Vellum Avatar

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

assistant/CLAUDE.md

assistant/src/approvals/CLAUDE.md

assistant/src/notifications/CLAUDE.md

assistant/src/runtime/CLAUDE.md

gateway/CLAUDE.md

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha 19bc86343b63 · 14 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• Publishervellum-ai GitHub organizationOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source foldervellum-ai/vellum-assistant/skills/vellum-avatarThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceMITAs the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdict19bc86343b63A new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 1 day ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its description: Customize the assistant's avatar - build a native character, upload an image, or generate one with AI

---
name: vellum-avatar
description: Customize the assistant's avatar - build a native character, upload an image, or generate one with AI
compatibility: "Designed for Vellum personal assistants"
metadata:
  emoji: "🎨"
  vellum:
    category: "content"
    display-name: "Avatar"
---

You are helping the user customize their assistant's avatar. There are three ways to set an avatar: building a native character from traits, uploading a custom image, or generating one with AI. When the user says they want to change their avatar, present all three options and ask which they prefer.

## Avatar Modes

The avatar system supports two representations:

- **Native character** - Defined by `data/avatar/character-traits.json` (body shape, eye style, color). Rendered client-side as an animated character. A static PNG at `data/avatar/avatar-image.png` is auto-generated for use by other clients and the dock icon.
- **Custom image** - A static PNG at `data/avatar/avatar-image.png`. Used for uploaded or AI-generated avatars. When set via upload (`assistant avatar set`), character traits are preserved so the native character can be restored later via `assistant avatar remove`. When AI-generated (`assistant avatar generate`), character trait files are removed.

## Mode 1: Native Character Traits

The user picks a body shape, eye style, and color. Present the options conversationally - describe what each looks like so the user can choose without seeing a preview.

### Body shapes

| Value  | Description                       |
| ------ | --------------------------------- |
| blob   | Soft, amorphous rounded shape     |
| cloud  | Puffy cloud silhouette            |
| sprout | Small plant-like form with a stem |
| star   | Five-pointed star                 |
| ghost  | Classic ghost silhouette          |
| urchin | Spiky sea-urchin shape            |
| stack  | Stacked rounded rectangles        |
| flower | Flower with petals                |
| burst  | Spiky starburst                   |
| ninja  | Stealthy masked figure            |

### Eye styles

| Value     | Description                               |
| --------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| grumpy    | Furrowed, slightly annoyed look           |
| angry     | Sharp, intense expression                 |
| curious   | Wide, inquisitive eyes                    |
| goofy     | Playful, off-kilter expression            |
| surprised | Big round eyes, startled look             |
| bashful   | Shy, half-closed eyes looking to the side |
| gentle    | Soft, kind expression                     |
| quirky    | Asymmetric, offbeat look                  |
| dazed     | Unfocused, dreamy stare                   |

### Colors

| Value  | Appearance      |
| ------ | --------------- |
| green  | Leafy green     |
| orange | Warm orange     |
| pink   | Soft pink       |
| purple | Rich purple     |
| teal   | Blue-green teal |
| yellow | Bright yellow   |

### Setting traits

After the user chooses, run the following command to set the character traits. This writes `character-traits.json`, generates the static PNG, creates an ASCII representation, updates IDENTITY.md, and notifies connected clients — all in one step:

```bash
assistant avatar character update --body-shape <value> --eye-style <value> --color <value>
```

The client will detect the traits file and render the animated character.

## Mode 2: Upload a Custom Image

The user provides a file path to an image they want to use as their avatar.

Use the CLI command to set it:

```bash
assistant avatar set --image "<user-provided-path>"
```

The path can be absolute or relative to the workspace (e.g. `conversations/<id>/attachments/Dropped Image.png`).

## Mode 3: AI-Generated Image

The user describes what they want their avatar to look like. Use the `bash` tool to run the CLI command below.

**IMPORTANT: You MUST set `network_mode` to `"proxied"` on this tool call. Without it, the command cannot reach the image generation API and will fail.**

```json
{
  "command": "assistant avatar generate --description \"<user's description>\"",
  "network_mode": "proxied"
}
```

This generates an image using AI and saves it to `data/avatar/avatar-image.png`.

## Removing the Avatar

When the user wants to remove their custom avatar and go back to the default:

```bash
assistant avatar remove
```

This removes the custom image. If a native character was previously configured, it is automatically restored (the character traits are preserved).

## Viewing the Avatar

When the user asks to see their current avatar, get the path and then read it:

```bash
assistant avatar get
```

This prints the absolute path to the avatar image (regenerating from character traits if needed). Then use `file_read` on the returned path to display the image inline.

To get the avatar as base64 data instead:

```bash
assistant avatar get --format base64
```

## UX Guidelines

- When the user says they want to change or set their avatar, present all three options:
  1. **Build a character** - Pick a body shape, eye style, and color for an animated native character
  2. **Upload an image** - Use an existing image file from their computer
  3. **Generate with AI** - Describe what they want and let AI create it
- Ask which mode they prefer before proceeding.
- For native characters, walk through each trait one at a time (body shape, then eye style, then color). Describe the options conversationally so the user can choose without seeing them.
- For AI generation, ask the user to describe the avatar they want. Be encouraging - suggest they include details like style, colors, mood, or a character concept.
- After any avatar change, confirm it was applied and let the user know they can change it again anytime.
- **After any avatar change**, update the `## Avatar` section in `IDENTITY.md` with a plain-text description of the current avatar appearance. Do NOT use markdown image links — write a human-readable description instead. This 

Excerpt, first 6,001 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

git clone https://github.com/vellum-ai/vellum-assistant
git -C vellum-assistant checkout 19bc86343b63

Works in

1. 2026-10-14
   ✓SAFE B 89 / 100

   first audit · source 19bc86343b63

Questions about Vellum Avatar

• github.com/vellum-ai/vellum-assistant/tree/main/skills/vellum-av — the audited source at commit 19bc86343b63 and every finding aboveObserved · 14 Oct 2026

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