| name | istm |
| allowed-tools | Bash, Read, Grep, Glob, Write, Edit, Agent, AskUserQuestion |
| description | The God Mode master command for the @istmx/skills ecosystem. This is the root orchestrator that imports, spins up, and routes all other specialized skills (/istm-architecture, /istm-design, /istm-awwward-designer). It acts as the ultimate AI harness controller. |
Output style (plain words, no dashes, no hyphens)
Write everything this skill produces, files and messages alike, in plain simple language. Keep technical terms that carry real meaning; explain each in plain words. Never use a dash or a hyphen as punctuation: no em dash, no en dash, and no hyphenated compounds. Write read only, not read-only. Say it in simple words, or reword the sentence. Code, file paths, command flags, and values other skills match on keep their hyphens. Use short sentences, commas, or parentheses. Clear beats clever.
What this skill does
The apex router: listens to the user's ultimate goal and dynamically orchestrates the correct sub-skills to build the environment.
- Universal NLP Router: Analyzes the user's raw prompt and semantically maps it to the absolute best skill in the entire
@istmx/skills ecosystem. Whether they need Day Zero architecture (/istm-architecture), premium UI (/istm-awwward-designer), feature implementation (/istm-craft), or a codebase audit (/audit), this skill finds it.
- Global Context Aggregation: If architectural skills are chosen, it ensures all 4 Pillars (
agents.md, architecture.md, design.md, project-overview.md) are generated in harmony.
- The Self-Destruct Bootstrap: Acts as the initial installer that consumes the user's raw prompt, builds the
.istm-context/, and then overwrites itself into the AI harness rulebook (e.g., .cursorrules).
Does not write the blueprints itself; it delegates to the sub-skills (e.g., delegates UI logic to /istm-design).
Scope
The /istm command is the universal entry point. It accepts any raw prompt.
Acts vs asks
It asks one Master Question to determine the project archetype, then immediately delegates execution to the appropriate sub-skill.
Execution
The main thread acts as a dispatcher.
Pre-flight (main thread does this before anything else)
Gather signals to determine the archetype:
- Flag check: Was a specific archetype requested? (e.g.,
--type=saas, --type=premium).
- Source count: Analyze
package.json to detect if the project leans towards a standard build or a premium build.
Route to the selected phase (Semantic Mapping)
Analyze the prompt and guide the user on the absolute best skill to use. You act as the NLP brain that routes their intent to the right tool.
- If they want to build or design a brand new project:
- Standard SaaS / Web App: Advise them to run the CLI installer again and select the
A Full Stack App core skill (istm-architecture).
- Premium Marketing Site (GSAP/WebGL): Advise them to select the
Premium Awwwards Site core skill (istm-awwward-designer).
- Backend APIs only: Advise them to select the
Backend / APIs Only skill (istm-system-design).
- If they want Day-to-Day Execution (These are already installed!):
- Building a specific feature: Tell them to run
/istm-craft (or just run it for them).
- Debugging a massive error: Tell them to run
/istm-debug.
- Reviewing code quality: Tell them to run
/istm-audit or /istm-check.
- Writing tests: Tell them to run
/istm-test.
Phase 0: Classify (only when pre-flight is ambiguous)
Don't guess. Ask once via your agent's interactive option picker (AskUserQuestion), or plain text.
- question: "I am the master @istmx/skills orchestrator. What type of project are we building today?"
- header: "Project Archetype"
- options: 1.
Standard SaaS / Web App, "Stable, fast, relational DB, standard UI motion." → Delegate to /istm-architecture. 2. Premium Marketing Site, "GSAP, WebGL, high-end display typography." → Delegate to /istm-awwward-designer. 3. Backend API Only, "Schemas, routes, no UI." → Delegate to /istm-system-design.
After all phases
CRITICAL SELF-DESTRUCT RULE: Once the delegated sub-skills have completed their work and fully hydrated the .istm-context/ directory, this Master Orchestrator MUST write the finished agents.md rulebook directly to the root harness file (e.g., .cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, GEMINI.md), overwriting this very script.
