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Agent skill

Sequential Thinking

by Microck in Microck/ordinary-claude-skills

A skill your agent uses when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope.

MITAuto-check passed

Install Sequential Thinking

skills CLI
$ npx skills add Microck/ordinary-claude-skills --skill sequential-thinking -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install Microck/ordinary-claude-skills sequential-thinking --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/Microck/ordinary-claude-skills.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills_all/sequential-thinking .claude/skills/sequential-thinking && 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
sequential-thinking
GitHub stars
403
Used in
1 other repo
Token cost
~793 tokens
SKILL.md length
239 words
Files
2
Skills in repo
91
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

A skill your agent uses when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope.

  • Complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts
  • SKILL.md covers Core Capabilities, When to Use, Basic Usage and Workflow Pattern, plus 3 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
  • Branch into alternative approaches

What it does

Sequential Thinking is an agent skill from Microck/ordinary-claude-skills. Use when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope. Ideal for multi-stage analysis, design planning, problem decomposition, or tasks with initially unclear scope.

Its SKILL.md is about 790 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file (for example `metadata.json`).

The repository describes itself as: An unappealing collection of Claude Skills and resources. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts
  • Branch into alternative approaches
  • Dynamically adjust scope

Example prompts

  • “/sequential-thinking”

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 1056d29. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    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 typescript).

    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

Sequential Thinking loads about 793 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 74 tokens; SKILL.md has 239 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~74
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~793

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 Microck/ordinary-claude-skills at commit 1056d29, republished under its MIT licence (© Microck). 239 words, ~793 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/sequential-thinking/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
sequential-thinking
description
Use when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope. Ideal for multi-stage analysis, design planning, problem decomposition, or tasks with initially unclear scope.
license
MIT

Sequential Thinking

Enables structured problem-solving through iterative reasoning with revision and branching capabilities.

Core Capabilities

  • Iterative reasoning: Break complex problems into sequential thought steps
  • Dynamic scope: Adjust total thought count as understanding evolves
  • Revision tracking: Reconsider and modify previous conclusions
  • Branch exploration: Explore alternative reasoning paths from any point
  • Maintained context: Keep track of reasoning chain throughout analysis

When to Use

Use mcp__reasoning__sequentialthinking when:

  • Problem requires multiple interconnected reasoning steps
  • Initial scope or approach is uncertain
  • Need to filter through complexity to find core issues
  • May need to backtrack or revise earlier conclusions
  • Want to explore alternative solution paths

Don't use for: Simple queries, direct facts, or single-step tasks.

Basic Usage

The MCP tool mcp__reasoning__sequentialthinking accepts these parameters:

Required Parameters
  • thought (string): Current reasoning step
  • nextThoughtNeeded (boolean): Whether more reasoning is needed
  • thoughtNumber (integer): Current step number (starts at 1)
  • totalThoughts (integer): Estimated total steps needed
Optional Parameters
  • isRevision (boolean): Indicates this revises previous thinking
  • revisesThought (integer): Which thought number is being reconsidered
  • branchFromThought (integer): Thought number to branch from
  • branchId (string): Identifier for this reasoning branch

Workflow Pattern

1. Start with initial thought (thoughtNumber: 1)
2. For each step:
   - Express current reasoning in `thought`
   - Estimate remaining work via `totalThoughts` (adjust dynamically)
   - Set `nextThoughtNeeded: true` to continue
3. When reaching conclusion, set `nextThoughtNeeded: false`

Simple Example

typescript
// First thought
{
  thought: "Problem involves optimizing database queries. Need to identify bottlenecks first.",
  thoughtNumber: 1,
  totalThoughts: 5,
  nextThoughtNeeded: true
}

// Second thought
{
  thought: "Analyzing query patterns reveals N+1 problem in user fetches.",
  thoughtNumber: 2,
  totalThoughts: 6, // Adjusted scope
  nextThoughtNeeded: true
}

// ... continue until done

Advanced Features

For revision patterns, branching strategies, and complex workflows, see:

Tips

  • Start with rough estimate for totalThoughts, refine as you progress
  • Use revision when assumptions prove incorrect
  • Branch when multiple approaches seem viable
  • Express uncertainty explicitly in thoughts
  • Adjust scope freely - accuracy matters less than progress visibility

© Microck, 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 1 other file in skills_all/sequential-thinking of Microck/ordinary-claude-skills.

  • SKILL.md
  • metadata.json

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 1056d29

Used in 1 other repository

We found 6 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 1 other GitHub owner. This page covers the copy in Microck/ordinary-claude-skills, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

Sequential Thinking next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Sequential Thinking compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Sequential Thinking this skillMicrock/ordinary-claude-skills4031 repos~793Automated safety check: PassMIT
Vc Sequential Thinkingwithkynam/vibecode-pro-max-kit1.1k2 repos~854Automated safety check: PassMIT
Deepseek Reasonruvnet/ruflo74k—~626Automated safety check: NotesMIT
Requirementsrizsotto/Bear6.5k—~2kAutomated safety check: PassGPL-3.0
Is This A Problemanthropics/claude-for-legal9.6k2 repos~2.3kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0
First Principles Thinkingmindfold-ai/Trellis15k—~4.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

Similar skills

  • Vc Sequential Thinking

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    1.1k GitHub starsUsed in 2 repos~854 tokens
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  • Requirements

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  • First Principles Thinking

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Questions about Sequential Thinking

What does Sequential Thinking do?

A skill your agent uses when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope. Sequential Thinking is an agent skill from Microck/ordinary-claude-skills. Use when complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts, branch into alternative approaches, or dynamically adjust scope.

When should I use Sequential Thinking?

Sequential Thinking fits situations like: complex problems require systematic step-by-step reasoning with ability to revise thoughts; branch into alternative approaches; dynamically adjust scope.

How do I install Sequential Thinking in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add Microck/ordinary-claude-skills --skill sequential-thinking -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills_all/sequential-thinking in Microck/ordinary-claude-skills) into .claude/skills/sequential-thinking in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Sequential Thinking in Codex?

Run `npx skills add Microck/ordinary-claude-skills --skill sequential-thinking -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills_all/sequential-thinking in Microck/ordinary-claude-skills) into .agents/skills/sequential-thinking in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Sequential Thinking 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 Microck/ordinary-claude-skills --skill sequential-thinking -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/sequential-thinking, .gemini/skills/sequential-thinking, .github/skills/sequential-thinking and .opencode/skills/sequential-thinking in your project.

What does Sequential Thinking need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Sequential Thinking is instructions for the agent only.

Does Sequential Thinking 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 Sequential Thinking 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 Sequential Thinking use?

Sequential Thinking is published under the MIT licence (declared in SKILL.md). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Sequential Thinking use?

About 793 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 3.2k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Sequential Thinking?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Sequential Thinking: Vc Sequential Thinking (withkynam/vibecode-pro-max-kit, 1.1k stars), Deepseek Reason (ruvnet/ruflo, 74k stars), Requirements (rizsotto/Bear, 6.5k stars) and Is This A Problem (anthropics/claude-for-legal, 9.6k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Sequential Thinking?

Microck (a GitHub user) maintains it in Microck/ordinary-claude-skills, which has 403 GitHub stars. The repository holds 91 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 6, 2026.

Source: Microck/ordinary-claude-skills on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.