AI agents skip steps under time pressure. They bypass best practices when confident. They lack consistency across tasks. The result: bugs you didn't catch, designs you didn't validate, tests you didn't write.
Superpowers fixes this. Skills are mandatory instruction documents agents must follow. When a relevant skill exists, the agent checks for it, uses it, or fails the task.
At session start, the agent learns which skills exist. Before any task, the agent checks: "Does a skill match this work?" If yes, the agent loads and follows that skill.
Skills are markdown files with proven workflows. The test-driven-development skill forces RED-GREEN-REFACTOR. No test-first? Delete the code and start over. The skill prevents rationalization.
When you ask to build a feature:
-
brainstorming - Activates before writing code. Refines rough ideas through questions, explores alternatives, presents design in sections for validation. Saves design document.
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using-git-worktrees - Activates after design approval. Creates isolated workspace on new branch, runs project setup, verifies clean test baseline.
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writing-plans - Activates with approved design. Breaks work into bite-sized tasks (2-5 minutes each). Every task has exact file paths, complete code, verification steps.
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subagent-driven-development or executing-plans - Activates with plan. Dispatches fresh subagent per task (same session, fast iteration) or executes in batches (parallel session, human checkpoints).
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test-driven-development - Activates during implementation. Enforces RED-GREEN-REFACTOR: write failing test, watch it fail, write minimal code, watch it pass, commit. Deletes code written before tests.
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requesting-code-review - Activates between tasks. Reviews against plan, reports issues by severity. Critical issues block progress.
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finishing-a-development-branch - Activates when tasks complete. Verifies tests, presents options (merge/PR/keep/discard), cleans up worktree.
The agent checks for relevant skills before any task. Mandatory workflows, not suggestions.
Note: Installation differs by platform. Claude Code has a built-in plugin system. Codex and OpenCode require manual setup.
In Claude Code, register the marketplace first:
/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplaceThen install the plugin from this marketplace:
/plugin install superpowers@superpowers-marketplaceCheck that commands appear:
/help# Should see:
# /superpowers:brainstorm - Interactive design refinement
# /superpowers:write-plan - Create implementation plan
# /superpowers:execute-plan - Execute plan in batches
Tell Codex:
Fetch and follow instructions from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obra/superpowers/refs/heads/main/.codex/INSTALL.md
Detailed docs: docs/README.codex.md
Tell OpenCode:
Fetch and follow instructions from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obra/superpowers/refs/heads/main/.opencode/INSTALL.md
Detailed docs: docs/README.opencode.md
Testing (skills/testing/)
- test-driven-development - RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle
- condition-based-waiting - Async test patterns
- testing-anti-patterns - Common pitfalls to avoid
Debugging (skills/debugging/)
- systematic-debugging - 4-phase root cause process
- root-cause-tracing - Find the real problem
- verification-before-completion - Ensure it's actually fixed
- defense-in-depth - Multiple validation layers
Collaboration (skills/collaboration/)
- brainstorming - Socratic design refinement
- writing-plans - Detailed implementation plans
- executing-plans - Batch execution with checkpoints
- dispatching-parallel-agents - Concurrent subagent workflows
- requesting-code-review - Pre-review checklist
- receiving-code-review - Responding to feedback
- using-git-worktrees - Parallel development branches
- finishing-a-development-branch - Merge/PR decision workflow
- subagent-driven-development - Fast iteration with quality gates
Meta (skills/meta/)
- writing-skills - Create new skills following best practices
- sharing-skills - Contribute skills back via branch and PR
- testing-skills-with-subagents - Validate skill quality
- using-superpowers - Introduction to the skills system
- Test-Driven Development - Write tests first, always
- Systematic over ad-hoc - Process over guessing
- Complexity reduction - Simplicity as primary goal
- Evidence over claims - Verify before declaring success
Read more: Superpowers for Claude Code
Skills live directly in this repository. To contribute:
- Fork the repository
- Create a branch for your skill
- Follow the
writing-skillsskill for creating new skills - Use the
testing-skills-with-subagentsskill to validate quality - Submit a PR
See skills/meta/writing-skills/SKILL.md for the complete guide.
Skills update automatically when you update the plugin:
/plugin update superpowersMIT License - see LICENSE file for details
