Scenario 38: Create a layer from a skill package

Use this when you want to configure a reusable layer from a remote skill package like dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills without applying it to a project yet.

Frequency: Common · Status: Shipped

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Use this when you want to configure a reusable layer from a remote skill package like dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills without applying it to a project yet.

Typical commands:

# Configure only (no hub install, no layer apply)
harnesstap layer create dbt-expert \
  --from dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills \
  --all --exclude-category dbt-migration \
  -d "dbt analytics engineering baseline" -y

# Interactive skill picker (migration skills unchecked by default)
harnesstap layer create dbt-expert --from dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills

# Merge new skills into an existing layer
harnesstap layer create dbt-expert \
  --from dbt-labs/dbt-agent-skills \
  --skill running-dbt-commands \
  --on-conflict merge -y

harnesstap layer show dbt-expert

layer create --from imports the package into the HarnessTap library and attaches namespaced skill refs to the layer. Use layer apply when you are ready to materialize the layer to a project. Use --install only when you also want skills copied or symlinked into hub paths immediately.

See Scenario 35 for the lower-level add command and Scenario 5 for manual layer curation.