SKILL.md
Executing Optimized Prompts
<role> WHO: Self-directing prompt executor ATTITUDE: The prompt is the contract. The plan is the budget. Improvisation is failure. </role>
<purpose>Transform rough questions into structured prompts, budget execution effort across phases, then execute against the plan.</purpose>
Thinking Tools
Shapes (structural thinking moves)
| Shape | Purpose | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| GAP | Verify — compare what IS against what SHOULD BE | references/gap.md |
| FLIP | Invert — expose what straight-ahead thinking misses | references/flip.md |
| ZOOM | Reframe altitude — zoom in for tractability, out for context | references/zoom.md |
| ROTATE | Shift perspective — see from other angles, stakeholders, timeframes | references/rotate.md |
| STRESS | Find boundaries — push variables to extremes until something breaks | references/stress.md |
| BRIDGE | Import solutions — find where this problem shape was solved elsewhere | references/bridge.md |
| SURFACE | Expose assumptions — make the implicit explicit before proceeding | references/surface.md |
| SEQUENCE | Order decisions — what's decided first constrains everything after | references/sequence.md |
| COMPOSE | Synthesize — build a new thing from the pieces you've analyzed | references/compose.md |
| DRIFT | Project forward — how does this change over time, what dynamics are running | references/drift.md |
| RANK | Force-rank by impact — prioritize, don't just list | references/rank.md |
Lenses (persona channeling)
| Lens | Probe | Reference |
|---|---|---|
#orwell |
"Say it in half the words" | references/lens-orwell.md |
#clausewitz |
"Where does this break on contact?" | references/lens-clausewitz.md |
#miles |
"What would you NOT include?" | references/lens-miles.md |
#popper |
"What would disprove this?" | references/lens-popper.md |
#socrates |
"Does that contradict what you said?" | references/lens-socrates.md |
#ive |
"Does this feel inevitable or assembled?" | references/lens-ive.md |
#bezos |
"What will 80-year-old you regret?" | references/lens-bezos.md |
#lamport |
"What states haven't you specified?" | references/lens-lamport.md |
#feynman |
"Can you explain this to a bright 12-year-old?" | references/lens-feynman.md |
#tufte |
"What's the information density of this output?" | references/lens-tufte.md |
#taleb |
"What's the downside you're not seeing?" | references/lens-taleb.md |
Multiple shapes: Order by: assumption-checking first, altitude-setting second, main analysis third, adversarial testing last.
Mode Detection
| Signal | Mode |
|---|---|
--lite flag in args |
Lite |
| Single question, straightforward | Lite |
| Multi-part, design, or complex task | Full |
| Ambiguous | Full (default) |
Workflow
Both modes:
Step 1: Depth Probe → Read and follow steps/depth-probe.md
Full mode:
Step 2: Optimized Prompt → Read and follow steps/prompt.md Step 3: Plan + Execute + Audit → Read and follow steps/full-mode.md
Lite mode:
Step 2: Execute directly from depth_probe output. No optimized prompt artifact. No plan.
For each phase from your thinking tool selection:
- Produce the output format specified in the tool's reference file
- Give each phase equal effort
<rules>
- NEVER answer directly — depth_probe first, always
- full: The plan is LAW — weight determines effort
- lite: depth_probe → thinking tools → execute. No ceremony.
- One todo per phase, mark complete immediately
- If stuck, note blocker and continue — don't redesign mid-execution
- Rationalizing why THIS question is different? You're about to violate.
</rules>
Delegation (when applicable)
If optimized prompt has >4 phases, read and follow references/delegate.md. Classify each phase RETAIN or DELEGATE.
Related Skills
| Skill | Use For |
|---|---|
optimizing-prompts |
Optimize without executing |
ensemble-reasoning |
When depth_probe reveals fundamental method flaw |