| name | wz:using-skills |
| description | Use when starting any conversation — establishes how to find and use skills, requiring Skill tool invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions |
Before you do anything else — open your phase checklist at .wazir/runs/latest/phases/ and follow every single step. If a wz: skill covers what you're about to do, use the skill instead of doing it manually. Did you actually check the checklist?
Command Routing
Follow the Canonical Command Matrix in hooks/routing-matrix.json.
- Large commands (test runners, builds, diffs, dependency trees, linting) → context-mode tools
- Small commands (git status, ls, pwd, wazir CLI) → native Bash
- If context-mode unavailable, fall back to native Bash with warning
Codebase Exploration
- Query
wazir index search-symbols <query> first
- Use
wazir recall file <path> --tier L1 for targeted reads
- Fall back to direct file reads ONLY for files identified by index queries
- Maximum 10 direct file reads without a justifying index query
- If no index exists:
wazir index build && wazir index summarize --tier all
<EXTREMELY_IMPORTANT>
If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST invoke 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>
How to Access Skills
In Claude Code: Use the Skill tool. When you invoke a skill, its content is loaded and presented to you — follow it directly. Never use the Read tool on skill files.
In other environments: Check your platform's documentation for how skills are loaded.
Using Skills
The Rule
Invoke relevant or requested skills BEFORE any response or action. Even a 1% chance a skill might apply means that you should invoke the skill to check. If an invoked 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];
"Invoke wz:brainstorming skill" [shape=box];
"Might any skill apply?" [shape=diamond];
"Invoke Skill tool" [shape=box];
"Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" [shape=box];
"Has checklist?" [shape=diamond];
"Create TodoWrite todo per item" [shape=box];
"Follow skill exactly" [shape=box];
"Respond (including clarifications)" [shape=doublecircle];
"About to EnterPlanMode?" -> "Already brainstormed?";
"Already brainstormed?" -> "Invoke wz:brainstorming skill" [label="no"];
"Already brainstormed?" -> "Might any skill apply?" [label="yes"];
"Invoke wz:brainstorming skill" -> "Might any skill apply?";
Mid-task check: look at your phase checklist again. Is every completed item actually done with real output, or did you just move past it mentally? Which items have you genuinely finished?
"User message received" -> "Might any skill apply?";
"Might any skill apply?" -> "Invoke Skill tool" [label="yes, even 1%"];
"Might any skill apply?" -> "Respond (including clarifications)" [label="definitely not"];
"Invoke Skill tool" -> "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'";
"Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" -> "Has checklist?";
"Has checklist?" -> "Create TodoWrite todo per item" [label="yes"];
"Has checklist?" -> "Follow skill exactly" [label="no"];
"Create TodoWrite todo per item" -> "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. Invoke it. |
Skill Priority
When multiple skills could apply, use this order:
- Process skills first (wz:brainstorming, wz:debugging) — these determine HOW to approach the task
- Implementation skills second (wz:tdd, frontend-design) — these guide execution
"Let's build X" → wz:brainstorming first, then implementation skills.
"Fix this bug" → wz:debugging first, then domain-specific skills.
Skill Types
Rigid (wz:tdd, wz: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.
Honest question — if someone audited your work right now against the phase checklist, would every item hold up with evidence? Or would they find skipped steps and empty checkmarks? Which ones would fail the audit?
