---
title: "Templates, Versions, Overrides, and Skills | Agent Barn"
canonical: "https://agentbarn.dev/guides/templates-versions-and-skills"
pubDate: "2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"
updatedDate: "2026-08-29T16:41:32.000Z"
author: Agent Barn
description: "Work safely with global templates, organization forks, Agent overrides, immutable versions, and required Skills."
tags: [Product guide, Template authors and operators, Agent Barn]
categories: [Guides]
---

# Templates, Versions, Overrides, and Skills

Templates are immutable, versioned configuration snapshots. Skills are packaged capabilities. An Agent pins exactly one version, so publishing new material never changes a running Agent until someone explicitly selects and applies it.

## Guide details

- Reference: GD-03
- Type: Product guide
- Audience: Template authors and operators

## Know the three Template scopes

Platform Templates are global built-ins. Organization Templates are custom lineages or forks visible within one Organization. Agent Template Overrides are private, Agent-owned snapshots for isolated customization. Each lineage has a stable opaque key that is independent of its display name.

## Publishing never moves an Agent pin

Publishing creates an immutable next version. A Platform restore also creates a new version rather than moving an active pointer or rewriting history. Existing Agents stay on their exact pinned version until explicitly repinned.

## Forks and source updates

Editing a built-in creates an Organization fork beginning at Organization version 1. A later Template Update copies the complete newer Platform snapshot and replaces the Organization customization in a new Organization version. Agent Override source updates repin to a complete newer direct source snapshot and leave any private draft untouched.

## Required Skills

Standalone required Skills must all be assigned. Skills sharing a group key form an at-least-one requirement. An Agent cannot remove the last assigned Skill from a required group, and provider requirements are checked when assignments change. Built-in provider Skills may also mount automatically when their credential is present.

## Bootstrap and authoring

File-based Platform Template definitions bootstrap missing lineages in a fresh environment only. After a lineage exists, database drafts and published versions are authoritative; redeploying does not overwrite admin-authored content.