3.0 KiB
Sequential Thinking Skill
Agent skill for systematic problem-solving through iterative reasoning with revision and branching capabilities.
What This Skill Does
Enables Claude to break down complex problems into sequential thought steps, revise conclusions when needed, and explore alternative solution paths—all while maintaining context throughout the reasoning process.
Installation
This skill requires the Sequential Thinking MCP server to be installed and configured in your Claude Desktop or Claude Code environment.
Step 1: Install MCP Server
Choose one of the following methods:
NPX (Recommended)
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json or MCP settings:
{
"mcpServers": {
"sequential-thinking": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]
}
}
}
Docker
{
"mcpServers": {
"sequentialthinking": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "mcp/sequentialthinking"]
}
}
}
Step 2: Add Skill to Project
Copy this skill folder to your project's .claude/skills/ directory:
cp -r sequential-thinking /path/to/your/project/.claude/skills/
Step 3: Verify Installation
Restart Claude and check that the mcp__reasoning__sequentialthinking tool is available.
Usage
Once installed, Claude will automatically use this skill when:
- Facing complex multi-step problems
- Needing to revise earlier conclusions
- Exploring alternative solution approaches
- Working through uncertain or evolving scopes
You can also explicitly request it:
"Let's think through this step-by-step using sequential thinking"
Configuration
Disable Logging (Optional)
To suppress thought information logging, set environment variable:
{
"mcpServers": {
"sequential-thinking": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"],
"env": {
"DISABLE_THOUGHT_LOGGING": "true"
}
}
}
}
Skill Structure
sequential-thinking/
├── SKILL.md # Main skill definition
├── README.md # This file
└── references/
├── advanced.md # Revision and branching patterns
└── examples.md # Real-world use cases
When Claude Uses This Skill
The skill activates for:
- Complex analysis: Breaking down multi-faceted problems
- Design decisions: Exploring and comparing alternatives
- Debugging: Systematic investigation with course correction
- Planning: Multi-stage project planning with evolving scope
- Architecture: Evaluating trade-offs across approaches
Learn More
License
MIT