Slides

Create, edit, and automate presentations with programmatic tools, visual consistency, and project-based learning of user style preferences.

When to Use

User needs presentation slides created, edited, or automated. Agent handles tool selection (python-pptx, Google Slides API, reveal.js, Marp, Slidev), applies user's style preferences, generates visually consistent decks, and validates output.

Architecture

Projects and styles stored in ~/slides/. See memory-template.md for setup.

text

~/slides/
├── memory.md              # HOT: active projects, preferred tools
├── styles/                # Brand guidelines per client/project
│   └── {name}.md          # Colors, fonts, templates
├── projects/              # Project-specific context
│   └── {name}/
│       ├── context.md     # Audience, purpose, constraints
│       └── versions.md    # Version history
└── templates/             # Approved slide structures
    └── {type}.md          # pitch, lesson, report, etc.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Memory setup	memory-template.md
Programmatic tools	tools.md
Visual design rules	design.md
Deck structures by type	formats.md

Data Storage

All data stored in ~/slides/. Create on first use:

bash

mkdir -p ~/slides/{styles,projects,templates}

Scope

This skill ONLY:

• Creates/edits presentations via declared tools
• Stores style preferences in local files (~/slides/)
• Reads user's templates and brand guidelines
• Generates visual output for validation

This skill NEVER:

• Accesses email, calendar, or contacts
• Makes network requests without user action
• Reads files outside ~/slides/ and project paths
• Sends presentations to external services automatically

Self-Modification

This skill NEVER modifies its own SKILL.md. Learned styles stored in ~/slides/styles/. Project context stored in ~/slides/projects/.

Core Rules

1. Identify Context First

Before generating slides:

• Purpose: Pitch, lesson, report, demo?
• Audience: Investors, students, executives, clients?
• Tool: PowerPoint, Google Slides, web-based (reveal.js)?
• Load relevant style from ~/slides/styles/ if exists

2. Tool Selection by Output

Need	Tool	When to use
.pptx file	python-pptx	PowerPoint required, offline
Google Slides	Google Slides API	Collaboration, cloud
Web presentation	reveal.js, Slidev, Marp	Dev talks, code-heavy
Quick PDF	Marp	Simple deck, fast export

3. Visual Consistency Always

• Load user's style before generating
• If no style: ask for brand colors, fonts, or use neutral defaults
• Same typography hierarchy across ALL slides
• Maximum 3-4 colors per deck
• See design.md for detailed rules

4. Content Density Limits

• Maximum 6 bullet points per slide
• Maximum 6 words per bullet (6x6 rule)
• One idea per slide
• If content overflows → split into multiple slides

5. Validate Before Delivery

• Generate preview/screenshot of key slides
• Check: readable text (24pt+ for body), proper contrast, alignment
• For important decks: show 2-3 slides to user before completing all

6. Learn User Preferences

Event	Action
User provides style guide	Save to ~/slides/styles/{name}.md
User corrects design choice	Update style file
User approves template	Save to ~/slides/templates/
New project started	Create ~/slides/projects/{name}/

7. Version Management

• Each significant revision → log in projects/{name}/versions.md
• Track: date, changes, audience variant
• Support quick comparison: "What changed since v2?"

Common Traps

• python-pptx units — Always use Inches(), Pt(), Emu() from pptx.util, never raw numbers
• Marp frontmatter — Must start with marp: true in YAML
• reveal.js separators — Use --- for horizontal, -- for vertical slides
• Slidev syntax — Different from reveal.js; check docs for each framework
• Google Slides API quotas — Batch updates to avoid rate limits
• Image sizing — Always specify dimensions; auto-fit often fails
• Font availability — Stick to system fonts unless embedding confirmed