obra/superpowers
Overview
This skill enforces a mandatory skill-check workflow at the start of every conversation or task. It requires invoking the Skill tool to load any potentially relevant skill before producing any response, including clarifying questions. The goal is to ensure consistent, auditable, and repeatable processes when an agent acts.
How this skill works
On receiving a user message, the agent asks: "Might any skill apply?" If yes (even a 1% chance), the agent invokes the Skill tool and announces the invocation and its purpose. The skill content is then followed exactly: check for checklists, create per-item todos if present, and execute the prescribed steps. If no skill is applicable, normal clarification or response proceeds.
When to use it
- At the start of every conversation or task
- Before asking clarifying questions or exploring files
- When you suspect any workflow, policy, or checklist could apply
- Whenever work could benefit from a repeatable process or audit trail
- When multiple skills might apply and priority ordering is needed
Best practices
- Treat the skill check as mandatory—not optional or negotiable
- Announce the skill invocation and purpose explicitly before acting
- Follow rigid skills exactly; adapt only when a skill is marked flexible
- Create discrete todos for checklist items to preserve traceability
- Use the documented skill priority: process skills before implementation skills
Example use cases
- Onboarding a new feature request: invoke brainstorming or process skills before coding
- Debugging a failing test: run the debugging process skill first, then implementation steps
- Responding to user questions about code: perform a skill check before opening files or running commands
- Sprint triage: invoke applicable process skills to create standardized todos from checklists
- Security or compliance tasks: always check for and follow rigid skills governing procedures
FAQ
If the invoked skill proves irrelevant, stop using it and continue with the next appropriate step. Invocation is a lightweight check and is required only to confirm applicability.
Can I ask clarifying questions before invoking a skill?
No. The workflow requires the skill check be performed before any clarifying questions. Skills define how to gather context and what questions are allowed.
What if multiple skills apply?
Follow the defined priority: process skills first, then implementation skills. When in doubt, invoke all candidate skills and follow their instructions in order.
5 skills
This skill ensures you invoke skills before any response to verify applicability and guide task execution.
This skill creates comprehensive implementation plans from a spec, detailing files, tests, docs, steps, and commits for each task.
This skill helps you dispatch parallel agents to investigate independent failures, speeding debugging by running tasks concurrently without shared state.
This skill helps you request timely code reviews to catch issues early, ensure requirements are met, and guide fixes before merging.
This skill enforces verification-before-completion by running fresh verification commands and presenting evidence before claiming success.
