ql-chat — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
The ql-chat skill from the qualitylayer set puts your agent into conversation mode. Useful when you want to talk a task through before touching code.
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a claude-codeWhat ql-chat does
ql-chat is one of the skills in the maxritter/qualitylayer repository. It installs like any other skill and gets invoked in conversation when you want the agent to discuss rather than edit: clarify requirements, walk through options, ask you questions first. One command pulls it in, and the skill file lands in the skills directory of your platform.
Installation differs per platform. Claude takes npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a claude-code; Codex and Cursor use the same call with -a codex and -a cursor; OpenCode uses -a opencode. GitHub Copilot installs through gh skill install maxritter/qualitylayer ql-chat, and Gemini CLI through gemini skills install with the skill path inside the repository.
The package ships under a proprietary license, so check the terms before dropping it into a work project. The skill targets the agent platforms listed above; Claude.ai is not one of them.
What it helps with
- talk a task through with the agent before writing code
- pin down requirements in a back-and-forth
- compare solution options inside the chat
- switch the agent from editing files to asking questions
Example prompts for the agent
- invoke the ql-chat skill and walk me through the architecture of this module
- ql-chat: let's talk through how to split this task into steps first
- load ql-chat and ask me questions about the requirements
How to install ql-chat
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/ql-chat/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install maxritter/qualitylayer ql-chat2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/maxritter/qualitylayer --path qualitylayer/src/skills/ql-chatManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about ql-chat
How do I install ql-chat in Claude?
Run npx skills add maxritter/qualitylayer --skill ql-chat -a claude-code. The skill file ends up at ~/.claude/skills/ql-chat/SKILL.md.
What does ql-chat do?
It moves the agent into conversation mode: discussing the task, clarifying requirements, weighing options. Handy before any code gets written.
Which platforms support ql-chat?
Claude, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI and OpenCode. Claude.ai is not supported.
