skills - VLM Run

Upload

Zips and uploads the skill folder. Creates the skill. Name and description come from SKILL.md YAML frontmatter.

# Upload a skill folder
vlmrun skills upload ./my-skill

# Override name/description from frontmatter
vlmrun skills upload ./my-skill --name "invoice-extraction" --description "Extract invoice data"

Argument/Option	Description
`DIRECTORY`	Path to the skill folder (must contain `SKILL.md`)
`--name`, `-n`	Skill name (overrides frontmatter)
`--description`, `-d`	Skill description (overrides frontmatter)

Archives are stored under ~/.vlmrun/skill_archives/.

Inline Skills via CLI

vlmrun chat sends a --skill directory inline by default. The CLI zips the directory. No server upload.

# Use an inline skill (default behavior)
vlmrun chat "Extract data from this invoice" -i invoice.pdf --skill ./my-skill/

# To persist a skill on the server for reuse, upload it separately
vlmrun skills upload ./my-skill/

For production, upload with vlmrun skills upload and reference the skill by name.

Create

# From a text prompt
vlmrun skills create --prompt "Extract invoice_id, date, and total_amount from invoices."

# From a prompt file
vlmrun skills create --prompt-file instructions.txt

# With a JSON schema
vlmrun skills create --prompt "Extract invoice data" --schema schema.json

# From a pre-uploaded file ID
vlmrun skills create --file-id <file-id> --name "invoice-extraction"

Option	Short	Description
`--prompt`	`-p`	Text prompt to auto-generate the skill
`--prompt-file`	`-f`	Read prompt from a file
`--schema`		Path to a JSON schema file
`--file-id`		Pre-uploaded skill zip file ID
`--name`	`-n`	Skill name (required for `--file-id`)
`--description`	`-d`	Skill description
`--json`	`-j`	Output raw JSON

List

# List skills (latest 25)
vlmrun skills list

# Show only latest version per name
vlmrun skills list --grouped

# Custom sort and limit
vlmrun skills list --limit 50 --order-by name --asc

# Output raw JSON
vlmrun skills list --json

Option	Short	Description
`--limit`	`-n`	Max items to return (default: `25`)
`--offset`		Items to skip (default: `0`)
`--order-by`		Sort field: `created_at`, `updated_at`, or `name` (default: `created_at`)
`--desc` / `--asc`		Sort direction (default: `--desc`)
`--grouped`	`-g`	Show only latest version per skill name
`--json`	`-j`	Output raw JSON

Get

# Get by name (latest version)
vlmrun skills get invoice-extraction

# Get a specific version
vlmrun skills get invoice-extraction --version 20260219-abc123

# Get by ID
vlmrun skills get <skill-id>

# Output raw JSON
vlmrun skills get invoice-extraction --json

Argument/Option	Short	Description
`NAME_OR_ID`		Skill name or UUID (required)
`--version`	`-V`	Pin a specific version
`--json`	`-j`	Output raw JSON

Download

# Download to default location (~/.vlmrun/skills/)
vlmrun skills download invoice-extraction

# Download a specific version
vlmrun skills download invoice-extraction --version 20260219-abc123

# Download to a custom directory
vlmrun skills download invoice-extraction --output ./skills/

Argument/Option	Short	Description
`NAME_OR_ID`		Skill name or UUID (required)
`--version`	`-V`	Pin a specific version
`--output`	`-o`	Extract directory (default: `~/.vlmrun/skills`)