fix(cli): only include skills in the update object when there are successfulSkills

Author: codeaholicguy

packages/cli/src/__tests__/services/install/install.service.test.ts

@@ -145,6 +145,22 @@ describe('install service', () => {
     expect(report.phases.installed).toBe(1);
   });
 
+  it('does not add skills field to config when no skills are in the install config (issue #64)', async () => {
+    const configWithoutSkills = {
+      environments: ['codex' as const],
+      phases: ['requirements' as const],
+      skills: [],
+      mcpServers: {}
+    };
+
+    const report = await reconcileAndInstall(configWithoutSkills, {});
+
+    expect(report.skills.installed).toBe(0);
+    expect(mockConfigManager.update).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.not.objectContaining({ skills: expect.anything() })
+    );
+  });
+
   it('reports skill failures as warnings and continues', async () => {
     mockSkillManager.addSkill.mockRejectedValue(new Error('network down'));
 

packages/cli/src/services/install/install.service.ts

@@ -133,8 +133,10 @@ export async function reconcileAndInstall(
   const updates: Record<string, unknown> = {
     environments: successfulEnvironments,
     phases: successfulPhases,
-    skills: successfulSkills,
   };
+  if (successfulSkills.length > 0) {
+    updates.skills = successfulSkills;
+  }
   if (config.mcpServers && Object.keys(config.mcpServers).length > 0) {
     updates.mcpServers = config.mcpServers;
   }