MySQL Lore

MySQL Lore is a Codex skill for professional MySQL learning, log analysis, deep technical discussion, and topic-focused knowledge writing.

The skill is designed around a clear boundary: it does not connect to MySQL, execute SQL, inspect live databases, or apply operational changes. Its role is to explain, analyze, classify, and structure.

Positioning

The skill acts like a classroom-style MySQL internals lecturer with engineering judgment.

It is strongest at:

• Explaining MySQL and InnoDB internals step by step
• Analyzing slow logs, deadlocks, lock waits, and MySQL error symptoms
• Discussing root-cause hypotheses and evidence gaps
• Turning analysis into structured topic writeups

It is intentionally not built for:

• Database access
• SQL execution
• Schema or parameter changes
• Generic SQL generation

Main Modes

The skill works in three main modes:

1. Log analysis Analyze logs, errors, symptoms, and incident clues; rank likely causes; explain the underlying mechanism; identify missing evidence.

2. Teaching Explain MySQL topics such as MVCC, locks, redo and undo logs, indexes, optimizer behavior, replication, and recovery in a progressive way.

3. Topic writeup Turn a narrow MySQL subject or previous investigation into a structured technical writeup.

Output Style

• Default style: natural, classroom-style explanation
• Incident and log analysis: semi-structured output with clear separation between facts, inference, and next checks

The skill prioritizes mechanism-backed reasoning over shallow advice.

Repository Layout

mysql-lore/
  SKILL.md
  agents/
    openai.yaml

Compatibility

This repository uses mysql-lore/SKILL.md as the canonical source because it matches Codex and OpenClaw skill conventions.

Compatibility summary:

• OpenAI Codex / Codex app: native folder-based skill
• OpenClaw: native AgentSkills-compatible skill
• Claude: compatible, but package with Skill.md as the filename expected by Claude

Because many macOS filesystems are case-insensitive, this repo does not keep both SKILL.md and Skill.md side by side. For Claude packaging, copy or rename the file during packaging.

Installation

OpenAI Codex / Codex app

Install the skill by copying the mysql-lore folder into your local Codex skills directory:

mkdir -p "$CODEX_HOME/skills"
cp -R ./mysql-lore "$CODEX_HOME/skills/mysql-lore"

Then restart Codex or open a new session so the skill can be discovered.

OpenClaw

OpenClaw supports AgentSkills-compatible skill folders directly. You can install the skill in either of these common ways:

1. Workspace-local install

mkdir -p ./skills
cp -R ./mysql-lore ./skills/mysql-lore

2. Shared local install

mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills
cp -R ./mysql-lore ~/.openclaw/skills/mysql-lore

OpenClaw will load the skill from the active workspace or the shared skills directory on the next session. Depending on your OpenClaw setup, it may also detect skills from ./.agents/skills or ~/.agents/skills, but ./skills and ~/.openclaw/skills are the clearest defaults.

If you later publish this repository to a registry supported by OpenClaw, you can also install it through OpenClaw's skill install flow instead of copying files manually.

Claude

Claude custom Skills use the same general idea, but Claude expects a packaged skill folder whose root contains a Skill.md file. Claude Skills also require Skills support and code execution to be enabled in Claude.

To prepare this repo for Claude:

1. Create a temporary package folder.
2. Copy mysql-lore/SKILL.md to mysql-lore/Skill.md.
3. Zip the mysql-lore folder so the folder itself is the root of the ZIP.
4. Upload and enable the skill in Claude's Skills UI.

Example packaging flow:

rm -rf /tmp/mysql-lore-claude
mkdir -p /tmp/mysql-lore-claude/mysql-lore
cp ./mysql-lore/SKILL.md /tmp/mysql-lore-claude/mysql-lore/Skill.md
cd /tmp/mysql-lore-claude && zip -r mysql-lore-claude.zip mysql-lore

After packaging, upload the ZIP in Claude and enable it for your account or project.

Configuration Notes

• mysql-lore/SKILL.md is the source of truth for instructions and triggering behavior.
• mysql-lore/agents/openai.yaml is Codex-oriented UI metadata, mainly for display name, short description, and default prompt.
• No database access, credentials, MCP server, or external runtime is required for the current version of this skill.
• If you later add scripts or references, keep SKILL.md lean and move detailed material into resource files.

Files

• mysql-lore/SKILL.md: Core skill instructions, modes, guardrails, and response style
• mysql-lore/agents/openai.yaml: UI-facing metadata such as display name, short description, and default prompt

Example Uses

• "Use $mysql-lore to analyze this deadlock log and explain the likely root cause."
• "Use $mysql-lore to teach me how MVCC works in InnoDB step by step."
• "Use $mysql-lore to help me turn this slow-query investigation into a focused writeup."

References

• OpenClaw Skills docs: docs.openclaw.ai/skills
• Claude custom Skills guide: support.claude.com/en/articles/12512198-how-to-create-custom-skills
• Claude Skills usage guide: support.claude.com/en/articles/12512180-use-skills-in-claude
• Claude skills overview: claude.com/resources/tutorials/teach-claude-your-way-of-working-using-skills