using-superpowers

Enforces skill discovery and invocation before any agent response or action.

Updated Apr 29, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/fred-meng/harness --skill using-superpowers-fred-meng
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: using-superpowers
Source: https://github.com/fred-meng/harness/tree/main/.github/skills/using-superpowers
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/fred-meng/harness --skill using-superpowers-fred-meng

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? AI coding agents often skip available skills and improvise solutions, leading to inconsistent workflows and missed best practices. This Skill establishes a mandatory protocol that forces agents to check for and invoke relevant skills before responding to any user message. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Mandatory Skill Invocation: Requires invoking any potentially relevant skill before responding, even for clarifying questions, with a decision flowchart and red-flag rationalization table. - Instruction Priority Framework: Defines a clear hierarchy where user instructions (CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md) override skill guidance, which overrides default system behavior. - Cross-Platform Tool Mapping: Ships reference documents mapping Claude Code tool names to Copilot CLI, Codex, and Gemini CLI equivalents, including subagent dispatch workarounds. - Use Case: When a user asks an agent to fix a bug, the agent first invokes the debugging skill before exploring code, ensuring disciplined test-driven investigation instead of ad-hoc patching. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to start any task and it will check for applicable skills before responding.

Frequently Asked Questions about using-superpowers

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I make an AI agent use skills before responding?

Install this skill so it loads at conversation start. It instructs the agent to invoke any potentially relevant skill via the Skill tool before responding, including before clarifying questions or codebase exploration.

What is the Superpowers skill invocation rule?

The rule states that if there is even a 1% chance a skill applies to the task, the agent must invoke it before acting. A flowchart and red-flag table list common rationalizations like 'this is just a simple question' that agents must reject.

Does this skill work with Copilot CLI and Gemini CLI?

Yes, reference documents map Claude Code tool names to Copilot CLI, Codex, and Gemini CLI equivalents. For example, the Skill tool maps to the skill tool in Copilot CLI and activate_skill in Gemini CLI.

Can user instructions override Superpowers skills?

Yes, user instructions always take precedence. If CLAUDE.md, GEMINI.md, or AGENTS.md conflicts with a skill, such as disabling TDD, the agent follows the user's explicit instructions.

Why does subagent dispatch not work in Gemini CLI?

Gemini CLI has no equivalent to Claude Code's Task tool for dispatching subagents. Skills relying on subagent dispatch fall back to single-session execution, while Codex requires enabling multi_agent in its config.