wp-abilities-api — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
A skill for WordPress Abilities API work: registering abilities and categories in PHP, exposing them over REST, reading them in JS. Useful when a client can't see an ability.
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a claude-codeWhat wp-abilities-api does
The skill walks an agent through Abilities API work in order. It confirms the target WordPress version, greps the repo for wp_register_ability(, wp_register_ability_category( and the init hooks, then registers a category and the ability itself with a stable id, label, description and the show_in_rest flag.
Reference files carry the detail it points to along the way: references/php-registration.md for hooks and meta, references/rest-api.md for endpoints, references/grouping-heuristic.md for how many abilities to actually ship, plus notes on shared services, delegate helpers and a vocabulary of WP_Error codes. domain-vs-projection.md makes the case that registration and exposure are separate decisions, so a change in what a consumer needs doesn't force a re-registration.
It targets WordPress 7.0+ on PHP 7.4.0+. The agent needs bash and node, and some workflows lean on WP-CLI. On a project below 6.9 the core functions aren't there, so you'll need the Abilities API plugin or package instead. Worth checking the version before you start.
What it helps with
- register an ability in PHP without losing
show_in_rest - split abilities into categories instead of one flat list
- debug an ability that never shows up in
wp-abilities/v1 - bundle
@wordpress/abilitieson the client side - pick
WP_Errorcodes an agent can act on
Example prompts for the agent
- Register a
vibe/get-post-summaryability withshow_in_rest: trueso the client can reach it overwp-abilities/v1. - The REST endpoint returns nothing even though registration runs. Check the init hook and
meta.show_in_rest. - Move client-side ability access to
@wordpress/abilitiesand confirm the dependency gets bundled.
How to install wp-abilities-api
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/wp-abilities-api/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install WordPress/agent-skills wp-abilities-api2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/WordPress/agent-skills --path skills/wp-abilities-apiManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -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 wp-abilities-api
How do I install wp-abilities-api in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add WordPress/agent-skills --skill wp-abilities-api -a claude-code. The skill lands at ~/.claude/skills/wp-abilities-api/SKILL.md.
What does wp-abilities-api do?
It guides an agent through PHP registration of abilities and categories, checks the REST output under wp-abilities/v1, and covers JS consumption. It also maps the usual breakages: no registration, missing REST flag, dependency not bundled.
What WordPress version does it need?
WordPress 7.0+ and PHP 7.4.0+. Projects below 6.9 need the Abilities API plugin or package, and some workflows require WP-CLI.
