Domain-modelling skill — align code with the business domain through ubiquitous language, bounded contexts, small aggregates, domain events, and core-domain focus. Use when naming concepts, drawing module or service boundaries, deciding entity vs value object, integrating external systems, or when the code no longer…
Ideation skill — refine a raw, unshaped idea into a sharp, buildable concept through divergent expansion (variation lenses like inversion, simplification, audience shift) followed by convergent stress-testing (user value, feasibility, differentiation), ending in a one-pager with explicit assumptions and a "Not Doing"…
Cross-phase skill — treat AI output as a controlled feedback loop, not a one-shot generation. Run the cheap check after each meaningful change; re-read your own output before signalling completion. For the fuller session workflow — plan-first sequencing plus durable learning capture — see the opt-in…
Behavioural guardrails against four empirical LLM coding failure modes — silent assumptions, over-complication, orthogonal damage to code you don't fully understand, and declaring done without verification. Use when writing, reviewing, or refactoring code to surface assumptions early, keep changes proportionate to the…
Cross-phase skill — question every piece of AI-workflow scaffolding on every model upgrade; remove non-load-bearing pieces one at a time with measurement. Complexity drifts upward by default; subtraction requires discipline. Governs scaffolding built around AI usage (prompts, wrapper scripts, guardrails, validation…
Anti-over-engineering ladder for choosing HOW to implement something — before writing custom code, climb the rungs in order and stop at the first that holds. Does this need to exist at all (YAGNI) → already in the codebase → standard library → native platform feature → already-installed dependency → one line → minimum…
Execute-phase scope-containment checklist — write the minimum code the task needs and touch only the files and lines the task requires; surface out-of-scope findings as notes rather than fixing them inline. Governs the footprint of a change whose approach is already decided; for choosing that implementation approach…
Execute-phase skill — write the failing test before the code that makes it pass; for bug fixes, this is the reproduction test itself. Use for any logic change, bug fix, or behavioural modification; for the full root-cause triage pipeline around an unexpected failure, see ralphctl-debugging-and-error-recovery.