agent-goal

Drafts a single /goal line defining objectives, evidence, and stop conditions for coding agents.

4.8k|376|Updated Mar 16, 2023
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter --skill agent-goal
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: agent-goal
Source: https://github.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter/tree/main/.agents/skills/agent-goal
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/EpicenterHQ/epicenter --skill agent-goal

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Long-running coding agents like Codex or Claude Code often drift without a clear objective, making it hard to know when work is actually done. This Skill produces a precise /goal line that gives the agent a concrete objective, observable validation evidence, and an explicit stop condition.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Structured Goal Template: Compresses objective, lane, starting context, evidence, and stop condition into one /goal line.
  • Transcript-Verifiable Completion: Ensures completion is judgeable by anyone reading the transcript, using exact checks like bun test packages/auth exits 0 instead of vague claims.
  • Failure Bounding: Instructs agents to report root cause and next decision after three failed attempts on the same check.
  • Use Case: Before launching a multi-turn refactoring session, ask for a /goal so the agent works in checkpoints, surfaces test output after each one, and stops only when the defined evidence appears.

Quick Start

Ask the agent to write a /goal for migrating the auth package to the new API, with tests passing as the completion evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions about agent-goal

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I write a /goal for a coding agent?

Answer four questions in order: what should change, where the agent starts, what evidence proves it changed, and when it should stop. Then compress those answers into one line starting with /goal that names the lane, starting context, and observable completion evidence.

What makes a good completion condition for Claude Code or Codex?

A good completion condition is judgeable from the transcript alone, using exact checks like a test command exiting 0 or a build succeeding. Vague statements like tests pass are rejected in favor of commands whose output the agent must surface.

When should I not create a /goal for an agent?

Do not create a /goal for vague wishes, open-ended research, unrelated chores, or work with no observable evidence. The skill is scoped to slash-goal drafting only, not general prompt engineering, handoffs, or delegation briefs.

How should an agent handle repeated failures on a goal check?

After three failed attempts on the same check, the agent should stop retrying, report the root cause, and present the next decision. This bounds repeated failure and keeps the transcript informative.

Can a /goal include long requirement lists?

No. Long requirements should live in a file that the goal points to, rather than being pasted into the goal line. The goal itself carries only execution-critical detail: objective, lane, starting context, evidence, and stop condition.