Bug: YAML multiline syntax (>-) shown instead of parsed description in skill list

Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Dec 15, 2025 by frytyler Closed Dec 15, 2025

Description

When a skill's SKILL.md frontmatter uses YAML multiline folded scalar syntax (>-), Claude Code displays the raw >- instead of the parsed description text in the available tools/skills list.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Create a skill with YAML frontmatter using multiline syntax:
---
name: comments
description: >-
  Enable inline conversations using @droid/@user markers. Tag @droid to ask the AI,
  AI responds with @{your-name}. Use /comments check to address markers...
---
  1. Install the skill to ~/.claude/skills/
  2. Observe the skill description in Claude's tool list

Expected Behavior

The description should show:

Enable inline conversations using @droid/@user markers. Tag @droid to ask the AI, AI responds with @{your-name}. Use /comments check to address markers...

Actual Behavior

The description shows:

>- (user)

The YAML syntax indicator is displayed instead of the parsed content.

Workaround

We have a working workaround: Use single-line quoted descriptions instead of multiline:

# Instead of this:
description: >-
  Enable inline conversations using @droid/@user markers. Tag @droid to ask the AI,
  AI responds with @{your-name}...

# Use this:
description: "Enable inline conversations using @droid/@user markers. Tag @droid to ask the AI, AI responds with @{your-name}..."

This fixes the display issue in Claude Code's skill list.

Environment

  • Claude Code CLI
  • Skills installed via custom skill manager (droid)

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