diff --git a/.github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh b/.github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..473314a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Frontmatter portability guard.
+#
+# Covers the two silent-skip gaps validate-skill@v1 leaves open:
+#   1. A UTF-8 BOM before the opening `---` passes validate-skill but makes
+#      Gemini CLI (and any parser anchoring /^---/) skip the file silently.
+#      Checked for every skills/**/SKILL.md and agents/**/*.md.
+#   2. agents/**/*.md frontmatter has no validator at all (validate-skill
+#      hard-requires the filename SKILL.md; `claude plugin validate` exits 0
+#      on a broken agent block). Checked here: frontmatter first, closed,
+#      non-empty name + description, name matches the filename stem.
+#
+# Skill frontmatter content is deliberately NOT re-validated here —
+# Flash-Brew-Digital/validate-skill owns that in the validate-skills CI job.
+#
+# Parsing is plain-text matching, not YAML-aware: keys are expected as bare
+# `name: value` / `description: value` lines (the only forms used in this
+# repo). Quoted values would be flagged as mismatches — keep values unquoted.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+cd "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
+
+errors=0
+
+fail() {
+  echo "error: $1" >&2
+  errors=$((errors + 1))
+}
+
+# Strip trailing CR (CRLF files) and trailing whitespace.
+trim() {
+  sed 's/[[:space:]]*$//'
+}
+
+# --- 1. BOM guard (skills + agents) ---------------------------------------
+# find -L so symlinked SKILL.md files are checked too.
+while IFS= read -r file; do
+  if [ "$(head -c 3 "$file" | od -An -tx1 | tr -d ' \n')" = "efbbbf" ]; then
+    fail "$file starts with a UTF-8 BOM — Gemini CLI silently skips it"
+  fi
+done < <(find -L skills -name SKILL.md -type f; find -L agents -name '*.md' -type f)
+
+# --- 2. Agent frontmatter (agents only) -----------------------------------
+while IFS= read -r file; do
+  if [ "$(head -n 1 "$file" | trim)" != "---" ]; then
+    fail "$file: frontmatter must start on line 1 with ---"
+    continue
+  fi
+  close_line=$(awk 'NR > 1 && $0 ~ /^---[[:space:]]*$/ { print NR; exit }' "$file")
+  if [ -z "$close_line" ]; then
+    fail "$file: frontmatter block is never closed with ---"
+    continue
+  fi
+  block=$(sed -n "2,$((close_line - 1))p" "$file" | trim)
+  name=$(printf '%s\n' "$block" | sed -n 's/^name:[[:space:]]*//p' | head -n 1)
+  if [ -z "$name" ]; then
+    fail "$file: frontmatter has no non-empty name"
+  elif [ "$name" != "$(basename "$file" .md)" ]; then
+    fail "$file: name '$name' does not match filename stem"
+  fi
+  if ! printf '%s\n' "$block" | grep -q '^description:'; then
+    fail "$file: frontmatter has no description"
+  else
+    desc=$(printf '%s\n' "$block" | sed -n 's/^description:[[:space:]]*//p' | head -n 1)
+    case "$desc" in
+      "" | "|" | "|-" | "|+" | ">" | ">-" | ">+")
+        # Empty or block-scalar-only value: require at least one non-empty
+        # indented continuation line, else the description is effectively
+        # empty — the exact silent-skip case on Gemini/Codex/OpenCode.
+        if ! printf '%s\n' "$block" | awk '
+          /^description:/ { in_block = 1; next }
+          in_block && /^[^[:space:]]/ { in_block = 0 }
+          in_block && /[^[:space:]]/ { found = 1 }
+          END { exit !found }
+        '; then
+          fail "$file: description is empty"
+        fi
+        ;;
+    esac
+  fi
+done < <(find -L agents -name '*.md' -type f)
+
+if [ "$errors" -gt 0 ]; then
+  echo "check-frontmatter: $errors problem(s) found" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "check-frontmatter: all skills and agents pass"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index d07d78e..77c97fc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -30,36 +30,31 @@ jobs:
             **/*.md
             !CHANGELOG.md
           config: 'config/cspell.json'
-  detect-changed-skills:
-    name: 🔎 Detect Changed Skills
+  list-skills:
+    name: 🔎 List Skills
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
-      skills: ${{ steps.changed-skills.outputs.skills }}
+      skills: ${{ steps.list-skills.outputs.skills }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-      - name: Get changed skills
-        id: changed-skills
+      - name: List all skills
+        id: list-skills
         run: |
-          BASE=${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
-          HEAD=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
-          SKILLS=$(git diff --name-only $BASE $HEAD | \
-            { grep 'SKILL.md' || true; } | \
+          SKILLS=$(find -L skills -name SKILL.md -type f | \
             xargs -I {} dirname {} | \
             sort -u | \
             jq -R -s -c 'split("\n") | map(select(length > 0))')
           echo "skills=$SKILLS" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-          echo "Changed skills: $SKILLS"
+          echo "Skills: $SKILLS"
   validate-skills:
     name: 🔍 Validate Skills
-    needs: detect-changed-skills
-    if: needs.detect-changed-skills.outputs.skills != '[]'
+    needs: list-skills
+    if: needs.list-skills.outputs.skills != '[]'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        skill: ${{ fromJson(needs.detect-changed-skills.outputs.skills) }}
+        skill: ${{ fromJson(needs.list-skills.outputs.skills) }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v7
       - name: Validate ${{ matrix.skill }}
@@ -76,6 +71,16 @@ jobs:
           echo "Valid: ${{ steps.validate.outputs.valid }}"
           echo "Errors: ${{ steps.validate.outputs.errors }}"
           echo "Warnings: ${{ steps.validate.outputs.warnings }}"
+  frontmatter-guard:
+    name: 🛡️ Frontmatter Guard
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+      # Covers what validate-skills cannot: UTF-8 BOM detection (Gemini-fatal,
+      # passes validate-skill) and agents/**/*.md frontmatter (validate-skill
+      # only accepts files named SKILL.md).
+      - name: Check frontmatter portability
+        run: bash .github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh
   plugin-validate:
     name: 📦 Plugin Validation
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 995793f..fd208d6 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ skills/
   bloc/SKILL.md
   bloc/references/
   create-project/SKILL.md
+  create-project/references/interaction-fallbacks.md  # symlink → skills/shared/references/
   dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade/SKILL.md
   green-gate/SKILL.md
   green-gate/references/
@@ -48,6 +49,9 @@ skills/
   license-compliance/SKILL.md
   material-theming/SKILL.md
   navigation/SKILL.md
+  shared/
+    references/
+      interaction-fallbacks.md  # AskUserQuestion + allowed-tools fallbacks; symlinked into consuming skills
   static-security/SKILL.md
   static-security/references/
   testing/SKILL.md
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index a070aa1..9755156 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ argument-hint: "[file-or-directory]"   # optional
 
 | Field | Required | Rules |
 | ----- | -------- | ----- |
-| `name` | Yes | Must match the skill's folder name exactly; lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only |
+| `name` | Yes | Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only; no leading, trailing, or consecutive hyphen; 1-64 chars; **must match the skill's directory name** (enforced in CI by `validate-skill`) |
 | `description` | Yes | Describes when the skill should be triggered |
 | `allowed-tools` | Yes | Comma-separated list of tools the skill may use |
 | `argument-hint` | No | Placeholder hint shown to the user |
@@ -69,6 +69,78 @@ Add the new skill directory and files to the repository structure tree in `CLAUD
 - **Reference packages by full name** (e.g., `package:mocktail`, not just "mocktail").
 - **Show anti-patterns alongside correct patterns** when helpful, so readers understand both what to do and what to avoid.
 
+## Cross-harness portability
+
+Skills are authored for Claude Code but target the [Agent Skills open
+standard](https://agentskills.io/specification) (the `npx skills` format, supported by
+many agents), so they should degrade gracefully on non-Claude harnesses such as Codex,
+Gemini CLI, and OpenCode without changing Claude Code behavior. Under that standard a skill
+is a **static instruction set**: the agent loads it by matching its `description`, then reads
+the body — there is no argument or template substitution. `$ARGUMENTS` and
+`${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}` are Claude Code conveniences, not spec features, so a body that uses
+them must still work when they arrive unsubstituted.
+
+**`$ARGUMENTS`** — not a spec concept; on a plain Agent Skill it is never substituted and
+stays literal. Always pair it with a fallback that fires when it is empty *or still shows
+the literal text* `$ARGUMENTS`:
+
+```markdown
+<feature_description>$ARGUMENTS</feature_description>
+
+**If the feature description above is empty or still shows the literal text
+`$ARGUMENTS` (the host did not substitute it), ask the user** for it (or read it
+from the conversation).
+```
+
+**`${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}`** — no skill here uses it today (the hooks use
+`${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}`, resolved by Claude Code, not by skill bodies). If a future skill
+references a bundled file, prefer the spec form — a **relative path from the skill root**
+(`scripts/x.sh`) — and add a fallback for hosts that do not substitute the absolute form.
+
+**Frontmatter** — an agent silently skips a skill whose frontmatter is malformed. Keep the
+opening `---` on line 1, close the block with `---`, and include a non-empty `name:`
+(kebab-case, **matching the directory name**) and `description:`. The spec also allows
+`license`, `compatibility`, `metadata`, and `allowed-tools`. This plugin's Claude Code
+extras (`when_to_use`, `argument-hint`, `effort`, `model`) are not spec fields, but
+`npx skills` and other agents ignore unknown frontmatter keys — keep them top-level so
+Claude Code reads them and nothing else breaks. (The spec's optional `skills-ref` linter is
+stricter, rejecting any top-level field outside the six it allows; `npx skills` does not run
+it, and nesting these extras under `metadata:` is the escape hatch if strict conformance is
+ever needed.) The `Skill validation` CI job (`Flash-Brew-Digital/validate-skill@v1`) enforces
+the spec (including name-matches-directory) across every skill on each pull request, and
+`.github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh` guards the gaps it leaves — a UTF-8 BOM (Gemini-fatal but
+passes `validate-skill`) and `agents/**/*.md` frontmatter, which no other check covers.
+
+**MCP references** — this plugin registers two MCP servers in `.mcp.json`: `dart` (Dart and
+Flutter actions) and `very-good-cli` (scaffolding, tests, license checks). On Claude Code
+they are the primary execution path, and the `check-vgv-cli.sh` / `block-cli-workarounds.sh`
+hooks deliberately steer the quality gates through the MCP tools instead of the raw CLI — do
+not weaken that on Claude Code. Those hooks do not run on other hosts and the MCP servers may
+not be connected there, so every skill that drives an MCP tool must name the equivalent
+`very_good` / `dart` / `flutter` CLI command as a fallback and never block when the server is
+absent. The `dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade` and `very-good-analysis-upgrade` skills already phrase
+this as "use the MCP tool if available; otherwise Bash" — match that.
+
+**Subagents** — subagents are not part of the Agent Skills standard, and no skill in this
+plugin dispatches one. The `flutter-reviewer` agent (`agents/flutter-reviewer.md`) is a
+Claude Code construct; on a host without a subagent mechanism its four preloaded standards
+(`bloc`, `testing`, `static-security`, `accessibility`) still apply — run the review inline
+against those skills instead of dispatching the agent.
+
+**`AskUserQuestion` and `allowed-tools`** — both are Claude Code conveniences. A skill that
+asks the user a structured question or declares a narrow `allowed-tools` list carries the
+cross-harness fallbacks in [`skills/shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md`](skills/shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md):
+ask the same question as plain numbered text where `AskUserQuestion` is absent, and treat
+`allowed-tools` as a permission hint rather than a hard cap.
+
+**Shared content via symlinks** — references shared across skills live once under
+`skills/shared/references/` and are symlinked into each consuming skill's `references/`
+directory (for example `interaction-fallbacks.md`). `npx skills` dereferences symlinks when
+it copies a cloned or local skill, so those install paths work as-is. Before relying on a
+server-side snapshot install, verify with a real `npx skills add` that the shared files
+arrive intact; if they do not, materialize them (dereference the symlinks into real files at
+publish time, or vendor real copies).
+
 ## Testing Locally
 
 Editing a skill or hook and pushing straight to a PR only tells you the files
@@ -144,15 +216,20 @@ Then, inside a session:
 
 ### Validate before you push
 
-Run the same check CI runs, from the repository root:
+Run the same checks CI runs, from the repository root:
 
 ```bash
 claude plugin validate .
 ```
 
-This validates the manifest, skill frontmatter, hook JSON, MCP config, and file
-references. It is static, so it confirms structure but does not replace the live
-checks above.
+```bash
+bash .github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh
+```
+
+The first validates the manifest, skill frontmatter, hook JSON, MCP config, and file
+references. The second is the frontmatter guard (UTF-8 BOM detection plus `agents/**/*.md`
+frontmatter). Both are static, so they confirm structure but do not replace the live checks
+above.
 
 ### Troubleshooting
 
@@ -170,10 +247,12 @@ Every pull request runs the following checks automatically:
 
 | Check | What it does | Config |
 | ----- | ------------ | ------ |
+| Markdown lint | Lints all `*.md` files (except `CHANGELOG.md`) | `config/custom.markdownlint.jsonc` |
 | Spelling | Runs cspell on all `*.md` files | `config/cspell.json` |
-| File size | Ensures no file exceeds 50 KB | `scripts/check_large_files.sh` |
-| Skill validation | Validates `SKILL.md` frontmatter and structure | `scripts/validate_skills.sh` |
-| Plugin validation | Validates and test-installs the plugin | `claude plugin validate .` |
+| Skill validation | Validates **every** `SKILL.md`'s frontmatter and structure against the Agent Skills spec, so a malformed skill fails the build instead of silently vanishing on another host | `Flash-Brew-Digital/validate-skill@v1` |
+| Frontmatter guard | Fails on a UTF-8 BOM in any `SKILL.md` or agent file (Gemini-fatal, passes validate-skill) and validates `agents/**/*.md` frontmatter, which no other check covers | `.github/scripts/check-frontmatter.sh` |
+| Plugin validation | Validates the plugin manifests via the Claude Code CLI | `claude plugin validate .` |
+| Script tests | Runs the hook script unit tests | `hooks/scripts/*_test.sh` |
 
 If the spelling check flags a legitimate word, add it to `config/cspell.json` in the `words` array.
 
diff --git a/agents/flutter-reviewer.md b/agents/flutter-reviewer.md
index 760c7ee..61e3c06 100644
--- a/agents/flutter-reviewer.md
+++ b/agents/flutter-reviewer.md
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ Determine the change set adaptively, from the repository root:
    per affected package.
 
 Read the changed files with `Read`/`Grep` to review their full context, not just the diff hunks.
-You may use `mcp__dart__analyze_files` to corroborate a skill-based judgment, but analyzer output is
-not itself a findings source (see "What not to report").
+When the Dart MCP server is connected, you may use `mcp__dart__analyze_files` to corroborate a
+skill-based judgment, but analyzer output is not itself a findings source (see "What not to
+report"). If it is unavailable, rely on the four preloaded standards alone.
 
 ### When scoping fails
 
diff --git a/config/cspell.json b/config/cspell.json
index 2ebb3a6..9c1313e 100644
--- a/config/cspell.json
+++ b/config/cspell.json
@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@
   "words": [
     "activatable",
     "adversarial",
+    "agentskills",
     "antipattern",
     "Automator",
     "Bidirectionality",
     "Bienvenido",
     "bypassable",
+    "Codex",
     "dartdoc",
     "CSPRNG",
     "Cupertino",
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@
     "mocktail",
     "monorepo",
     "Mundo",
+    "opencode",
     "pasteable",
     "prefs",
     "pubspec",
diff --git a/skills/accessibility/SKILL.md b/skills/accessibility/SKILL.md
index 67cd184..30d4cb5 100644
--- a/skills/accessibility/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/accessibility/SKILL.md
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ Apply these standards to all accessibility work:
 
 Every accessibility engagement follows four phases in sequence. Do not skip Phase 1 or Phase 2.
 
+> **Cross-harness note.** Phases 1, 2, and 4 below use `AskUserQuestion`. On a host without it, ask the same question as plain numbered text and wait for the reply before proceeding. See [interaction fallbacks](references/interaction-fallbacks.md).
+
 ### Phase 1: Conformance Level Selection
 
 Use `AskUserQuestion` to ask:
diff --git a/skills/accessibility/references/interaction-fallbacks.md b/skills/accessibility/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..9492dce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/accessibility/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/skills/create-project/SKILL.md b/skills/create-project/SKILL.md
index cc1361f..a071b72 100644
--- a/skills/create-project/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/create-project/SKILL.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ model: haiku
 
 Scaffold a new Dart or Flutter project using Very Good CLI templates.
 
+> **Cross-harness fallbacks.** This skill drives the Very Good CLI MCP server and asks the user structured questions. On a host without that MCP server connected, run the equivalent `very_good create …` and `very_good packages get` commands directly. On a host without `AskUserQuestion`, ask the same questions as plain numbered text. See [interaction fallbacks](references/interaction-fallbacks.md).
+
 ---
 
 ## Core Standards
diff --git a/skills/create-project/references/interaction-fallbacks.md b/skills/create-project/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..9492dce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/create-project/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/skills/dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade/SKILL.md b/skills/dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade/SKILL.md
index 8f41d8b..627eaaf 100644
--- a/skills/dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/dart-flutter-sdk-upgrade/SKILL.md
@@ -48,9 +48,10 @@ for the target Flutter release before editing any files.
 3. Note the Dart version listed alongside it
 
 The target version comes from `$ARGUMENTS` (e.g. `3.41.0`) when the user supplied one. If
-`$ARGUMENTS` is empty, look up the latest Flutter stable release from that same page. For pure
-Dart packages (no Flutter dependency), the Dart version is whatever `$ARGUMENTS` specifies or
-the latest stable — no Flutter mapping needed.
+`$ARGUMENTS` is empty or still shows the literal text `$ARGUMENTS` (the host did not substitute
+it), look up the latest Flutter stable release from that same page. For pure Dart packages (no
+Flutter dependency), the Dart version is whatever `$ARGUMENTS` specifies or the latest stable —
+no Flutter mapping needed.
 
 Confirm both resolved versions with the user before editing files.
 
diff --git a/skills/green-gate/SKILL.md b/skills/green-gate/SKILL.md
index 61fe2a2..b1d9511 100644
--- a/skills/green-gate/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/green-gate/SKILL.md
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ Apply these to ALL green-gate work:
   coverage via `mcp__very-good-cli__test`. The Bash test path
   (`very_good test`, `flutter test`, `dart test`) is hook-blocked by
   `block-cli-workarounds.sh`; `dart analyze` via Bash is redundant with the MCP
-  tool. **Bash is reserved for parsing `coverage/lcov.info` only.**
+  tool. **Bash is reserved for parsing `coverage/lcov.info` only.** This MCP-only
+  rule is a Claude Code constraint enforced by that hook; it does not run on other
+  hosts. **Cross-harness fallback:** on a host without the hook and without the MCP
+  servers connected, run the equivalent `dart analyze`, `dart format`, and
+  `very_good test` CLI commands instead — never block on a missing MCP server.
 - **Never cache green** — re-evaluate every gate every round. Fixing analyze or
   test failures and writing new test files shifts both formatting and the
   coverage denominator, so a previously green gate can regress.
diff --git a/skills/layered-architecture/SKILL.md b/skills/layered-architecture/SKILL.md
index 3a57f01..0a5b185 100644
--- a/skills/layered-architecture/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/layered-architecture/SKILL.md
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ Apply these standards to ALL layered architecture work:
 - **Repositories accept data layer dependencies via constructor injection** — never instantiate clients internally
 - **App bootstrap wires all layers** — `main_<flavor>.dart` creates clients and repositories, provides them via `RepositoryProvider`
 
+> **Cross-harness fallback.** This skill scaffolds and tests packages via the Very Good CLI MCP server. On a host without that MCP server connected, run the equivalent `very_good create dart_package …`, `very_good packages get`, and `very_good test` commands directly.
+
 ## Architecture Overview
 
 | Layer | Responsibility | Location | Depends On | Example |
diff --git a/skills/license-compliance/SKILL.md b/skills/license-compliance/SKILL.md
index bb1296a..d60fc2a 100644
--- a/skills/license-compliance/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/license-compliance/SKILL.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ effort: medium
 
 Dependency license auditor for Dart and Flutter projects — verifies that all package dependencies use licenses compatible with the project's requirements using the Very Good CLI MCP tools.
 
+> **Cross-harness fallback.** On Claude Code the `packages_check_licenses` MCP tool is the execution path. On a host without the Very Good CLI MCP server connected, run `very_good packages check licenses --licenses` directly (add `--directory <path>` for a project in a subdirectory) and read its output the same way — never block on a missing MCP server.
+
 ---
 
 ## Core Standards
diff --git a/skills/shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md b/skills/shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3bd61a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/shared/references/interaction-fallbacks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Interaction fallbacks
+
+Cross-harness fallbacks for the Claude-specific interaction constructs. A strong host
+(Claude Code) uses the primary construct and ignores these notes; a weaker host follows
+them. Each is a diff against the primary path, not a replacement.
+
+## No structured-question tool (`AskUserQuestion`)
+
+`AskUserQuestion` is Claude-specific. On a host without it, ask the same question as
+**plain numbered text** and treat the user's next reply as the choice. Preserve the same
+options and the same default; a multi-select becomes "reply with all that apply".
+
+**Before an operation that writes or is hard to undo** — scaffolding a project into an
+existing directory, applying a batch of code fixes, or anything that overwrites files —
+never auto-proceed on a default. Stop, state what the operation will do, ask in plain
+text, and wait for an explicit reply. A headless or autonomous host must halt here rather
+than pick the default option.
+
+## Narrow `allowed-tools`
+
+`allowed-tools` is an experimental spec field; some hosts treat the list as an
+exhaustive allow-list rather than a permission hint. A skill whose body needs to read,
+write, edit, or run commands beyond its declared list must use whatever tools the task
+requires — the list is a permission hint for Claude Code, not a cap on the skill's work.
+If a host enforces the list and blocks a needed tool, that is the signal to widen the
+frontmatter list to the full set the skill uses.
diff --git a/skills/testing/SKILL.md b/skills/testing/SKILL.md
index 78c5ed4..b2e68ea 100644
--- a/skills/testing/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/testing/SKILL.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Apply these standards to ALL test work:
 - **Tag all golden tests** — annotate with `TestTag.golden` so goldens can run/update independently
 - **Pass `directory` to the `test` MCP tool when the project is not at the workspace root** — monorepos with the Flutter project in a subdirectory (e.g. `mobile/`) require `directory: 'mobile'`; omit it only when `pubspec.yaml` is at the workspace root
 - **Pass `timeout_seconds` to the `test` MCP tool** — Flutter tests can hang indefinitely when `pumpAndSettle()` is called without a timeout; set a cap (e.g. `timeout_seconds: 120`) so the run is killed instead of stalling
+- **Cross-harness fallback for the `test` MCP tool** — on Claude Code use `mcp__very-good-cli__test`; on a host without that MCP server connected, run `very_good test` (or `flutter test` / `dart test`) directly with the same coverage and timeout options — never block on a missing MCP server
 
 ## Test Structure
 
diff --git a/skills/ui-package/SKILL.md b/skills/ui-package/SKILL.md
index d842516..a90cfdf 100644
--- a/skills/ui-package/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/ui-package/SKILL.md
@@ -83,3 +83,5 @@ my_ui/
 ## Creating the Package
 
 Use the Very Good CLI MCP tool to scaffold the `app_ui_package`.
+
+> **Cross-harness fallback.** On a host without the Very Good CLI MCP server connected, run the equivalent `very_good create` command for the UI package template directly.
diff --git a/skills/very-good-analysis-upgrade/SKILL.md b/skills/very-good-analysis-upgrade/SKILL.md
index fe95178..0cc45c2 100644
--- a/skills/very-good-analysis-upgrade/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/very-good-analysis-upgrade/SKILL.md
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ These standards apply to every `very_good_analysis` upgrade.
 Confirm two things before proceeding:
 
 1. **Target version** — use `$ARGUMENTS` as the target version when the user supplied one
-   (e.g. `10.0.0`). If `$ARGUMENTS` is empty, fetch the latest from the pub.dev API and use
+   (e.g. `10.0.0`). If `$ARGUMENTS` is empty or still shows the literal text `$ARGUMENTS`
+   (the host did not substitute it), fetch the latest from the pub.dev API and use
    that. Don't ask — just look it up and proceed:
 
     ```bash