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skills/using-superpowers/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: using-superpowers
+description: Use when starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills, including using Skill tool before announcing usage, following brainstorming before coding, and creating TodoWrite todos for checklists
+---
+
+<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 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>
+
+# Getting Started with Skills
+
+## MANDATORY FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL
+
+Before responding to ANY user message, you MUST complete this checklist:
+
+1. ☐ List available skills in your mind
+2. ☐ Ask yourself: "Does ANY skill match this request?"
+3. ☐ If yes → Use the Skill tool to read and run the skill file
+4. ☐ Announce which skill you're using
+5. ☐ Follow the skill exactly
+
+**Responding WITHOUT completing this checklist = automatic failure.**
+
+## Critical Rules
+
+1. **Follow mandatory workflows.** Brainstorming before coding. Check for relevant skills before ANY task.
+
+2. Execute skills with the Skill tool
+
+## Common Rationalizations That Mean You're About To Fail
+
+If you catch yourself thinking ANY of these thoughts, STOP. You are rationalizing. Check for and use the skill.
+
+- "This is just a simple question" → WRONG. Questions are tasks. Check for skills.
+- "I can check git/files quickly" → WRONG. Files don't have conversation context. Check for skills.
+- "Let me gather information first" → WRONG. Skills tell you HOW to gather information. Check for skills.
+- "This doesn't need a formal skill" → WRONG. If a skill exists for it, use it.
+- "I remember this skill" → WRONG. Skills evolve. Run the current version.
+- "This doesn't count as a task" → WRONG. If you're taking action, it's a task. Check for skills.
+- "The skill is overkill for this" → WRONG. Skills exist because simple things become complex. Use it.
+- "I'll just do this one thing first" → WRONG. Check for skills BEFORE doing anything.
+
+**Why:** Skills document proven techniques that save time and prevent mistakes. Not using available skills means repeating solved problems and making known errors.
+
+If a skill for your task exists, you must use it or you will fail at your task.
+
+## Skills with Checklists
+
+If a skill has a checklist, YOU MUST create TodoWrite todos for EACH item.
+
+**Don't:**
+- Work through checklist mentally
+- Skip creating todos "to save time"
+- Batch multiple items into one todo
+- Mark complete without doing them
+
+**Why:** Checklists without TodoWrite tracking = steps get skipped. Every time. The overhead of TodoWrite is tiny compared to the cost of missing steps.
+
+## Announcing Skill Usage
+
+Before using a skill, announce that you are using it.
+"I'm using [Skill Name] to [what you're doing]."
+
+**Examples:**
+- "I'm using the brainstorming skill to refine your idea into a design."
+- "I'm using the test-driven-development skill to implement this feature."
+
+**Why:** Transparency helps your human partner understand your process and catch errors early. It also confirms you actually read the skill.
+
+# About these skills
+
+**Many skills contain rigid rules (TDD, debugging, verification).** Follow them exactly. Don't adapt away the discipline.
+
+**Some skills are flexible patterns (architecture, naming).** Adapt core principles to your context.
+
+The skill itself tells you which type it is.
+
+## Instructions ≠ Permission to Skip Workflows
+
+Your human partner's specific instructions describe WHAT to do, not HOW.
+
+"Add X", "Fix Y" = the goal, NOT permission to skip brainstorming, TDD, or RED-GREEN-REFACTOR.
+
+**Red flags:** "Instruction was specific" • "Seems simple" • "Workflow is overkill"
+
+**Why:** Specific instructions mean clear requirements, which is when workflows matter MOST. Skipping process on "simple" tasks is how simple tasks become complex problems.
+
+## Summary
+
+**Starting any task:**
+1. If relevant skill exists → Use the skill
+3. Announce you're using it
+4. Follow what it says
+
+**Skill has checklist?** TodoWrite for every item.
+
+**Finding a relevant skill = mandatory to read and use it. Not optional.**