create-skill

Create Skill Command

Creates new skills through a structured workflow: iron-law → brainstorm → scaffold → validate. Uses Socratic questioning to refine rough ideas into well-designed skills before generating any files.

Usage

# Start with brainstorming (recommended)
/create-skill "a skill for analyzing test coverage gaps"

# Skip brainstorming if you already have a clear design
/create-skill analyzing-coverage --skip-brainstorm

# Create in specific plugin
/create-skill "debugging async race conditions" --plugin parseltongue

Workflow

Phase -1: Iron Law Interlock (Blocking)

This phase is required and cannot be skipped.

Quick Reference

1. Create test file FIRST: tests/test_${skill_name}_skill.py
2. Write structural tests: File exists, frontmatter valid, registered in plugin.json
3. Run tests - capture RED state:

   pytest tests/test_${skill_name}_skill.py -v
   # Expected: FAILED (skill does not exist)
   

4. Capture evidence:

   [E1] Command: pytest tests/test_${skill_name}_skill.py -v
   Output: FAILED - FileNotFoundError
   Status: RED - Interlock satisfied
   

Only after completing Phase -1 may you proceed.

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Phase 0: Methodology Curation (Optional but Recommended)

Before brainstorming, consider surfacing expert frameworks for your domain.

Invoke the methodology-curator skill:

Use abstract:methodology-curator to surface proven methodologies before brainstorming.

This is especially valuable when:

• Creating skills that teach techniques (debugging, testing, reviewing)
• Building knowledge management features
• Designing decision frameworks
• The domain has recognized experts (most do!)

Phase 0.5: Brainstorming (Default)

After methodology curation (or if skipping it), refine the skill idea through collaborative dialogue.

Invoke the brainstorming skill:

Use superpowers:brainstorming to refine this skill idea before scaffolding.