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Should you use Agent Skills or stick with traditional prompts? This comparison helps you understand when each approach makes sense.
2026/01/08
Both Agent Skills and traditional prompts have their place in AI-assisted development. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right approach.
Prompts are quick and flexible. You type instructions directly to the AI and get immediate results. Great for one-off tasks and exploration.
However, prompts are ephemeral. You lose them after the session ends. Repeating complex workflows means re-typing or searching through notes.
Skills are persistent and structured. Once installed, they're always available. The AI automatically knows how to use them based on context.
Skills can include multiple files, scripts, and documentation. They support complex workflows that would be impractical with prompts alone.
Use prompts for quick questions, one-time tasks, and experimentation.
Use skills for repeated workflows, team standards, and complex multi-step processes.
Most developers use both. Skills handle common workflows while prompts fill gaps and handle unique situations.
Think of skills as your standard toolkit and prompts as your Swiss Army knife for unexpected needs.