writing-workflow-skills

name	writing-workflow-skills
description	Use when writing or reviewing GetSuperpower workflow skill files, entry skills, local role skills, step instructions, approval gates, handoffs, or Superpowers/Matt Pocock dependency choices.

Writing Workflow Skills

Overview

Use this skill to write the SKILL.md files inside a GetSuperpower workflow. Use creating-bundle-skills for the whole bundle; use this skill for the entry skill and local skills that make the workflow behave well after install.

Core principle: every workflow skill must make routing, dependencies, gates, outputs, and handoffs explicit enough that another agent can run it without inventing the process.

Scope

• Entry skill: skills/<workflow-name>/SKILL.md, the callable coordinator.
• Local skill: skills/<local-skill>/SKILL.md, a workflow-specific phase or role.
• Manifest alignment: workflow.json skills[], steps[], gate, and steps[].instruction.

Do not use this as a replacement for generic skill authoring. For standalone skills, use superpowers:writing-skills or the platform skill creator.

Dependency Palette

Need	Prefer
Requirement intake, options, user approval	superpowers:brainstorming
Implementation plans	superpowers:writing-plans
Test-first implementation	mattpocock:tdd or superpowers:test-driven-development
Completion evidence	superpowers:verification-before-completion
Product scope, PRD, issue slicing	mattpocock:to-prd, mattpocock:to-issues
Architecture and domain boundaries	mattpocock:codebase-design, mattpocock:domain-modeling
Debugging or review	mattpocock:diagnosing-bugs, mattpocock:review

Declare every selected dependency in workflow.json and in the skill text that needs it. If a dependency may be unavailable, instruct the agent to stop and name the missing skill instead of silently continuing.

Entry Skill Contract

An entry skill should:

1. Say it is the entry skill for the GetSuperpower workflow.
2. Name the approved input it needs before routing.
3. List required sub-skills in the same order as workflow.json steps.
4. Explain each human_approval gate and stop condition.
5. Tell the agent what to do when subagent dispatch or a dependency is missing.
6. Define the final combined output: decisions, accountable role, evidence, residual risk, and next action.

Keep the entry skill aligned with workflow.json; every steps[].skill should have matching instructions or dependency text in the entry skill.

Local Role Skill Contract

Use this shape for workflow-local phase or role skills:

## Required Companion Skills

- `superpowers:brainstorming` for ...
- `mattpocock:review` for ...

If a companion skill is unavailable, stop and tell the coordinator which
dependency is missing.

## Operating Mode

1. Restate the input from the approved brief or previous handoff.
2. Make the role-specific decision or artifact.
3. State verification evidence or the verification bar.
4. Handoff only what the next role needs.

## Role Output

- Decision:
- Evidence:
- Risk:
- Handoff:

Role skills should not repeat the whole workflow. They should own one decision, artifact, or verification lens and produce a handoff the coordinator can combine.

Review Checklist

• The skill name matches its folder and manifest source.
• The description starts with Use when... and names concrete triggers.
• The skill uses exact dependency names such as superpowers:brainstorming.
• Approval gates are explicit; no phase advances on vague approval.
• Missing dependencies, missing dispatch, and blocked verification all stop.
• Outputs are structured enough to test with source-contract assertions.

Common Mistakes

• Writing only broad advice like "use good engineering judgment".
• Choosing dependencies in prose but forgetting workflow.json.
• Letting an entry skill skip approval gates from the manifest.
• Making local role skills restate the whole workflow instead of a clear handoff.
• Hiding skipped roles or phases instead of naming why they are unnecessary.