Clarify the user's true objective and generate an optimized specification before skill generation.
Use This Skill When
- A user requests Agent Skills development but the request is vague.
- Key information (domain, audience, workflows, integrations) is missing.
- Requirements need structuring before generation begins.
Workflow
Phase 1: Information Sufficiency Check
Evaluate the user's input against these 8 required elements:
| # | Element | Question to ask if missing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PURPOSE | What decision, workflow, or outcome should this skill enable? |
| 2 | DOMAIN | What professional domain or subject area? |
| 3 | AUDIENCE | Who will use this skill? |
| 4 | SCOPE | Single skill or suite? How many sub-skills? |
| 5 | WORKFLOWS | What are the main task types or phases? |
| 6 | INTEGRATIONS | Does it need MCP tools, databases, or APIs? |
| 7 | REFERENCE MODEL | Is there an existing skill group to reference? |
| 8 | QUALITY CRITERIA | What defines success? |
Sufficiency rule: 5+ elements clear → proceed to Phase 3. <5 elements clear → enter Phase 2 dialogue.
Phase 2: One-Question-at-a-Time Dialogue
Rules:
- Ask exactly one question per turn. Never batch multiple questions.
- Prefer closed or multiple-choice questions over open-ended.
- After each answer, re-check sufficiency (5+ elements met?).
- Maximum 8 rounds. After 8, proceed with stated assumptions.
Priority order (ask most impactful gaps first):
- PURPOSE → 2. DOMAIN → 3. WORKFLOWS → 4. SCOPE
- AUDIENCE → 6. INTEGRATIONS → 7. REFERENCE MODEL → 8. QUALITY CRITERIA
Phase 3: Structured Prompt Generation
Compile into optimized specification:
# Agent Skills Development Specification
## Objective
[One-sentence purpose statement]
## Domain & Audience
- Domain: [domain]
- Primary users: [audience]
## Architecture
- Type: [Single / Suite]
- Sub-skills: [list]
- Custom Agents: [list with roles]
## Workflow Phases
| Phase | Sub-skill | Description | Gate |
|-------|-----------|-------------|------|
| 0 | [name] | [desc] | ⏸️/auto |
## Integrations
- MCP: [list or none]
- Databases: [list or none]
## Reference Model
- Based on: [existing group or none]
## Quality Criteria
- [criteria]
## Assumptions
- [any assumptions from incomplete info]
Phase 4: User Approval ⏸️
Present specification and wait for approval.
- Approved → pass to
skill-scaffolder. - Modifications → update and re-present.
Deliverables
- Structured specification (input for skill-scaffolder).
results/skill-spec.md(saved for reference).
Quality Gates
- PURPOSE is clear and actionable.
- At least 5/8 elements explicitly addressed.
- Specification uses standard template format.
- User approved specification before generation begins.
- Assumptions are explicitly stated.
If any gate fails: return to Phase 2 dialogue.
Gotchas
- Do not ask multiple questions at once. Strictly adhere to one question, one answer
- The user's first input is a "request," not a "specification." The specification is structured through dialogue
- Do not determine SCOPE while PURPOSE remains ambiguous. If the purpose is unclear, you will misjudge the number of skills
- If information is not gathered within 8 rounds, proceed by clearly stating assumptions. Do not fall into an infinite loop
- Even when referencing an existing suite, customize it to match the user's purpose
Validation Loop
- Execute Sufficiency Check
- Check: Are 5/8 elements clear, and is PURPOSE specific?
- Insufficient → Additional hearing via one question, one answer
- Proceed to skill generation only after user approval