> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# SVM Skill

> Solana protocol expert skill. Covers the SVM execution engine, account model, consensus, transactions, validator economics, data layer, development tooling, and token extensions. Works with Claude Code, Codex, OpenAI API, Cursor, and more.

The **SVM** skill makes your AI assistant a Solana protocol expert. It uses Helius MCP tools to fetch live content from the Helius blog, Solana docs, SIMDs, and validator source code (Agave and Firedancer). It then synthesizes deep, accurate explanations of Solana's architecture and internals.

This skill is for understanding *how Solana works*, not for building with Helius APIs (that's the [Build skill](/docs/agents/skills/build)).

<Info>
  **Claude Code:** `/helius:svm` (via [plugin](/docs/agents/claude-code-plugin)) or auto-invoked (standalone). **Codex:** `$svm` (auto-discovered from `.agents/skills/`). **API / Cursor / ChatGPT:** Use the pre-built [system prompt variants](/docs/agents/skills/overview#using-skills-across-platforms).
</Info>

## What It Covers

| Domain                      | Topics                                                                         | MCP Tools Used                                       |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Compilation Pipeline**    | Rust/C/Zig → LLVM IR → sBPF bytecode, eBPF origins                             | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `readSolanaSourceFile`            |
| **Program Deployment**      | BPF loader versions, deploy/upgrade lifecycle, ELF format                      | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `readSolanaSourceFile`            |
| **Execution Engine**        | JIT compilation, memory regions, compute units, sBPF ISA                       | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `readSolanaSourceFile`            |
| **Account Model**           | Ownership, rent, PDAs, CPIs, syscalls, commitment levels                       | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `searchSolanaDocs`                |
| **Transactions & Fees**     | Sealevel parallelism, local fee markets, TPU pipeline, MEV, SWQoS              | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `getSIMD`                         |
| **Consensus**               | Proof of History, Tower BFT, Turbine, Gulf Stream, QUIC, Firedancer, Alpenglow | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `getSIMD`, `readSolanaSourceFile` |
| **Validator Economics**     | Rewards, inflation, slashing proposals, decentralization, SIMDs                | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `getSIMD`                         |
| **Data Layer**              | RPC nodes, Geyser plugins, shreds, state compression, ZK compression           | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `readSolanaSourceFile`            |
| **Program Development**     | Anchor, Steel, Pinocchio, Gill, compute optimization, sBPF assembly            | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `searchSolanaDocs`                |
| **Token Extensions & DeFi** | Token-2022, LSTs, stablecoins, RWAs                                            | `fetchHeliusBlog`, `searchSolanaDocs`                |

## Prerequisites

The SVM skill requires the [Helius MCP server](/docs/agents/mcp) for its knowledge tools (`fetchHeliusBlog`, `searchSolanaDocs`, `getSIMD`, `readSolanaSourceFile`).

```bash theme={"system"}
claude mcp add helius npx helius-mcp@latest
```

<Note>
  **No API key needed.** All knowledge tools fetch from public sources (Helius blog, GitHub, Solana docs). You only need the MCP server installed — no Helius account required.
</Note>

## Standalone Installation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Clone the repository">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    git clone https://github.com/helius-labs/core-ai.git
    cd core-ai/helius-skills/svm
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the install script">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    ./install.sh
    ```

    Installs to `~/.claude/skills/svm/`.

    **Options:**

    * `./install.sh --project` — install to the current project
    * `./install.sh --path /custom/path` — install to a custom directory
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the Helius MCP server">
    ```bash theme={"system"}
    claude mcp add helius npx helius-mcp@latest
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example Prompts

* "How does Solana's parallel execution model work?"
* "Explain Proof of History and how it differs from traditional BFT"
* "What is the sBPF instruction set and how does JIT compilation work?"
* "How do Program Derived Addresses (PDAs) work under the hood?"
* "What is Firedancer and how does it differ from the Agave validator?"
* "Explain Solana's local fee markets and priority fees"
* "What are Confidential Transfers?"
* "What is Alpenglow and what problems does it solve?"
* "Show me the source code for how Solana processes transactions"

## What's Included

* **`SKILL.md`** — Routing logic and rules for protocol questions
* **`prompts/`** — Pre-built system prompt variants (`openai.developer.md`, `claude.system.md`, `full.md`) — see [platform setup](/docs/agents/skills/overview#using-skills-across-platforms)
* **`references/`** — Deep topic guides that map questions to the best blog posts, SIMDs, and source paths:
  * `compilation.md` — LLVM, sBPF, bytecode generation
  * `programs.md` — BPF loaders, deploy lifecycle
  * `execution.md` — JIT, memory, compute units
  * `accounts.md` — Account model, PDAs, CPIs
  * `transactions.md` — Sealevel, fees, TPU pipeline
  * `consensus.md` — PoH, Tower BFT, Turbine, Firedancer
  * `validators.md` — Economics, inflation, slashing
  * `data.md` — RPC, Geyser, shreds, compression
  * `development.md` — Frameworks, optimization
  * `tokens.md` — Token-2022, LSTs, stablecoins, RWAs

## Learn More

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build Skill" icon="hammer" href="/docs/agents/skills/build">
    For building with Helius APIs (not protocol internals)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Helius Blog" icon="newspaper" href="https://www.helius.dev/blog">
    Deep technical content on Solana architecture
  </Card>

  <Card title="Solana SIMDs" icon="file-lines" href="https://github.com/solana-foundation/solana-improvement-documents">
    Solana Improvement Documents
  </Card>

  <Card title="GitHub" icon="github" href="https://github.com/helius-labs/core-ai">
    Source code and issue tracking
  </Card>
</CardGroup>