arena

Spawns parallel candidate solutions, judges them against a rubric, and synthesizes the strongest result.

Updated Sep 23, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/lucasheriques/pstack --skill arena-lucasheriques
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: arena
Source: https://github.com/lucasheriques/pstack/tree/main/skills/arena
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/lucasheriques/pstack --skill arena-lucasheriques

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? A single attempt at a non-trivial artifact often locks in the wrong design shape before alternatives are explored. This Skill runs multiple independent attempts at the same task in parallel, then merges the best ideas into one verified result. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Parallel candidate generation: Spawns N subagents with the same prompt, each writing its artifact and rationale to an isolated output path. - Rubric-based cross-judging: Derives 3-6 gradeable criteria, then uses an independent judge model plus the parent's own reading to score candidates criterion by criterion. - Grafting and synthesis: Picks the strongest base candidate, folds in the best ideas from the losers by hand, and records the pick, grafts, rejections, and dropouts in a synthesis note. - Use Case: When designing a new API boundary or refactoring approach, run three parallel implementations, compare them against a rubric, and ship a synthesized version that combines the cleanest base with the strongest ideas from the rest. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to arena this task by spawning several parallel candidate solutions and synthesizing the best one.

Frequently Asked Questions about arena

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I run multiple parallel attempts at the same coding task?▼

Use the arena workflow: frame a shared prompt and rubric, spawn N subagents in one message with run_in_background, each writing to its own isolated path. Then read every candidate, pick a base, and graft the best ideas from the others.

What is the best way to compare competing design solutions?▼

Derive 3-6 concrete gradeable criteria from the task, score each candidate criterion by criterion rather than on holistic feel, and cross-check with an independent judge model. Pick the base a future maintainer can extend most easily.

When should I use parallel candidate generation instead of a single attempt?▼

Use it when one attempt at a non-trivial artifact would lock in the wrong shape, such as architecture or API design decisions. Skip it for trivial tasks where the cost of N parallel runs exceeds the risk of a suboptimal first attempt.

What happens if one parallel candidate fails to produce output?▼

The workflow proceeds with N-1 candidates and notes the dropout in the synthesis record. The remaining candidates are still judged, a base is picked, and grafts are applied normally.

What if the parallel candidates wildly diverge in approach?▼

Wild divergence means the framing phase was under-specified. The correct response is to reframe the task prompt and rubric and re-run the arena, rather than averaging incompatible designs into an incoherent result.