ThirdBrain skills-mcp
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKILLS_LIBS | No | Comma-separated list of namespace=directory pairs for named libraries (e.g. 'bob=/skills/bob,gbl=/skills/gbl'). Cannot be used together with SKILLS_ROOT. | |
| SKILLS_NAME | No | MCP server name; also the default tool prefix. | skills |
| SKILLS_ROOT | No | Path to a single un-namespaced skills library, searched recursively for SKILL.md folders. Required if SKILLS_LIBS is not set. | |
| SKILLS_DEPTH | No | Maximum discovery depth below the skill root. | 4 |
| SKILLS_TITLE | No | Human-readable title returned in the initialize response. | |
| SKILLS_EXCLUDE | No | Comma-separated directory names skipped during discovery. | _archive,_audit |
| SKILLS_TOOL_PREFIX | No | Tool-name prefix. Defaults to the server name with '-' replaced by '_'. | |
| SKILLS_HIDE_DISABLED | No | Set to 'false' to serve skills with disable-model-invocation: true (they are hidden by default). | true |
| SKILLS_MAX_FILE_BYTES | No | Files larger than this are not served. | 4 MiB |
| SKILLS_RESCAN_SECONDS | No | Background rescan interval in seconds; 0 disables automatic rescanning. | 60 |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| prompts | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| resources | {
"listChanged": true
} |
| extensions | {
"io.modelcontextprotocol/skills": {
"directoryRead": true
}
} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| skills_search_skillsA | Ranked search over the skills skill library by task, keyword, or trigger phrase. Returns name, description, category. Call this first, then skills_get_skill to load one. |
| skills_list_skillsA | Compact catalog listing (name + one-line description), optionally filtered by library and/or category (see skills_list_categories). Paginated with cursor. |
| skills_list_librariesA | Skill libraries served by this server, with namespace, root directory and skill counts. Namespaces are the first segment of skill:// URIs. |
| skills_list_categoriesA | All categories with skill counts, plus value chains. Optionally scoped to one library. |
| skills_get_skillA | Load a skill's full SKILL.md instructions and its bundled file list. Follow the instructions as if the skill were installed. Use skills_read_skill_file for referenced files. |
| skills_read_skill_fileA | Read a file bundled with a skill, by skill name/path and relative path (e.g. 'references/troubleshooting.md', 'scripts/run.py'). Binary files are returned base64-encoded. |
| skills_catalog_statusA | Catalog statistics (libraries, skill count, files, last scan, frontmatter warnings). Pass refresh=true to force a rescan of the skills directories. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| use-skill | Load a skills skill's instructions into the conversation and apply it to the task. |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| alpha | Alpha skill about invoices and VAT returns. Use when the user says invoice. |
| shared | Shared name in library A. |
| beta | Beta skill for meeting notes and agendas. |
| shared | Shared name in library B. |
| clean | Nothing to see. |
| risky | Skill with a dangerous install script. |
| solo | A flat top-level skill. |
TDQS
Scored across 7 tools
Each tool has a distinct responsibility: search, list skills, list libraries, list categories, load a skill, read a bundled file, and check catalog status. Search and list are clearly differentiated by ranked querying versus catalog enumeration, and get vs read file are separated by skill-level vs file-level access.
Tools consistently use a skills_ prefix with snake_case and a mostly verb_noun pattern (search_skills, list_skills, get_skill, read_skill_file). The only minor deviation is skills_catalog_status, which is noun-based rather than verb-based, but the overall pattern remains predictable.
Seven tools is well-scoped for a skills library server: discovery, retrieval, browsing metadata, and status management are all covered without unnecessary redundancy. Each tool earns its place in the workflow.
The tool surface covers the full skill-consumption workflow: discover skills via search or listing, navigate libraries and categories, load the full SKILL.md, read referenced files, and verify catalog health. No significant gaps are apparent for the stated purpose of serving skills.