Agent skill

SPARC Methodology

Structures complex feature work into five planning-first phases (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement and completion) driven through claude-flow commands.

No licenceAuto-check passedDevelopment

Install SPARC Methodology

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a claude-code

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

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology --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/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .claude/skills/sparc-methodology && 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/

Paste into Claude Code

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .claude/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

$skill-installer

$skill-installer install https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology

Type this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a codex

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology --agent codex

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .agents/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.

Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/

Paste into Codex

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .agents/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a cursor

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology --agent cursor

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .cursor/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.

Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/

Paste into Cursor

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .cursor/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

gemini skills install

$ gemini skills install https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git --path .claude/skills/sparc-methodology

--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a gemini-cli

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology --agent gemini-cli

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .gemini/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.

Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into Gemini CLI

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .gemini/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology

Installs for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a github-copilot

Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .github/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.

GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into GitHub Copilot

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .github/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

skills CLI

$ npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a opencode

OpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.

GitHub CLI

$ gh skill install ruvnet/agentic-flow sparc-methodology --agent opencode

Project scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.

Manual copy

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology .opencode/skills/sparc-methodology && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.

OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/

Paste into OpenCode

Install the "sparc-methodology" agent skill from https://github.com/ruvnet/agentic-flow/tree/main/.claude/skills/sparc-methodology into .opencode/skills/sparc-methodology/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "sparc-methodology", then confirm the skill loads.

OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.

Facts

Skill name: sparc-methodology
GitHub stars: 816
Used in: 6 other repos
Token cost: ~6.3k tokens
SKILL.md length: 1,166 words
Files: 1
Skills in repo: 21
Repo updated: Sep 16, 2026
First seen: Oct 7, 2026
Licence: None found

At a glance

Structures complex feature work into five planning-first phases (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement and completion) driven through claude-flow commands.

Works in 11 steps: Specification → Architecture → Refinement (TDD Implementation) → …
Starting a new feature whose requirements are still unclear
SKILL.md covers Overview, Table of Contents, Core Philosophy and Development Phases, plus 5 more sections
Calls npx

What it does

SPARC puts thorough planning ahead of coding for non-trivial work. The skill defines five phases: specification (requirements, acceptance criteria and constraints), pseudocode, architecture (structure, interfaces and dependencies), refinement based on feedback, and completion with tests and documentation. Each phase starts by routing a task string such as a specification or architecture line through the claude-flow CLI's hooks route command.

A SPARC coordinator agent can be spawned with the same CLI, and two shell scripts support the workflow: sparc-init.sh starts the process for a new feature and sparc-review.sh runs a phase review checklist. It is aimed at new features, architectural changes, system redesigns, integration work and unclear requirements. The skill says to skip it for simple bug fixes, documentation or configuration changes and routine maintenance.

When your agent uses it

Starting a new feature whose requirements are still unclear
Planning an architectural change or system redesign before writing code
Running a phase-by-phase review of a complex integration

Example prompts

“Use SPARC to plan a user authentication feature with OAuth2 before we write any code.”
“Run the SPARC specification phase for the new billing integration.”
“Start the sparc-init script for the notifications feature and take me through pseudocode next.”

Requirements

npx access to the @claude-flow/cli package

Workflow steps

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

Specification
Architecture
Refinement (TDD Implementation)
Review
Completion
Memory Integration
Parallel Operations
Hook Integration
Test Coverage
Documentation
File Organization

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit e993605. 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
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
- npx
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
Links to these hosts (documentation or services it may open):
- github.com
- npmjs.com
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

SPARC Methodology loads about 6.3k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 40 tokens; SKILL.md has 1,166 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it: ~40
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches: ~6.3k

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

Without a licence we can't republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 1,166 words (~6,250 tokens).

“SPARC (Specification, Pseudocode, Architecture, Refinement, Completion) is a systematic development methodology integrated with Claude Flow's multi-agent orchestration capabilities. It provides 17 specialized modes for comprehensive software development, from initial research through deployment and monitoring.”

— opening of SKILL.md by ruvnet

name: sparc-methodology
version: 2.7.0
category: development
tags: sparc, tdd, architecture, orchestration, methodology, multi-agent
author: Claude Flow

Outline of SKILL.md

SPARC Methodology - Comprehensive Development Framework
Overview
Table of Contents
Core Philosophy
Key Principles
Development Phases
Phase 1: Specification
Phase 2: Architecture
Phase 3: Refinement (TDD Implementation)
Phase 4: Review
Phase 5: Completion
Available Modes
Core Orchestration Modes
Development Modes
Analysis and Research Modes
Creative and Support Modes
Activation Methods
Method 1: MCP Tools (Preferred in Claude Code)
Method 2: NPX CLI (Fallback)
Method 3: Local Installation
Orchestration Patterns
Pattern 1: Hierarchical Coordination
Pattern 2: Mesh Coordination
Pattern 3: Sequential Pipeline
Pattern 4: Parallel Execution
Pattern 5: Adaptive Strategy
TDD Workflows
Complete TDD Workflow
Red-Green-Refactor Cycle
Best Practices

Read the full SKILL.md on GitHub

Files

Just SKILL.md in .claude/skills/sparc-methodology of ruvnet/agentic-flow.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit e993605

Used in 10 other repositories

We found 17 copies of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 6 other GitHub owners. This page covers the copy in ruvnet/agentic-flow, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

SPARC Methodology 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.

SPARC Methodology compared with similar skills
Skill	Stars	Used in	Tokens	Auto-check	Licence	Repo updated
SPARC Methodology this skillruvnet/agentic-flow	816	6 repos	~6.3k	Automated safety check: Pass	None	23 days ago
SPARC Development Methodologyruvnet/ruflo	74k	2 repos	~829	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	yesterday
Bulletproof Workflowartemiimillier/bulletproof	153	—	~3.5k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	6 mo ago
Think: Plan Before You Buildtw93/Waza	7.2k	—	~3k	Automated safety check: Notes	MIT	2 days ago
Architect Before Implementingcursor/plugins	10k	8 repos	~1.4k	Automated safety check: Pass	None	yesterday
PRP PlanWirasm/prp	2.3k	—	~4k	Automated safety check: Pass	MIT	6 days ago

Similar skills

SPARC Development Methodology
ruvnet/ruflo
Applies the SPARC method (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement, completion) with 17 specialized modes and multi-agent orchestration, from research to deployment.
74k GitHub starsUsed in 2 repos~829 tokens
DevelopmentAuto-check passed
Bulletproof Workflow
artemiimillier/bulletproof
Applies a 12-stage verified workflow, from research to deploy, to non-trivial coding tasks, scaled to lightweight, standard or full mode by task size.
153 GitHub stars~3.5k tokensUpdated 6 mo ago
DevelopmentAuto-check passed
Think: Plan Before You Build
tw93/Waza
Turns a rough idea into an approved, decision-complete plan or recommendation before any code is written, for architecture choices and go or no-go calls.
7.2k GitHub stars~3k tokensUpdated 2 days ago
DevelopmentAuto-check: notes
Architect Before Implementing
cursor/plugins
Official
Sketches types, signatures and module boundaries with stub bodies before real code, compares at least two designs, then implements against the chosen sketch.
10k GitHub starsUsed in 8 repos~1.4k tokens
DevelopmentAuto-check passed
PRP Plan
Wirasm/prp
Writes an implementation-ready plan for a feature, bug fix, refactor or chore from a PRD, issue or description, grounded in codebase evidence, and can post it back to the source issue.
2.3k GitHub stars~4k tokensUpdated 6 days ago
DevelopmentAuto-check passed
Conductor Track Management
wshobson/agents
Use this skill when creating, managing, or working with Conductor tracks - the logical work units for features, bugs, and refactors. Applies to spec.md…
40k GitHub starsUsed in 9 repos~420 tokens
DevelopmentAuto-check passed

Questions about SPARC Methodology

What does SPARC Methodology do?

Structures complex feature work into five planning-first phases (specification, pseudocode, architecture, refinement and completion) driven through claude-flow commands. SPARC puts thorough planning ahead of coding for non-trivial work. The skill defines five phases: specification (requirements, acceptance criteria and constraints), pseudocode, architecture (structure, interfaces and dependencies), refinement based on feedback, and completion with tests and documentation.

When should I use SPARC Methodology?

SPARC Methodology fits situations like: starting a new feature whose requirements are still unclear; planning an architectural change or system redesign before writing code; running a phase-by-phase review of a complex integration.

How do I install SPARC Methodology in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/sparc-methodology in ruvnet/agentic-flow) into .claude/skills/sparc-methodology in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install SPARC Methodology in Codex?

Run `npx skills add ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.claude/skills/sparc-methodology in ruvnet/agentic-flow) into .agents/skills/sparc-methodology in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use SPARC Methodology 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 ruvnet/agentic-flow --skill sparc-methodology -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/sparc-methodology, .gemini/skills/sparc-methodology, .github/skills/sparc-methodology and .opencode/skills/sparc-methodology in your project.

What does SPARC Methodology need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, SPARC Methodology needs the command-line tools its instructions call (npx). Our summary lists: npx access to the @claude-flow/cli package.

Does SPARC Methodology access the network?

SKILL.md names 2 domains. As links in the text: github.com and npmjs.com. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is SPARC Methodology 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 SPARC Methodology use?

No licence was found for SPARC Methodology or its repository. Without one, default copyright applies: ask the author before reusing or redistributing it.

How many tokens does SPARC Methodology use?

About 6.3k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 25k 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 SPARC Methodology?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with SPARC Methodology: SPARC Development Methodology (ruvnet/ruflo, 74k stars), Bulletproof Workflow (artemiimillier/bulletproof, 153 stars), Think: Plan Before You Build (tw93/Waza, 7.2k stars) and Architect Before Implementing (cursor/plugins, 10k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains SPARC Methodology?

ruvnet (a GitHub user) maintains it in ruvnet/agentic-flow, which has 816 GitHub stars. The repository holds 21 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 16, 2026.

Source: ruvnet/agentic-flow on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.

SPARC Methodology

Install SPARC Methodology

Facts

At a glance

What it does

When your agent uses it

Example prompts

Requirements

Workflow steps

What it can do on your machine

Tool permissions

Runs code

Network

Credentials

Context cost

Safety

SKILL.md

Files

Used in 10 other repositories

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

SPARC Development Methodology

Bulletproof Workflow

Think: Plan Before You Build

Architect Before Implementing

PRP Plan

Conductor Track Management

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Questions about SPARC Methodology

Install SPARC Methodology

Facts

At a glance

What it does

When your agent uses it

Example prompts

Requirements

Workflow steps

What it can do on your machine

Tool permissions

Runs code

Network

Credentials

Context cost

Safety

SKILL.md

Files

Used in 10 other repositories

Compare with similar skills

Similar skills

More from ruvnet/agentic-flow

Related

Questions about SPARC Methodology