Create optimized prompts for Claude-to-Claude pipelines with research, planning, and execution stages...
Every execution produces a SUMMARY.md for quick human scanning without reading full outputs.
Each prompt gets its own folder in .prompts/ with its output artifacts, enabling clear provenance and chain detection.
IF no context provided (skill invoked without description): โ IMMEDIATELY use AskUserQuestion with:
After selection, ask: "Describe what you want to accomplish" (they select "Other" to provide free text).
IF context was provided: โ Check if purpose is inferable from keywords:
implement, build, create, fix, add, refactor โ Doplan, roadmap, approach, strategy, decide, phases โ Planresearch, understand, learn, gather, analyze, explore โ Researchrefine, improve, deepen, expand, iterate, update โ Refineโ If unclear, ask the Purpose question above as first contextual question โ If clear, proceed to adaptive_analysis with inferred purpose
auth, stripe-payments)If topic identifier not obvious, ask:
For Refine purpose, also identify target output from .prompts/*/ to improve.
If found:
Match by topic keyword when possible (e.g., "auth plan" โ suggest auth-research.md).
Load questions from: references/question-bank.md
Route by purpose:
Loop until "Proceed" selected.
"Creating a {purpose} prompt for: {topic} Folder: .prompts/{number}-{topic}-{purpose}/ References: {list any chained files}"
Then proceed to generation.
Load purpose-specific patterns:
Load intelligence rules: references/intelligence-rules.md
For Research and Plan prompts, output must include:
<confidence> - How confident in findings<dependencies> - What's needed to proceed<open_questions> - What remains uncertain<assumptions> - What was assumedAll prompts must create SUMMARY.md with:
After saving prompt(s), present inline (not AskUserQuestion):
What's next?
Choose (1-4): _
</single_prompt_presentation>
<multi_prompt_presentation>
Prompts created:
Detected execution order: Sequential (002 references 001 output, 003 references 002 output)
What's next?
Choose (1-4): _
</multi_prompt_presentation>
</step_2_present>
<step_3_execute>
<title>Execution Engine</title>
<execution_modes>
<single_prompt>
Straightforward execution of one prompt.
1. Read prompt file contents
2. Spawn Task agent with subagent_type="general-purpose"
3. Include in task prompt:
- The complete prompt contents
- Output location: `.prompts/{number}-{topic}-{purpose}/{topic}-{purpose}.md`
4. Wait for completion
5. Validate output (see validation section)
6. Archive prompt to `completed/` subfolder
7. Report results with next-step options
</single_prompt>
<sequential_execution>
For chained prompts where each depends on previous output.
1. Build execution queue from dependency order
2. For each prompt in queue:
a. Read prompt file
b. Spawn Task agent
c. Wait for completion
d. Validate output
e. If validation fails โ stop, report failure, offer recovery options
f. If success โ archive prompt, continue to next
3. Report consolidated results
<progress_reporting>
Show progress during execution:
Executing 1/3: 001-auth-research... โ Executing 2/3: 002-auth-plan... โ Executing 3/3: 003-auth-implement... (running)
</progress_reporting>
</sequential_execution>
<parallel_execution>
For independent prompts with no dependencies.
1. Read all prompt files
2. **CRITICAL**: Spawn ALL Task agents in a SINGLE message
- This is required for true parallel execution
- Each task includes its output location
3. Wait for all to complete
4. Validate all outputs
5. Archive all prompts
6. Report consolidated results (successes and failures)
<failure_handling>
Unlike sequential, parallel continues even if some fail:
- Collect all results
- Archive successful prompts
- Report failures with details
- Offer to retry failed prompts
</failure_handling>
</parallel_execution>
<mixed_dependencies>
For complex DAGs (e.g., two parallel research โ one plan).
1. Analyze dependency graph from @ references
2. Group into execution layers:
- Layer 1: No dependencies (run parallel)
- Layer 2: Depends only on layer 1 (run after layer 1 completes)
- Layer 3: Depends on layer 2, etc.
3. Execute each layer:
- Parallel within layer
- Sequential between layers
4. Stop if any dependency fails (downstream prompts can't run)
<example>
Layer 1 (parallel): 001-api-research, 002-db-research Layer 2 (after layer 1): 003-architecture-plan Layer 3 (after layer 2): 004-implement
</example>
</mixed_dependencies>
</execution_modes>
<dependency_detection>
<automatic_detection>
Scan prompt contents for @ references to determine dependencies:
1. Parse each prompt for `@.prompts/{number}-{topic}/` patterns
2. Build dependency graph
3. Detect cycles (error if found)
4. Determine execution order
<inference_rules>
If no explicit @ references found, infer from purpose:
- Research prompts: No dependencies (can parallel)
- Plan prompts: Depend on same-topic research
- Do prompts: Depend on same-topic plan
Override with explicit references when present.
</inference_rules>
</automatic_detection>
<missing_dependencies>
If a prompt references output that doesn't exist:
1. Check if it's another prompt in this session (will be created)
2. Check if it exists in `.prompts/*/` (already completed)
3. If truly missing:
- Warn user: "002-auth-plan references auth-research.md which doesn't exist"
- Offer: Create the missing research prompt first? / Continue anyway? / Cancel?
</missing_dependencies>
</dependency_detection>
<validation>
<output_validation>
After each prompt completes, verify success:
1. **File exists**: Check output file was created
2. **Not empty**: File has content (> 100 chars)
3. **Metadata present** (for research/plan): Check for required XML tags
- `<confidence>`
- `<dependencies>`
- `<open_questions>`
- `<assumptions>`
4. **SUMMARY.md exists**: Check SUMMARY.md was created
5. **SUMMARY.md complete**: Has required sections (Key Findings, Decisions Needed, Blockers, Next Step)
6. **One-liner is substantive**: Not generic like "Research completed"
<validation_failure>
If validation fails:
- Report what's missing
- Offer options:
- Retry the prompt
- Continue anyway (for non-critical issues)
- Stop and investigate
</validation_failure>
</output_validation>
</validation>
<failure_handling>
<sequential_failure>
Stop the chain immediately:
โ Failed at 2/3: 002-auth-plan
Completed:
Failed:
Not started:
What's next?
</sequential_failure>
<parallel_failure>
Continue others, report all results:
Parallel execution completed with errors:
โ 001-api-research (archived)
โ 002-db-research: Validation failed - missing
What's next?
</parallel_failure>
</failure_handling>
<archiving>
<archive_timing>
- **Sequential**: Archive each prompt immediately after successful completion
- Provides clear state if execution stops mid-chain
- **Parallel**: Archive all at end after collecting results
- Keeps prompts available for potential retry
<archive_operation>
Move prompt file to completed subfolder:
```bash
mv .prompts/{number}-{topic}-{purpose}/{number}-{topic}-{purpose}.md \
.prompts/{number}-{topic}-{purpose}/completed/
Output file stays in place (not moved).
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
JWT with jose library and httpOnly cookies recommended
โข jose outperforms jsonwebtoken with better TypeScript support โข httpOnly cookies required (localStorage is XSS vulnerable) โข Refresh rotation is OWASP standard
None - ready for planning
None
Create auth-plan.md โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
What's next?
Display the actual SUMMARY.md content inline so user sees findings without opening files.
</single_result>
<chain_result>
โ Chain completed: auth workflow
Results: โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ 001-auth-research JWT with jose library and httpOnly cookies recommended Decisions: None โข Blockers: None
002-auth-plan 4-phase implementation: types โ JWT core โ refresh โ tests Decisions: Approve 15-min token expiry โข Blockers: None
003-auth-implement JWT middleware complete with 6 files created Decisions: Review before Phase 2 โข Blockers: None โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
All prompts archived. Full summaries in .prompts/*/SUMMARY.md
What's next?
For chains, show condensed one-liner from each SUMMARY.md with decisions/blockers flagged.
</chain_result>
</result_presentation>
<special_cases>
<re_running_completed>
If user wants to re-run an already-completed prompt:
1. Check if prompt is in `completed/` subfolder
2. Move it back to parent folder
3. Optionally backup existing output: `{output}.bak`
4. Execute normally
</re_running_completed>
<output_conflicts>
If output file already exists:
1. For re-runs: Backup existing โ `{filename}.bak`
2. For new runs: Should not happen (unique numbering)
3. If conflict detected: Ask user - Overwrite? / Rename? / Cancel?
</output_conflicts>
<commit_handling>
After successful execution:
1. Do NOT auto-commit (user controls git workflow)
2. Mention what files were created/modified
3. User can commit when ready
Exception: If user explicitly requests commit, stage and commit:
- Output files created
- Prompts archived
- Any implementation changes (for Do prompts)
</commit_handling>
<recursive_prompts>
If a prompt's output includes instructions to create more prompts:
1. This is advanced usage - don't auto-detect
2. Present the output to user
3. User can invoke skill again to create follow-up prompts
4. Maintains user control over prompt creation
</recursive_prompts>
</special_cases>
</step_3_execute>
</automated_workflow>
<reference_guides>
**Prompt patterns by purpose:**
- [references/do-patterns.md](references/do-patterns.md) - Execution prompts + output structure
- [references/plan-patterns.md](references/plan-patterns.md) - Planning prompts + plan.md structure
- [references/research-patterns.md](references/research-patterns.md) - Research prompts + research.md structure
- [references/refine-patterns.md](references/refine-patterns.md) - Iteration prompts + versioning
**Shared templates:**
- [references/summary-template.md](references/summary-template.md) - SUMMARY.md structure and field requirements
- [references/metadata-guidelines.md](references/metadata-guidelines.md) - Confidence, dependencies, open questions, assumptions
**Supporting references:**
- [references/question-bank.md](references/question-bank.md) - Intake questions by purpose
- [references/intelligence-rules.md](references/intelligence-rules.md) - Extended thinking, parallel tools, depth decisions
</reference_guides>
<success_criteria>
**Prompt Creation:**
- Intake gate completed with purpose and topic identified
- Chain detection performed, relevant files referenced
- Prompt generated with correct structure for purpose
- Folder created in `.prompts/` with correct naming
- Output file location specified in prompt
- SUMMARY.md requirement included in prompt
- Metadata requirements included for Research/Plan outputs
- Quality controls included for Research outputs (verification checklist, QA, pre-submission)
- Streaming write instructions included for Research outputs
- Decision tree presented
**Execution (if user chooses to run):**
- Dependencies correctly detected and ordered
- Prompts executed in correct order (sequential/parallel/mixed)
- Output validated after each completion
- SUMMARY.md created with all required sections
- One-liner is substantive (not generic)
- Failed prompts handled gracefully with recovery options
- Successful prompts archived to `completed/` subfolder
- SUMMARY.md displayed inline in results
- Results presented with decisions/blockers flagged
**Research Quality (for Research prompts):**
- Verification checklist completed
- Quality report distinguishes verified from assumed claims
- Sources consulted listed with URLs
- Confidence levels assigned to findings
- Critical claims verified with official documentation
</success_criteria>