sequential-thinking

name	sequential-thinking
description	Dynamic problem-solving through structured sequential thoughts. Use when breaking down complex problems, planning multi-step solutions, analyzing ambiguous requirements, debugging intricate issues, exploring design alternatives, or tackling problems where the full scope is unclear. Enables thought revision, branching, and iterative refinement.

Sequential Thinking

Overview

This skill provides structured sequential thinking for complex problem-solving through a dynamic, reflective thought process. Each thought can build on, question, or revise previous insights as understanding deepens.

When to Use

• Breaking down complex problems into manageable steps
• Planning and design with room for revision
• Analysis that might need course correction
• Problems where full scope is unclear initially
• Multi-step solutions requiring maintained context
• Filtering irrelevant information from complex scenarios
• Debugging intricate issues requiring systematic exploration

Script Location

The script is located at: ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts

Use $SKILL_DIR or the full path when invoking from any directory.

Core Workflow

1. Initialize Thinking

Start a thinking sequence by estimating total thoughts needed:

bun ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts sequentialthinking \
  --thought "Initial analysis of the problem..." \
  --thought-number 1 \
  --total-thoughts 5 \
  --next-thought-needed true

2. Continue Sequence

Build on previous thoughts, adjusting estimates as needed:

bun ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts sequentialthinking \
  --thought "Building on insight from step 1..." \
  --thought-number 2 \
  --total-thoughts 5 \
  --next-thought-needed true

3. Revise Previous Thinking

When reconsidering earlier conclusions:

bun ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts sequentialthinking \
  --thought "Reconsidering step 2, I realize..." \
  --thought-number 4 \
  --total-thoughts 6 \
  --is-revision true \
  --revises-thought 2 \
  --next-thought-needed true

4. Branch Exploration

Explore alternative approaches:

bun ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts sequentialthinking \
  --thought "Alternative approach from step 3..." \
  --thought-number 5 \
  --total-thoughts 7 \
  --branch-from-thought 3 \
  --branch-id "alternative-approach" \
  --next-thought-needed true

5. Complete Thinking

Conclude when solution is verified:

bun ~/.config/opencode/skills/sequential-thinking/scripts/sequential-thinking.ts sequentialthinking \
  --thought "Final verified conclusion..." \
  --thought-number 6 \
  --total-thoughts 6 \
  --next-thought-needed false

Key Features

• Adjustable estimates: Modify totalThoughts up/down as understanding evolves
• Thought revision: Mark thoughts as revisions with --is-revision and --revises-thought
• Branching: Explore alternatives with --branch-from-thought and --branch-id
• Non-linear thinking: Branch or backtrack as needed
• Hypothesis verification: Generate and verify solution hypotheses iteratively

Parameters Reference

Parameter	Required	Description
--thought	Yes	Current thinking step content
--thought-number	Yes	Current position in sequence (1-based)
--total-thoughts	Yes	Estimated total thoughts (adjustable)
--next-thought-needed	Yes	true to continue, false to conclude
--is-revision	No	true if revising previous thinking
--revises-thought	No	Which thought number being revised
--branch-from-thought	No	Branching point thought number
--branch-id	No	Identifier for the branch
--needs-more-thoughts	No	Signal more thoughts needed

Output Formats

Control output with --output flag:

• text (default): Human-readable text
• json: Structured JSON
• markdown: Markdown formatted
• raw: Raw response data

Resources

scripts/

• sequential-thinking.ts - MCP server wrapper for sequential thinking (requires Bun runtime)

references/

• thinking-patterns.md - Common thinking patterns and examples for various problem types