Wraps shell commands with timeouts and execution time measurements to prevent indefinite hangs.
Install
mkdir -p .claude/skills/shell && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/10772" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/shell && rm skill.zipInstalls to .claude/skills/shell
Activation
This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.
<!-- markdownlint-disable MD003 MD022 MD026 MD041 -->Key capabilities
- →Measure command duration
- →Limit command execution time
- →Handle command errors
How it works
It uses standard shell utilities like `time` and `timeout` to monitor performance and prevent indefinite hangs.
Inputs & outputs
When to use shell
- →Monitor build performance
- →Prevent build hangs
- →Run long tests with timeouts
About this skill
name: shell description: Efficient shell command handling license: MIT
Shell Handling Skill
Execute shell commands with performance monitoring and timeout protection.
When to Use
- Long-running commands (builds, tests, deployments)
- Commands that might hang indefinitely
- Performance optimization and debugging
Core Patterns
Measure Execution Time
Prefix commands with time for duration visibility:
time command
time npm run build
Limit Execution Time
Use timeout to prevent indefinite hangs:
timeout 30s command
timeout 60s npm test || echo "Failed or timed out"
Combined Usage
time timeout 300s build_script.sh
Key Points
- Use
timefor all long operations to track performance - Set
timeoutbased on expected runtime plus buffer - Combine with
||for error handling fallbacks timeout --kill-after=5s 30sfor forceful termination if needed
When not to use it
- →When the command requires interactive input
- →When the environment lacks standard shell tools
Limitations
- →Timeout values must be estimated
- →Requires standard shell environment
How it compares
It provides a standardized pattern for wrapping long-running commands to ensure system stability.
Compared to similar skills
shell side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.
| Skill | Installs | Updated | Safety | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shell (this skill) | 0 | 6mo | Review | Beginner |
| applescript | 28 | 8mo | Review | Advanced |
| bazel-build-optimization | 14 | 2mo | No flags | Advanced |
| home-assistant-manager | 9 | 8mo | Review | Advanced |
Try saying
Example prompts that trigger this skill in your AI assistant.
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