using-superpowers

name	using-superpowers
description	Use when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring skill loading before ANY response including clarifying questions

If you were dispatched as a subagent to execute a specific task, skip this skill.

If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST load and follow 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.

Instruction Priority

Superpowers skills override default system prompt behavior, but user instructions always take precedence:

1. User's explicit instructions (direct requests, project config files) — highest priority
2. Superpowers skills — override default system behavior where they conflict
3. Default system prompt — lowest priority

If a project config says "don't use TDD" and a skill says "always use TDD," follow the user's instructions. The user is in control.

How to Access Skills

In Nanobot, skills are SKILL.md files in the workspace/skills/ directory. Use read_file to read a skill's SKILL.md file to load its content. For example, to load the brainstorming skill, read skills/brainstorming/SKILL.md.

Using Skills

The Rule

Load relevant or requested skills BEFORE any response or action. Even a 1% chance a skill might apply means that you should read the skill to check. If a loaded skill turns out to be wrong for the situation, you don't need to use it.

digraph skill_flow {
    "User message received" [shape=doublecircle];
    "About to EnterPlanMode?" [shape=doublecircle];
    "Already brainstormed?" [shape=diamond];
    "Read brainstorming SKILL.md" [shape=box];
    "Might any skill apply?" [shape=diamond];
    "Read skill SKILL.md" [shape=box];
    "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" [shape=box];
    "Has checklist?" [shape=diamond];
    "Create task checklist" [shape=box];
    "Follow skill exactly" [shape=box];
    "Respond (including clarifications)" [shape=doublecircle];

    "About to EnterPlanMode?" -> "Already brainstormed?";
    "Already brainstormed?" -> "Read brainstorming SKILL.md" [label="no"];
    "Already brainstormed?" -> "Might any skill apply?" [label="yes"];
    "Read brainstorming SKILL.md" -> "Might any skill apply?";

    "User message received" -> "Might any skill apply?";
    "Might any skill apply?" -> "Read skill SKILL.md" [label="yes, even 1%"];
    "Might any skill apply?" -> "Respond (including clarifications)" [label="definitely not"];
    "Read skill SKILL.md" -> "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'";
    "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" -> "Has checklist?";
    "Has checklist?" -> "Create task checklist" [label="yes"];
    "Has checklist?" -> "Follow skill exactly" [label="no"];
    "Create task checklist" -> "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. Load 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.