Error Messages

by github

Error Messages is a Writing skill for Claude Code, published by github in gh-aw.

4.9K stars495 forkson github/gh-awAdded 2026/08/16Repository updated 2026/08/16

View source on GitHub Download repo ZIP

actionscaiciclaude-codecodexcopilotgh-extensiongithub-actions

Install in seconds

Install Error Messages

Copy Error Messages into your Claude Code skills folder. Run the command in your terminal, or review the source on GitHub before installing.

terminal

npx degit https://github.com/github/gh-aw/tree/main/.github/skills/error-messages ~/.claude/skills/error-messages

Requires Node.js. Downloads this skill only — not the rest of the repository — into your Claude Code skills folder.

Without Node.js

git clone https://github.com/github/gh-aw.git

Clones the whole repository, then copy the skill’s own directory into your skills folder yourself.

In this catalog

Source file: .github/skills/error-messages/SKILL.md in github/gh-aw
Installs to: ~/.claude/skills/error-messages
Collection: One of 25 skills cataloged from this repository
Category: Writing — 1012 skills

What Error Messages does

Error Messages defines a template and guidelines for writing clear, actionable validation error messages in the gh-aw codebase. Use it when creating or reviewing error messages to ensure they state the problem, expected format, and an example fix.

Error Messages is cataloged under Writing on DirSkills. Error Messages comes from a repository tagged actions, cai, ci, claude-code and codex.

Documentation

README

Excerpt

Error Message Style Guide

Use this format for gh-aw validation errors. Keep messages clear, actionable, and example-driven.

Error Message Template

[what's wrong]. [what's expected]. [example of correct usage]

Make each error message answer three questions:

What's wrong? - Clearly state the validation error
What's expected? - Explain the valid format or values
How to fix it? - Provide a concrete example of correct usage

Constructive Language

Avoid standalone negative wording. Pair it with expected behavior and a concrete fix.

This is the opening of the README. Read the full README on GitHub.

Frequently asked about Error Messages

What else does github publish alongside Error Messages?
Error Messages is one of 25 skills that DirSkills catalogs from github/gh-aw, the repository it ships in. Its siblings there include AWF Release Integrator, Agent Session CLI and Agent Task CLI. Each one is a separate skill with its own page in this directory, installs the same way Error Messages does, and is maintained by github in that same repository. The rest of the collection is listed on the github/gh-aw page.
How does Error Messages compare to other Writing skills?
Error Messages ranks #153 by stars among the 1012 Writing skills in this catalog. The most-starred ones next to it are Article Writing, Social Media Content Calendar and Knowledge Comic Creator. DirSkills ranks by the star count of the repository each skill ships in, so that order reflects how popular those repositories are rather than any review of Error Messages against them. Open each page to compare what they document and how they install.