Agent skill

Prd V03 Moat Definition

by mattgierhart in mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering

Assess competitor defensibility and define our own moat strategy during PRD v0.3 Commercial Model.

MITAuto-check passedProduct & Project Management

Install Prd V03 Moat Definition

skills CLI
$ npx skills add mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering --skill prd-v03-moat-definition -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering prd-v03-moat-definition --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition .claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
prd-v03-moat-definition
GitHub stars
180
Token cost
~2.3k tokens
SKILL.md length
771 words
Files
4 (incl. references, assets)
Skills in repo
45
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Assess competitor defensibility and define our own moat strategy during PRD v0.3 Commercial Model.

  • Works in 6 steps: Pull Competitor Data → Identify Moat Type → Rate Moat Strength → …
  • Requests to analyze competitor moats
  • SKILL.md covers Consumes, Produces, Moat Type Taxonomy and Moat Strength Tiers, plus 7 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Prd V03 Moat Definition is an agent skill from mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering. Assess competitor defensibility and define our own moat strategy during PRD v0.3 Commercial Model. Triggers on requests to analyze competitor moats, define our defensibility, assess switching costs, identify vulnerabilities, find wedge opportunities, or when user asks "what's our moat?", "how defensible are they?", "where can we compete?", "switching costs?", "defensibility", "who to target". Consumes Competitive Landscape (v0.2) CFD- entries. Outputs CFD- entries for competitor moats and BR- entries for…

Its SKILL.md is about 2.3k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 5 other files, including reference files and assets (for example `assets/br-targeting.md`, `assets/cfd-moat-analysis.md` and `references/examples.md`).

It sits in Product & Project Management, covering PRD writing and Physical and earth sciences. The repository describes itself as: PRD-Led Context Engineering — Memory as Infrastructure. An ontology layer for product teams building products that solve real problems — with AI agents that remember. Gated PRD… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Requests to analyze competitor moats
  • Define our defensibility
  • Assess switching costs
  • Identify vulnerabilities

Example prompts

  • “s our moat?”
  • “how defensible are they?”
  • “where can we compete?”
  • “/prd-v03-moat-definition”

Requirements

  • Pre-approved tools (allowed-tools): Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, WebSearch, WebFetch

Workflow steps

6 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Pull Competitor Data
  2. Identify Moat Type
  3. Rate Moat Strength
  4. Inventory Switching Costs
  5. Identify Vulnerabilities
  6. Generate IDs

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 30ed1b0. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves these tools, so the agent can use them without asking each time:

    • Read
    • Write
    • Edit
    • Glob
    • Grep
    • WebSearch
    • WebFetch

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md (its code samples are markdown).

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Prd V03 Moat Definition loads about 2.3k tokens when it runs, and up to ~4.3k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 145 tokens; SKILL.md has 771 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~145
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~2.3k
With references · SKILL.md plus every file in references/, read only if the agent opens them
~4.3k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering at commit 30ed1b0, republished under its MIT licence (© mattgierhart). 771 words, ~2,346 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 3 other files; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
prd-v03-moat-definition
description
Assess competitor defensibility and define our own moat strategy during PRD v0.3 Commercial Model. Triggers on requests to analyze competitor moats, define our defensibility, assess switching costs, identify vulnerabilities, find wedge opportunities, or when user asks "what's our moat?", "how defensible are they?", "where can we compete?", "switching costs?", "defensibility", "who to target". Consumes Competitive Landscape (v0.2) CFD- entries. Outputs CFD- entries for competitor moats and BR- entries for targeting rules and our defensibility strategy.
allowed-tools
Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, WebSearch, WebFetch
context
fork

Moat Definition

Position in HORIZON workflow: v0.2 Competitive Landscape → v0.3 Moat Definition → v0.3 Pricing Model Selection

Consumes

This skill requires prior work from v0.2:

  • Landscape map artifact (from Competitive Landscape Mapping) — Current behavior documentation, feature matrix, competitor analysis
  • CFD-* entries (competitive intelligence, from Competitive Landscape Mapping) — Documented competitors with pricing, features, user feedback
  • BR-* product type entry (from Product Type Classification) — Classification constrains which competitors are relevant to analyze

This skill assumes v0.2 analysis is complete with documented competitors.

Produces

This skill creates/updates:

  • CFD-* entries (competitor moat analysis) — Assessment of each competitor's defensibility by moat type
  • BR-* entries (targeting rules) — Constraints derived from moat analysis, defining where to compete vs. avoid
  • Moat strength inventory artifact — Summary of competitor moats with vulnerability signals

All CFD moat analysis entries should include:

  • confidence: 2-3/5 (based on public evidence + user interviews about switching friction)
  • Evidence source (pricing pages, reviews, customer interviews)
  • Forward target: "Would move to 4/5 if we interview 5+ current/former customers about switching costs"

Example moat analysis entry:

markdown
CFD-055: Competitor Moat Analysis — Notion

Competitor: Notion
Primary Moat Type: Switching Costs (data lock-in)
Moat Strength Tier: Strong
Confidence: 3/5 (source: public-research + 2-user-interviews)
Date: 2026-02-01

Switching Cost Quantification:
  - Financial: Multi-year contract, no early termination ($0 direct cost)
  - Time/Effort: 20+ hours migration, team retraining
  - Data Migration: Proprietary database format (complex export)
  - Workflow Retraining: Unique templates, team habits
  - Integration Rework: Deep Slack/GitHub dependencies

Total Switching Cost: $3K in labor + 20 hours = Material friction
Moat Verdict: Strong — switching costs >$3K + meaningful time investment

Vulnerability Signal: SMB segment with small teams; they use <20% of feature set (opportunity for simpler tool)
Targeting Decision: Avoid direct competition. Wedge in SMB with simplified, cheaper offering.

Evidence:
  - CFD-042 (landscape): Reviews show enterprise love; SMB complaints focus on cost + complexity
  - CFD-015 (value hypothesis): SMB would save $12,500/year with simpler tool
Next Target: "Would move to 4/5 if we interview 5+ SMB teams about exact switching cost dollars"

Moat Type Taxonomy

Every moat falls into one of six types. Identify primary + secondary moats per competitor:

Moat TypeDefinitionStrong WhenWeak When
Switching CostsFriction to leave (data, workflow, contracts)Multi-year data, deep integrationsEasy export, monthly contracts
Network EffectsValue increases with usersTwo-sided marketplace, content platformSingle-player tool, linear value
Data/IPProprietary data or algorithmsUnique training data, patentsCommodity ML, public datasets
Brand/TrustRecognition, credibilityRegulated industry, high-risk decisionsLow-stakes, undifferentiated
Scale/CostVolume economicsInfrastructure-heavy, marginal cost near zeroLabor-intensive, linear cost
RegulatoryCompliance barriersCertifications required, government contractsNo compliance requirements

For micro-SaaS: Switching costs and brand/trust matter most. Network effects and scale rarely apply.

Moat Strength Tiers

Rate each competitor's defensibility:

TierCriteriaEvidence SignalsTargeting Implication
ImpenetrableMulti-layered moat, 10+ years data lock-in"Would take years to switch"Avoid direct competition
StrongSignificant switching friction, 1-2 year contractsHigh NPS + low churn despite complaintsTarget underserved segments only
ModerateSome friction, workarounds existChurn 5-10%, export optionsWedge opportunity exists
WeakEasy to replace, commodity offeringMonthly plans, high churn, price shoppingDirect competition viable
ErodingFormer strength decliningNew alternatives gaining shareAggressive targeting

Gate rule: Don't compete where incumbent has Impenetrable or Strong moat unless targeting segment they explicitly ignore.

Switching Cost Inventory

Quantify ALL switching costs — the sum determines moat strength:

Cost TypeHigh ImpactLow ImpactHow to Assess
Financial>6mo contract, early termination feesMonthly billing, no penaltyCheck pricing page terms
Time/Effort40+ hr migration, retraining<4 hr setup, familiar UXTrial the competitor
Data MigrationProprietary format, no exportStandard export (CSV, API)Test export function
Workflow RetrainingUnique methodology, team habitsStandard patternsRead onboarding docs
Integration ReworkDeep API dependenciesStandalone toolMap their integrations

Calculation: Sum hours + dollars. >$5K or >40hr = material switching cost.

Show full SKILL.md (303 more words)Show less

Targeting Decision Framework

Use moat analysis to determine where to compete:

Moat Impenetrable/Strong → DON'T COMPETE HERE
                          ↓ unless
                          Target ignored segment (SMB, specific vertical)
                          
Moat Moderate → WEDGE STRATEGY
                ↓ identify
                Entry point that bypasses switching friction
                
Moat Weak/Eroding → DIRECT COMPETITION
                    ↓ execute
                    Feature + price attack on their core
Wedge Opportunity Signals

A wedge exists when:

  • Competitor moat doesn't apply to specific segment
  • One feature has LOW switching cost (can start there)
  • Integration allows coexistence (not replacement)
  • Price sensitivity > switching friction

Analysis Workflow

Step 1: Pull Competitor Data

Retrieve CFD- entries from v0.2 Competitive Landscape. For each competitor, you need: pricing, complaints, feature set.

Step 2: Identify Moat Type

For each competitor, determine primary moat type. Use evidence from reviews, pricing structure, integration depth.

Step 3: Rate Moat Strength

Apply tier criteria. Flag if insufficient evidence (Tier 4-5 confidence).

Step 4: Inventory Switching Costs

Complete the 5-category switching cost assessment. Quantify hours + dollars.

Step 5: Identify Vulnerabilities

Where is their moat weakest? Which segments do they ignore? What's eroding?

Step 6: Generate IDs

CFD entries (customer_feedback.md): Template: assets/cfd-moat-analysis.md

CFD-MOT-###: [Competitor] Moat Analysis — [Moat Type], [Strength Tier]

BR entries (BUSINESS_RULES.md): Template: assets/br-targeting.md

BR-TGT-###: [Targeting Rule] — based on [Competitor] moat weakness

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Don'tDo Instead
"They're big"Specify which moat type + evidence
Assume low switching costQuantify: hours + dollars
Only analyze direct competitorsInclude Type 4-5 (workarounds, inertia)
Underestimate integration moatMap actual dependency depth
Ignore eroding moatsTrack signals: new entrants, complaints
Target where moat is strongFind the segment where moat doesn't apply

Output Requirements

Before advancing to Our Moat Articulation:

  • ≥3 competitors with moat type identified
  • ≥2 competitors with switching costs quantified
  • Moat strength tier assigned (with evidence)
  • Targeting decision per competitor (compete/avoid/wedge)
  • CFD-MOT entries created (≥3)
  • BR-TGT entries created (≥2)

Downstream Connections

ConsumerWhat It NeedsFormat
v0.3 Our Moat ArticulationWhere competitors are weak, what moats workCFD-MOT entries
v0.3 Pricing ModelWhat price points bypass switching frictionBR-TGT entries
v0.5 Red TeamRisks of competitor responseMoat strength tiers
v0.9 GTMPositioning against competitor moatsTargeting rules

Detailed References

  • Good/bad examples: See references/examples.md
  • CFD-MOT template: See assets/cfd-moat-analysis.md
  • BR-TGT template: See assets/br-targeting.md

© mattgierhart, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 3 other files (references, assets) in .claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition of mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering.

  • SKILL.md
  • assets/br-targeting.md
  • assets/cfd-moat-analysis.md
  • references/examples.md

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 30ed1b0

Compare with similar skills

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Questions about Prd V03 Moat Definition

What does Prd V03 Moat Definition do?

Assess competitor defensibility and define our own moat strategy during PRD v0.3 Commercial Model. Prd V03 Moat Definition is an agent skill from mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering.3 Commercial Model.

When should I use Prd V03 Moat Definition?

Prd V03 Moat Definition fits situations like: requests to analyze competitor moats; define our defensibility; assess switching costs; identify vulnerabilities.

How do I install Prd V03 Moat Definition in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering --skill prd-v03-moat-definition -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition in mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering) into .claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Prd V03 Moat Definition in Codex?

Run `npx skills add mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering --skill prd-v03-moat-definition -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition in mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering) into .agents/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Prd V03 Moat Definition in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering --skill prd-v03-moat-definition -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition, .gemini/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition, .github/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition and .opencode/skills/prd-v03-moat-definition in your project.

What does Prd V03 Moat Definition need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Prd V03 Moat Definition is instructions for the agent only. Its frontmatter pre-approves these tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep, WebSearch, WebFetch.

Does Prd V03 Moat Definition access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Prd V03 Moat Definition safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Prd V03 Moat Definition use?

Prd V03 Moat Definition is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Prd V03 Moat Definition use?

About 2.3k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 9.4k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 1.9k tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.

What are the alternatives to Prd V03 Moat Definition?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Prd V03 Moat Definition: CCPM Project Management (automazeio/ccpm, 8.4k stars), Ralph Tui Create Beads (subsy/ralph-tui, 2.5k stars), Trellis Brainstorm (anjiemo/SunnyBeach, 178 stars) and Ralph Tui Create Beads Rust (subsy/ralph-tui, 2.5k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Prd V03 Moat Definition?

mattgierhart (a GitHub user) maintains it in mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering, which has 180 GitHub stars. The repository holds 45 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on August 31, 2026.

Source: mattgierhart/PRD-driven-context-engineering on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.