill #9
Description
I took a look at your automating-mac-apps skill and wanted to share some thoughts.
Links:
The TL;DR
You're at 95/100, solidly in A territory. This is a really strong skill that nails the fundamentals. Your reference architecture is excellent—28 supporting files with clear layering is impressive—and your spec compliance is nearly perfect (14/15). The main gaps are pretty fixable: missing table of contents in the main file, some bloat in the PyXA/PyObjC sections that should live in references, and minor voice consistency issues.
What's Working Well
- Spec compliance is tight. Valid YAML frontmatter, correct naming conventions, and your description actually includes useful trigger phrases ('automate Mac apps', 'JXA scripting', 'PyXA Python automation'). That's the kind of discoverability work that matters.
- Progressive disclosure architecture is really solid. The 3-tier structure (Essentials/Advanced/Specialized) with 28 reference files shows you understand token economy. Most skills just dump everything into one file—you didn't.
- The workflow is practical. Seven numbered steps with a validation checklist and the warm-up script guidance for permissions is the kind of thing developers actually need when they're automating Mac apps. That's utility.
- You're balanced on technology choices. Instead of pushing one tool, you present JXA vs. AppleScript vs. PyXA trade-offs with clear migration paths. That's treating developers like adults.
The Big One: Missing TOC in SKILL.md
Your main file is 250+ lines but jumps straight into content without a table of contents. When someone's scanning for how to set up PyXA or where the validation checklist lives, they're scrolling blind.
Fix: Add a ## Contents section after the frontmatter with anchor links to your major sections (When to use this skill, Quick start, PyXA setup, AppleScript basics, Validation checklist, etc.). One skill I reviewed went from 90 to 92 points just by doing this. Takes 10 minutes, immediate payoff.
Other Things Worth Fixing
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PyXA installation example bloat (lines 75-136). Those 60 lines of installation commands and code examples belong in
references/pyxa-basics.md, not in SKILL.md. Keep a 3-line summary with the pip install command and a link to the reference. Probably nets +2 points. -
Voice slip-ups. You're mostly imperative, but phrases like "when you need it" and "you intend to automate" creep into second-person. Rewrite as "when needed" and "intended for automation." Minor but writing style scores matter.
-
PyObjC section (140-190) is doing the same thing. Full examples in the main file when you've already got reference material. Move it, keep a stub link. Another +1.
-
Validation step outputs need more specificity. Step 5 says "confirm output matches expected" but doesn't show what expected looks like. Add: "Expected output: Volume name (e.g., 'Macintosh HD')". Helps users know when they've succeeded.
Quick Wins
- Add TOC to SKILL.md (+1 point, 10 minutes)
- Move PyXA/PyObjC examples to references (+3 points, 15 minutes)
- Fix second-person voice to imperative (+0.5 points, 5 minutes)
- Standardize validation outputs (+0.5 points, 5 minutes)
You're already at 95—these changes would push you to 98-99 territory. The skill is solid; these are just polish moves.
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