
Using Superpowers
Install this so every agent session starts by checking and invoking relevant skills instead of improvising from chat alone.
Overview
using-superpowers is a journey-wide agent skill that enforces skill discovery and invocation before any agent reply—usable whenever a solo builder needs reliable procedure-following instead of ad-hoc chat.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/sickn33/antigravity-awesome-skills --skill using-superpowersWhat is this skill?
- Hard rule: invoke the Skill tool before any response when there is even a 1% chance a skill applies
- Dot-flow diagram for receive message → check skills → announce usage → follow checklists
- Requires TodoWrite items when an invoked skill includes a checklist
- Claude Code–specific: use Skill tool only—never Read on skill files
- Anti-rationalization guardrails so agents cannot skip applicable skills
Adoption & trust: 534 installs on skills.sh; 40.1k GitHub stars; 1/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
Your agent answers immediately and skips packaged skills even when one clearly fits the task.
Who is it for?
Solo builders who maintain a skills repo and want every session to honor Skill-tool invocation and checklist discipline.
Skip if: Environments with no skill-loading mechanism or workflows where human operators intentionally forbid automated skill invocation.
When should I use this skill?
Use when starting any conversation—establish skill lookup and require Skill tool invocation before any response, including clarifying questions.
What do I get? / Deliverables
The agent checks applicable skills first, announces which one it is using, and follows that skill’s steps—including todos when a checklist is present—before taking other action.
- Announced skill invocation before task work
- Todo items when the chosen skill includes a checklist
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Useful at every journey phase - explore requirements and options before committing to a direction.
Where it fits
Before comparing competitors, invoke domain research skills instead of freestyling market notes.
When scoping an MVP, load planning skills before the agent drafts feature lists.
Prior to wiring a third-party API, check integration skills so auth and error patterns match the pack.
Run review or testing skills via Skill tool before merging a risky PR.
Invoke marketing or sequence skills when drafting lifecycle emails instead of generic copy.
How it compares
Use as a session bootstrap ritual instead of hoping the model remembers to open SKILL.md on its own.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is using-superpowers for?
It is for indie developers and small teams using agent IDEs who want consistent, skill-first behavior across all projects.
When should I use using-superpowers?
At conversation start in idea research, during validate scoping, while building integrations, before ship review, when planning launch copy, tuning growth analytics, or operating on-call—any time a catalog skill might apply.
Is using-superpowers safe to install?
It is procedural guidance only; review the Security Audits panel on this Prism page before enabling it in regulated or client environments.
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Using Superpowers
<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT> If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST invoke the skill. IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT. This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this. </EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT> ## How to Access Skills **In Claude Code:** Use the `Skill` tool. When you invoke a skill, its content is loaded and presented to you—follow it directly. Never use the Read tool on skill files. **In other environments:** Check your platform's documentation for how skills are loaded. # Using Skills ## The Rule **Invoke relevant or requested skills BEFORE any response or action.** Even a 1% chance a skill might apply means that you should invoke the skill to check. If an invoked skill turns out to be wrong for the situation, you don't need to use it. ```dot digraph skill_flow { "User message received" [shape=doublecircle]; "Might any skill apply?" [shape=diamond]; "Invoke Skill tool" [shape=box]; "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" [shape=box]; "Has checklist?" [shape=diamond]; "Create TodoWrite todo per item" [shape=box]; "Follow skill exactly" [shape=box]; "Respond (including clarifications)" [shape=doublecircle]; "User message received" -> "Might any skill apply?"; "Might any skill apply?" -> "Invoke Skill tool" [label="yes, even 1%"]; "Might any skill apply?" -> "Respond (including clarifications)" [label="definitely not"]; "Invoke Skill tool" -> "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'"; "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" -> "Has checklist?"; "Has checklist?" -> "Create TodoWrite todo per item" [label="yes"]; "Has checklist?" -> "Follow skill exactly" [label="no"]; "Create TodoWrite todo per item" -> "Follow skill exactly"; } ``` ## 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. | | "I can check git/files quickly" | Files lack conversation context. Check for skills. | | "Let me gather information first" | Skills tell you HOW to gather information. | | "This doesn't need a formal skill" | If a skill exists, use it. | | "I remember this skill" | Skills evolve. Read current version. | | "This doesn't count as a task" | Action = task. Check for skills. | | "The skill is overkill" | Simple things become complex. Use it. | | "I'll just do this one thing first" | Check BEFORE doing anything. | | "This feels productive" | Undisciplined action wastes time. Skills prevent this. | | "I know what that means" | Knowing the concept ≠ using the skill. Invoke it. | ## Skill Priority When multiple skills could apply, use this order: 1. **Process skills first** (brainstorming, debugging) - these determine HOW to approach the task 2. **Implementation skills second** (frontend-design, mcp-builder) - these guide execution "Let's build X" → brainstorming first, then implementation skills. "Fix this bug" → debugging first, then domain-specific skills. ## Skill Types **Rigid** (TDD, debugging): 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. ## When to Use This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview. ## Limitations - Use this skill only when the tas