AI SummaryA TDD-based framework for creating and validating AI agent skills through test-driven documentation and pressure testing. Developers building Claude Code agents or multi-agent systems benefit from this systematic approach to skill development and deployment.
Install
# Install skill into your project (7 files) mkdir -p .cursor/skills/writing-skills && curl --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-all-errors -o .cursor/skills/writing-skills/SKILL.md "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obra/superpowers/main/skills/writing-skills/SKILL.md" && curl --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-all-errors -o .cursor/skills/writing-skills/anthropic-best-practices.md "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/obra/superpowers/main/skills/writing-skills/anthropic-best-practices.md"
Run in your IDE terminal (bash). On Windows, use Git Bash, WSL, or your IDE's built-in terminal. If curl fails with an SSL error, your network may block raw.githubusercontent.com — try using a VPN or download the files directly from the source repo.
Description
Use when creating new skills, editing existing skills, or verifying skills work before deployment
Overview
Writing skills IS Test-Driven Development applied to process documentation. Personal skills live in agent-specific directories (~/.claude/skills for Claude Code, ~/.agents/skills/ for Codex) You write test cases (pressure scenarios with subagents), watch them fail (baseline behavior), write the skill (documentation), watch tests pass (agents comply), and refactor (close loopholes). Core principle: If you didn't watch an agent fail without the skill, you don't know if the skill teaches the right thing. REQUIRED BACKGROUND: You MUST understand superpowers:test-driven-development before using this skill. That skill defines the fundamental RED-GREEN-REFACTOR cycle. This skill adapts TDD to documentation. Official guidance: For Anthropic's official skill authoring best practices, see anthropic-best-practices.md. This document provides additional patterns and guidelines that complement the TDD-focused approach in this skill.
Overview
What is this? Core principle in 1-2 sentences.
What is a Skill?
A skill is a reference guide for proven techniques, patterns, or tools. Skills help future Claude instances find and apply effective approaches. Skills are: Reusable techniques, patterns, tools, reference guides Skills are NOT: Narratives about how you solved a problem once
TDD Mapping for Skills
| TDD Concept | Skill Creation | |-------------|----------------| | Test case | Pressure scenario with subagent | | Production code | Skill document (SKILL.md) | | Test fails (RED) | Agent violates rule without skill (baseline) | | Test passes (GREEN) | Agent complies with skill present | | Refactor | Close loopholes while maintaining compliance | | Write test first | Run baseline scenario BEFORE writing skill | | Watch it fail | Document exact rationalizations agent uses | | Minimal code | Write skill addressing those specific violations | | Watch it pass | Verify agent now complies | | Refactor cycle | Find new rationalizations → plug → re-verify | The entire skill creation process follows RED-GREEN-REFACTOR.
Quality Score
Acceptable
69/100
Trust & Transparency
Open Source — MIT
Source code publicly auditable
Verified Open Source
Hosted on GitHub — publicly auditable
Actively Maintained
Last commit 3d ago
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