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shape-up

Plan, scope, and ship software with fixed-time cycles and hill charts.

Updated Apr 18, 2026
Search Tags:#product management#scope management#shape up#cycle planning#pitching#no backlog#hill charts
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/sachio222/based-stack --skill shape-up-sachio222
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: shape-up
Source: https://github.com/sachio222/based-stack/tree/main/shape-up
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/sachio222/based-stack --skill shape-up-sachio222

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Shape Up provides a framework to plan, scope, and ship software by replacing traditional backlogs and sprints with fixed-time cycles, ensuring teams own shaping and execution and avoid endless planning.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Shaping: turn raw ideas into a five-ingredient pitch with appetite, no-gos, and rabbit holes.
  • Betting and cycles: select bets for a 6-week cycle with a protected commitment and a 2-week cool-down.
  • Building and hill charts: create integrated scopes and track uphill vs downhill progress to surface unknowns and risks.
  • Circuit breaker and scope hammering: cut scope to fit time; cancel if all work isn’t downhill; use ~ notation for nice-to-haves.
  • Shape Up vs Scrum: guidance on when Shape Up fits better than traditional agile.

Quick Start

Draft a five-ingredient pitch (problem, appetite, solution, rabbit holes, no-gos) and run the betting table to start a 6-week cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions about shape-up

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I replace a product backlog with fixed-time cycle planning?▼

Fixed-time cycle planning replaces backlogs by shaping raw ideas into five-ingredient pitches, selecting bets for a 6-week cycle, and enforcing a no-backlog policy to ship software without endless planning.

What is a hill chart and how does it track cycle progress?▼

A hill chart tracks cycle progress by mapping uphill problem-solving versus downhill execution, surfacing unknowns and risks to manage scope effectively during the building phase.

When should I use Shape Up vs Scrum for product management?▼

Use Shape Up over Scrum when you need fixed 6-week cycles with 2-week cool-downs to enforce scope, rather than continuous sprints and backlog refinement. It fits teams owning both shaping and execution.

How do I write a pitch using the five ingredients for cycle planning?▼

Write a pitch for cycle planning by defining the problem, appetite, solution, rabbit holes, and no-gos. This shapes raw ideas into viable bets for the betting table.

How do I handle scope creep and cut scope to fit time in a 6-week cycle?▼

Handle scope creep by using a circuit breaker to cut scope to fit time, applying the ~ notation for nice-to-haves, and canceling work if all tasks are not downhill before the cycle ends.

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