align

name	align
description	Ask targeted clarifying questions before executing a task so the agent and user align on scope, constraints, success criteria, and output format.

Align Skill

Goal

Prevent wasted work by clarifying intent before execution.

Use when the user says:

• /align
• /align 5
• ask me clarifying questions
• make sure you understand
• align before doing this

Question count

If the user provides a number, ask exactly that many questions.

Examples:

/align 5 -> ask 5 questions
/align three -> ask 3 questions

If no number is provided, ask 5 questions by default.

Question design

Each question must be:

1. Decision-relevant.
2. Non-obvious.
3. Answerable quickly.
4. Useful for narrowing the output.
5. Accompanied by lettered options when possible.

Output format

## Alignment questions

1. What is the intended scope?
   A. Minimal prototype
   B. Production-ready implementation
   C. Research/design only
   D. Other: ...

2. What should I optimize for?
   A. Speed
   B. Correctness
   C. Maintainability
   D. Cost
   E. Other: ...

3. ...

Answer instruction

End with:

Reply with compact answers like: 1B, 2C, 3A, plus any notes.

When to avoid asking

Do not use align if:

• The user asked for immediate execution.
• The task is trivial.
• The required constraints are already clear.
• The user explicitly says not to ask questions.

After receiving answers

1. Restate the interpreted brief.
2. Mention any remaining assumptions.
3. Execute without asking more unless blocked.

Guardrails

• Do not ask generic filler questions.
• Do not ask questions whose answers would not change the work.
• Prefer options that expose tradeoffs.