| name | pseudocode |
| description | Convert freeform workflow text into structured pseudocode for SKILL.md files. Triggers: /pseudocode, "write pseudocode", "convert to pseudocode", "make this a skill", or converting a SKILL.md prose procedure into a pseudocode block. Skip when the goal is to create or iterate on a skill holistically (use skill-creator).
|
Pseudocode
Convert freeform workflow text into structured pseudocode block + Reference section.
Syntax
There are three types of lines in pseudocode:
Calls execute tools or delegate freeform work:
result = Bash(git status)
Skill(commit)
AskUserQuestion("Update or stop?")
do("summarize errors, categorize mechanical vs semantic")
title, body = do("generate from diff and log")
Logic encodes decisions and flow:
if branch == default_branch: stop
if no upstream: Bash(git push -u origin <branch>)
else if ahead: Bash(git push)
Comments label sections only:
// Guards
// Push if needed
Conventions
- Guard clauses early. Stop conditions before the happy path. Reduces nesting.
- Parallelism is explicit. Mark
(parallel) when calls are independent and should run together.
- Tool calls are literal.
Bash(...), Skill(...), AskUserQuestion(...) are real instructions — each agent maps them to its own tool surface (e.g. Skill(commit) means "invoke the commit skill").
do() for freeform directives. When the step is "use your judgment", wrap it in do(). This distinguishes LLM-directed work from mechanical tool calls.- Variable names carry intent.
default_branch not db. The model reads these as semantic hints.
- Sequence from order. Omit step numbers; line position encodes sequence.
- Comments label sections only. Every line is a call, assignment, or logic. A comment stands alone only as a section label; otherwise rewrite it as a call, assignment, or logic.
- Details live in Reference. The pseudocode block shows WHAT happens and WHEN. The Reference section explains HOW and WHY.
Process
input = freeform workflow text
// Identify structure
steps = do("extract discrete steps from input")
decisions = do("find branching points, stop conditions, error cases")
tools = do("identify which steps are tool calls vs freeform directives")
// Write pseudocode
do("order steps: gather state, guards, happy path, output")
do("use `do()` for freeform directives, literal calls for tools")
do("mark parallel groups")
// Write Reference section
do("move format specs, examples, and explanations out of pseudocode into Reference")
Example
Input:
First check git status and what branch we're on. If we're on main, stop.
If there are uncommitted changes, run the commit skill.
Then push the branch and create a PR with a good title and description.
Output:
## Create flow
```
// Gather state (parallel)
status = Bash(git status)
branch = Bash(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)
// Guards
if branch == "main": stop
if uncommitted changes in status:
Skill(commit)
stop
Bash(git push -u origin <branch>)
title, body = do("generate title and body from branch commits")
Bash(gh pr create --title "<title>" --body "<body>" --draft)
```
## Reference
### PR title and body
- Title: <70 chars, conventional commit style
- Body: `## Summary` bullets + `## Test plan` checklist
