Skeptic

Review plans and specifications to identify assumptions, failure modes, and risks.

1|Updated Jan 29, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/farmountain/sdlc_agent_swarm --skill skeptic
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: Skeptic
Source: https://github.com/farmountain/sdlc_agent_swarm/tree/main/.agents/skills/skeptic
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/farmountain/sdlc_agent_swarm --skill skeptic

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill identifies potential issues, missing information, and risks in proposed plans or specifications, acting as an adversarial reviewer to strengthen outcomes.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Adversarial Review: Critically examines input to find failure modes and assumptions.
  • Risk Assessment: Identifies and ranks potential risks associated with a plan.
  • Evidence Gap Identification: Pinpoints where more information or validation is needed.
  • Use Case: Before a critical software release, the Skeptic skill can review the deployment plan to uncover potential rollback issues or security vulnerabilities that the original team might have overlooked.

Quick Start

Have the Skeptic skill review the provided Solver Position Card for any missing assumptions or risks.

Frequently Asked Questions about Skeptic

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

FAQPage Schema
What is adversarial review in software project planning?

Adversarial review is a validation process that critically examines proposed plans and specifications to identify missing assumptions, failure modes, and invariant violations. It strengthens project outcomes by pinpointing evidence gaps and ranking potential risks before implementation.

How do I identify missing assumptions and risks in a deployment plan?

To identify risks in a deployment plan, analyze the provided specification and test cards to generate a Skeptic Position Card. This card details claims, plans for remediation, evidence needs, and invariant violations to uncover potential rollback issues or security vulnerabilities.

Can I use adversarial review for quality assurance before a critical software release?

Yes, adversarial review directly supports quality assurance by validating specifications before a critical software release. It uncovers potential rollback issues and security vulnerabilities that the original planning team might have overlooked during initial development.

What do I need to perform a risk assessment and validation of a specification?

Performing a risk assessment requires analyzing existing SPEC and TEST cards from your project planning phase. The review uses these inputs to evaluate claims, identify evidence gaps, and output a detailed position card for remediation.

What's the best way to find evidence gaps in proposed software specifications?

The best way to find evidence gaps is applying an adversarial review mechanism to the proposed specifications. This process pinpoints exactly where more information or validation is needed by challenging the original claims and identifying invariant violations.