Division of Labor Between MCP and Skills
femke_plantinga · x · 2026-07-16
This post distinguishes the roles of MCP and Agent Skills in AI agents:
- MCP acts as the connection layer, structurally linking agents to tools, systems, and knowledge sources. It focuses on "enabling models to reliably access external resources."
- Skills act as the execution layer, defining the behaviors, steps, and reasoning an agent uses to complete tasks. It focuses on "how to get things done once the context is provided."
The author concludes that they are not competitors but complements. In practice, MCP ensures team knowledge and external systems are steadily accessible to the agent, while Skills ensure tasks are completed following clearer rules.
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