Use when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring Skill tool invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions
Installs into .claude/skills of the current project.
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---
name: using-superpowers
description: Use when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring Skill tool invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions
---
<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST read the skill.
IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU MUST USE IT.
This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.
</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
# Using Skills
## The Rule
**Check for skills BEFORE ANY RESPONSE.** This includes clarifying questions. Even 1% chance means invoke the Skill tool first.
## Development Workflow Skills
These skills form a pipeline. Each phase produces a dated artifact and references the next step:
| Skill | When to Use |
|-------|-------------|
| `/define` | New feature request, bug report, or requirement to break down |
| `/architect` | Requirements exist, need technical design |
| `/implement` | Design exists, ready to build |
| `/qa` | Implementation complete, need adversarial testing |
| `/refactor` | Code quality pass after implementation |
You don't always need all phases. Start at whichever phase makes sense.
## Red Flags
These thoughts mean STOP — you're rationalizing:
| Thought | Reality |
|---------|---------|
| "This is just a simple question" | Questions are tasks. Check for skills. |
| "I need more context first" | Skill check comes BEFORE clarifying questions. |
| "Let me explore the codebase first" | Skills tell you HOW to explore. Check first. |
| "This doesn't need a formal skill" | If a skill exists, use it. |
| "The skill is overkill" | Simple things become complex. Use it. |
| "I'll just do this one thing first" | Check BEFORE doing anything. |
## Skill Priority
When multiple skills could apply:
1. **Process skills first** (define, architect) — determine HOW to approach
2. **Implementation skills second** (implement, qa, refactor) — guide execution
## Skill Types
**Rigid** (TDD, qa): Follow exactly. Don't adapt away discipline.
**Flexible** (patterns): Adapt principles to context.
The skill itself tells you which.
## User Instructions
Instructions say WHAT, not HOW. "Add X" or "Fix Y" doesn't mean skip workflows.
