# AI Coding Tip 025 - Pair Every Skill With a Pitfalls File

DevFeed: [AI Coding Tip 025 - Pair Every Skill With a Pitfalls File](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/ai-coding-tip-025-pair-every-skill-with-a-pitfalls-file-18215.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://maximilianocontieri.com/ai-coding-tip-025-pair-every-skill-with-a-pitfalls-file>)

Author: Maxi Contieri

Published: 2026-06-20T00:51:51Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Maximiliano Contieri - Software Design](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/maximiliano-contieri-software-design.md>)

Topics: [ai-coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-coding.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/coding.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [Documentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/documentation.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [ai-coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-coding.md>), [coding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/coding.md>), [memory](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/memory.md>), [mistakes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mistakes.md>), [modular](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/modular.md>), [pitfalls](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pitfalls.md>), [skills](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/skills.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial recommends placing an append-only PITFALLS.md file beside each SKILL.md to record an AI's recurring mistakes, their triggers, and the correct behavior. The goal is to preserve corrections across sessions while keeping skill documentation focused on the normal workflow.

## Source excerpt

TL;DR: Add a PITFALLS.md next to every SKILL.md so your AI never repeats the same mistake twice. Common Mistake ❌ You write a great SKILL.md. The AI follows it well most of the time. Then it does som