docs(plugin-dev): deprecate commands/ in favor of skills/<name>/SKILL.md (#717)

P0 follow-up for EA-471. Updates plugin-dev teaching materials to stop
recommending the commands/ directory layout for new plugins:

- command-development/SKILL.md: add legacy banner at top pointing to
  skills/ format
- create-plugin.md: update scaffolding to create skills/<name>/SKILL.md
  instead of commands/; mark commands/ as acceptable legacy alternative;
  update all examples, tables, and testing instructions
- example-plugin: migrate example-command to skills/example-command/SKILL.md;
  keep commands/example-command.md with a legacy-format note; update README
  to reflect new preferred structure

Both formats remain loaded identically — this is a documentation change only.

Refs: anthropics/apps#26827

Co-authored-by: Henry Shi <henrys@anthropic.com>

plugins/example-plugin/README.md

@@ -7,32 +7,24 @@ A comprehensive example plugin demonstrating Claude Code extension options.
 ```
 example-plugin/
 ├── .claude-plugin/
-│   └── plugin.json        # Plugin metadata
-├── .mcp.json              # MCP server configuration
-├── commands/
-│   └── example-command.md # Slash command definition
-└── skills/
-    └── example-skill/
-        └── SKILL.md       # Skill definition
+│   └── plugin.json            # Plugin metadata
+├── .mcp.json                  # MCP server configuration
+├── skills/
+│   ├── example-skill/
+│   │   └── SKILL.md           # Model-invoked skill (contextual guidance)
+│   └── example-command/
+│       └── SKILL.md           # User-invoked skill (slash command)
+└── commands/
+    └── example-command.md     # Legacy slash command format (see note below)
 ```
 
 ## Extension Options
 
-### Commands (`commands/`)
-
-Slash commands are user-invoked via `/command-name`. Define them as markdown files with frontmatter:
-
-```yaml
----
-description: Short description for /help
-argument-hint: <arg1> [optional-arg]
-allowed-tools: [Read, Glob, Grep]
----
-```
-
 ### Skills (`skills/`)
 
-Skills are model-invoked capabilities. Create a `SKILL.md` in a subdirectory:
+Skills are the preferred format for both model-invoked capabilities and user-invoked slash commands. Create a `SKILL.md` in a subdirectory:
+
+**Model-invoked skill** (activated by task context):
 
 ```yaml
 ---
@@ -42,6 +34,21 @@ version: 1.0.0
 ---
 ```
 
+**User-invoked skill** (slash command — `/skill-name`):
+
+```yaml
+---
+name: skill-name
+description: Short description for /help
+argument-hint: <arg1> [optional-arg]
+allowed-tools: [Read, Glob, Grep]
+---
+```
+
+### Commands (`commands/`) — legacy
+
+> **Note:** The `commands/*.md` layout is a legacy format. It is loaded identically to `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` — the only difference is file layout. For new plugins, prefer the `skills/` directory format. This plugin keeps `commands/example-command.md` as a reference for the legacy layout.
+
 ### MCP Servers (`.mcp.json`)
 
 Configure external tool integration via Model Context Protocol:

plugins/example-plugin/commands/example-command.md

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 ---
-description: An example slash command that demonstrates command frontmatter options
+description: An example slash command that demonstrates command frontmatter options (legacy format)
 argument-hint: <required-arg> [optional-arg]
 allowed-tools: [Read, Glob, Grep, Bash]
 ---
 
-# Example Command
+# Example Command (Legacy `commands/` Format)
+
+> **Note:** This demonstrates the legacy `commands/*.md` layout. For new plugins, prefer the `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` directory format (see `skills/example-command/SKILL.md` in this plugin). Both are loaded identically — the only difference is file layout.
 
 This command demonstrates slash command structure and frontmatter options.
 

plugins/example-plugin/skills/example-command/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+name: example-command
+description: An example user-invoked skill that demonstrates frontmatter options and the skills/<name>/SKILL.md layout
+argument-hint: <required-arg> [optional-arg]
+allowed-tools: [Read, Glob, Grep, Bash]
+---
+
+# Example Command (Skill Format)
+
+This demonstrates the `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` layout for user-invoked slash commands. It is functionally identical to the legacy `commands/example-command.md` format — both are loaded the same way; only the file layout differs.
+
+## Arguments
+
+The user invoked this with: $ARGUMENTS
+
+## Instructions
+
+When this skill is invoked:
+
+1. Parse the arguments provided by the user
+2. Perform the requested action using allowed tools
+3. Report results back to the user
+
+## Frontmatter Options Reference
+
+Skills in this layout support these frontmatter fields:
+
+- **name**: Skill identifier (matches directory name)
+- **description**: Short description shown in /help
+- **argument-hint**: Hints for command arguments shown to user
+- **allowed-tools**: Pre-approved tools for this skill (reduces permission prompts)
+- **model**: Override the model (e.g., "haiku", "sonnet", "opus")
+
+## Example Usage
+
+```
+/example-command my-argument
+/example-command arg1 arg2
+```