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pm-skills

Ecosystem

This guide explains the PM-Skills ecosystem, which comprises two complementary products that work together to bring professional product management skills to AI assistants.

Table of Contents

Overview

The PM-Skills ecosystem provides a file-based PM skill library plus an MCP server companion in maintenance mode. The current pm-skills repo ships 63 skill directories (30 phase skills, 8 foundation skills, 10 utility skills, 15 tool skills), while pm-skills-mcp (latest v2.9.3 in the v2.9.x maintenance line) embeds the full 40-skill catalog frozen at the v2.9.2 build.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     PM-Skills Ecosystem                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                 │
│   ┌─────────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────────┐         │
│   │     PM-Skills       │      │   PM-Skills MCP     │         │
│   │   (Skill Library)   │      │   (MCP Server)      │         │
│   │                     │      │                     │         │
│   │  • 63 skill files   │ ───► │  • MCP tools        │         │
│   │  • Slash commands   │      │  • MCP resources    │         │
│   │  • AGENTS.md        │      │  • MCP prompts      │         │
│   │  • Workflows       │      │  • Workflows       │         │
│   │                     │      │                     │         │
│   │  Git clone / ZIP    │      │  npm install        │         │
│   └─────────────────────┘      └─────────────────────┘         │
│              │                          │                       │
│              ▼                          ▼                       │
│   ┌─────────────────────┐      ┌─────────────────────┐         │
│   │  Claude Code        │      │  Claude Desktop     │         │
│   │  GitHub Copilot     │      │  Cursor             │         │
│   │  Cursor             │      │  Continue           │         │
│   │  Windsurf           │      │  Cline              │         │
│   │  VS Code            │      │  Any MCP Client     │         │
│   └─────────────────────┘      └─────────────────────┘         │
│                                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Both products provide access to the same shipped PM-Skills library.they differ in how you access it.

The Two Products

PM-Skills (Skill Library)

Repository: github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills

PM-Skills is the source skill library.a collection of markdown files containing professional PM frameworks, templates, and examples.

What It Provides

ComponentCountDescription
Skills63Complete PM artifacts (30 phase skills + 8 foundation skills + 10 utility skills + 15 tool skills)
Slash Commands73Command markdown files (60 skill commands + 10 workflow commands + 3 sub-agent companion commands)
Workflows12Multi-skill workflows (Feature Kickoff, Lean Startup, Triple Diamond, foundation-sprint, design-sprint, foundation-to-design, and 6 more)
Documentation~10 filesGuides, references, and framework explanations

All 63 skills are registered in AGENTS.md with corresponding slash commands in commands/. 12 workflows are in _workflows/.

Directory Structure

pm-skills/
├── skills/               # The 63 shipped skills (flat, including foundation, utility, tool)
│   ├── discover-competitive-analysis/
│   ├── define-hypothesis/
│   ├── develop-adr/
│   ├── deliver-prd/
│   ├── measure-experiment-design/
│   └── iterate-retrospective/
├── commands/             # 73 command markdown files for Claude Code
├── _workflows/           # Workflows
├── docs/                 # Documentation
└── AGENTS.md             # Universal agent discovery

Access Methods

  1. Git Clone . Full access to all files
  2. ZIP Download . Upload to Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, etc.
  3. Slash Commands . Direct invocation in Claude Code (/prd)
  4. AGENTS.md Discovery . Auto-discovery in Copilot, Cursor, Windsurf

Best For

  • Claude Code users (native slash command support)
  • Teams who want to customize skills
  • Users who prefer browsing skill files directly
  • Contributors who want to improve skills

PM-Skills MCP (MCP Server)

Maintenance mode (effective 2026-05-04)

Active development on pm-skills-mcp is paused. The latest release in the v2.9.x maintenance line is v2.9.3 (security-patch follow-up to v2.9.2; cleared all open Dependabot advisories on 2026-05-05). The MCP-embedded catalog is frozen at the v2.9.2 build state (40 MCP-embedded PM entries + 11 workflow tools + 8 utility tools = 59 tools); subsequent v2.9.x patches do not change the embedded catalog, and pm-skills v2.15.0’s new Foundation Sprint and Design Sprint families plus tool-note-and-vote are NOT embedded. The pm-skills file-based catalog has since grown to 63 skills total. Security patches and critical bug fixes will continue. New skill parity with the upstream pm-skills library is on hold after the v2.9.2 build. See MCP Integration for status details.

Repository: github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills-mcp npm Package: pm-skills-mcp

PM-Skills MCP is an MCP server that wraps the skill library, exposing skills as programmatic tools, resources, and prompts via the Model Context Protocol.

What It Provides

ComponentCountDescription
MCP ToolsRelease-specificSkill, workflow, and utility tools derived from the shipped library
MCP ResourcesRelease-specificURI-based access to skills, templates, and examples
MCP PromptsRelease-specificGuided conversation starters
Embedded SkillsRelease-specificBundled snapshot of pm-skills (zero external dependencies)

Key Capabilities

  • Programmatic Access . AI invokes tools directly via MCP protocol
  • Zero Configuration . Skills are embedded; just install and run
  • Universal . Works with any MCP-compatible client
  • Parameterized . Tools accept topic, context, format, and includeExample
  • Discoverable . pm_list_skills, pm_search_skills for skill exploration

Installation

Terminal window
npm install -g pm-skills-mcp

Or configure directly in your MCP client:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pm-skills": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["pm-skills-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Best For

  • Claude Desktop users
  • Cursor users (MCP integration)
  • Teams wanting programmatic/tool-based access
  • Users who prefer zero file management
  • Any MCP client ecosystem

Decision Matrix

Use this matrix to choose between the file-based skill library and the MCP server.

Note: All “PM-Skills MCP” recommendations below assume the MCP server is in maintenance mode (effective 2026-05-04). New users should default to the file-based PM-Skills install; MCP recommendations apply primarily to teams already on the v2.9.x maintenance line (latest v2.9.3).

ScenarioRecommendedReason
Using Claude Code CLIPM-SkillsNative slash commands (/prd)
Using Claude DesktopPM-Skills MCPMCP provides seamless tool access
Using CursorEitherBoth work; MCP for less file clutter
Want to customize skillsPM-SkillsFork and modify skill files
Zero-config preferencePM-Skills MCPnpx pm-skills-mcp and done
Uploading to Claude.aiPM-SkillsZIP upload to Projects
Using GitHub CopilotPM-SkillsAGENTS.md auto-discovery
Building automationPM-Skills MCPProgrammatic tool invocation
Contributing new skillsPM-SkillsSubmit PRs to skill library
Using multiple MCP toolsPM-Skills MCPConsistent MCP interface

Feature Comparison

FeaturePM-SkillsPM-Skills MCP
Shipped PM-Skills catalog✅✅
Workflows✅ Manual✅ Tool-based
Slash Commands✅ 73 command docs❌ (use tools)
MCP Tools❌✅ Release-specific tool set
MCP Resources❌✅ Release-specific resource set
MCP Prompts❌✅ Release-specific prompt set
AGENTS.md Discovery✅✅
Custom Skill Path✅ Fork repo✅ PM_SKILLS_PATH env
InstallationGit clone / ZIPnpm install
Update Methodgit pullnpm update
Offline Use✅✅ (embedded skills)
LicenseApache 2.0Apache 2.0

Integration Patterns

File-Based Approach

Use pm-skills directly via git clone or ZIP upload.

Your Workspace
├── pm-skills/           # Cloned repository
│   ├── skills/          # Read by AI via AGENTS.md
│   └── commands/        # Slash commands for Claude Code
└── your-project/

Workflow:

  1. Clone pm-skills to your workspace
  2. AI discovers skills via AGENTS.md
  3. Invoke via slash commands or natural language
  4. Skills guide AI to produce artifacts

Pros: Full control, easy customization, works offline Cons: Manual updates, file management overhead

MCP-Based Approach

Use pm-skills-mcp for programmatic tool access.

┌───────────────┐     MCP Protocol     ┌─────────────────┐
│  MCP Client   │ ◄─────────────────► │  pm-skills-mcp  │
│ (Claude, etc) │                      │    (Server)     │
└───────────────┘                      └─────────────────┘
                                              │
                                              ▼
                                       ┌─────────────────┐
                                       │ Embedded Skills │
                                       │ (skill library) │
                                       └─────────────────┘

Workflow:

  1. Configure MCP client to connect to pm-skills-mcp
  2. AI invokes pm_* tools programmatically
  3. Server returns skill content, templates, or examples
  4. AI generates artifacts using returned content

Pros: Zero file management, universal across MCP clients, parameterized tools Cons: Requires MCP support, less direct file access

Hybrid Approach

Use both for maximum flexibility.

This approach works well when you:

  • Want slash commands in Claude Code AND MCP tools in Claude Desktop
  • Are customizing skills and want MCP to use your customizations
  • Need both file browsing and programmatic access

Configuration:

  1. Clone pm-skills for customization and Claude Code slash commands
  2. Install pm-skills-mcp for MCP client access
  3. Point MCP to your custom skills:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pm-skills": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["pm-skills-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PM_SKILLS_PATH": "/path/to/your/pm-skills/skills"
      }
    }
  }
}

Customization Workflow

To customize skills and use them across both products:

1. Fork PM-Skills

Terminal window
# Fork on GitHub, then clone your fork
git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/pm-skills.git
cd pm-skills

2. Modify Skills

Edit any SKILL.md, TEMPLATE.md, or EXAMPLE.md file:

Terminal window
# Example: Customize the PRD template
code skills/deliver-prd/references/TEMPLATE.md

3. Use Custom Skills in Claude Code

Your cloned repo works immediately.Claude Code reads from AGENTS.md.

4. Use Custom Skills in MCP

Point pm-skills-mcp to your custom skills directory:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pm-skills": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["pm-skills-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PM_SKILLS_PATH": "/path/to/your/pm-skills/skills"
      }
    }
  }
}

5. Keep Updated

Terminal window
# Add upstream remote
git remote add upstream https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills.git


# Fetch and merge updates
git fetch upstream
git merge upstream/main

Version Compatibility

PM-Skills VersionPM-Skills MCP VersionCompatibility
v2.4.xv2.4.xDirect version tracking . release versions align 1:1 across repos
v2.1.x to v2.3.xv2.1.x to v2.3.xFull alignment . flat structure, frontmatter-based phase
v2.0.xv1.1.0Partial . nested MCP, flat pm-skills
v1.2.xv1.0.xLegacy stable
v1.1.xv1.0.xLegacy compatible
v1.0.xv1.0.xLegacy compatible

Current Alignment Notes:

  • pm-skills-mcp tracks pm-skills releases directly in current shipped versions.
  • Resource URIs use the flat pm-skills://skills/{skill} form, with phase available in metadata where applicable.
  • Tool names remain stable: pm_prd, pm_hypothesis, etc.
  • Custom PM_SKILLS_PATH works with current pm-skills v2.x structure.

Compatibility Notes:

  • PM-Skills MCP embeds a snapshot of pm-skills at build time
  • Custom PM_SKILLS_PATH bypasses embedded skills (use any pm-skills version)

Quick Reference

PM-Skills

ActionCommand
Installgit clone https://github.com/product-on-purpose/pm-skills.git
Updategit pull origin main
Use skill/prd or “Create a PRD for…”
Browse skillsls skills/

PM-Skills MCP

ActionCommand
Install globallynpm install -g pm-skills-mcp
Run serverpm-skills-mcp or npx pm-skills-mcp
Updatenpm update -g pm-skills-mcp
Use skillAI invokes pm_prd tool
List skillsAI invokes pm_list_skills tool

Part of the PM-Skills ecosystem.