Inversion
danium/lateral-thinking
Assumption Inversion — list the assumptions behind the current approach and flip each one, then ask where the flipped version could actually be true.
Flip core assumptions to reveal hidden constraints and alternative approaches - "what if the opposite were true?".
Custom licenceAuto-check passed
Install Inversion Exercise
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exercise --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .claude/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.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/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .claude/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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 install https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exerciseType 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.
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exercise --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .agents/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .agents/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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.
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exercise --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .cursor/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .cursor/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git --path cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exercise --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .gemini/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.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/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .gemini/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exerciseInstalls 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).
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .github/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.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/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .github/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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.
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai inversion-exercise --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise .opencode/skills/inversion-exercise && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "inversion-exercise" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise into .opencode/skills/inversion-exercise/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "inversion-exercise", 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
inversion-exercise- GitHub stars
- 137
- Token cost
- ~521 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 220 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 53
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- Custom licence
At a glance
Flip core assumptions to reveal hidden constraints and alternative approaches - "what if the opposite were true?".
- Works in 4 steps: List core assumptions - What "must" be… → Invert each systematically - "What if… → Explore implications - What would we do… → …
- SKILL.md covers Overview, Quick Reference, Process and Example, plus 2 more sections
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
What it does
Inversion Exercise is an agent skill from sandgardenhq/sgai. Flip core assumptions to reveal hidden constraints and alternative approaches - "what if the opposite were true?". Stuck on assumptions you can't question. Solution feels forced. "This is how it must be done" thinking. Want to challenge conventional wisdom. Need fresh perspective on problem.
Its SKILL.md is about 520 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
The repository describes itself as: Sandgarden AI Software Factory.
Example prompts
- “what if the opposite were true?”
- “t question. Solution feels forced.”
- “/inversion-exercise”
Workflow steps
4 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.
- List core assumptions - What "must" be true?
- Invert each systematically - "What if opposite were true?"
- Explore implications - What would we do differently?
- Find valid inversions - Which actually work somewhere?
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 9efbb7b. 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.
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
Inversion Exercise loads about 521 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 78 tokens; SKILL.md has 220 words of instructions outside code blocks.
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
Its licence (Custom licence) doesn't allow us to republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 220 words (~521 tokens).
“Flip every assumption and see what still works. Sometimes the opposite reveals the truth.”
- name
- inversion-exercise
Files
Just SKILL.md in cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise of sandgardenhq/sgai.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 9efbb7b
Compare with similar skills
Inversion Exercise 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.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inversion Exercise this skillsandgardenhq/sgai | 137 | — | ~521 | Automated safety check: Pass | Custom licence | |
| Inversiondanium/lateral-thinking | 319 | — | ~1.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Wobbling Ty Constraint Orderastral-sh/ruff | 50k | — | ~838 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Constraint-Driven Developmentaddyosmani/agent-skills | 103k | 2 repos | ~5.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Prioritize Assumptionsphuryn/pm-skills | 27k | — | ~571 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Aria Hidden Bodythedaviddias/Front-End-Checklist | 74k | — | ~444 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
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Questions about Inversion Exercise
What does Inversion Exercise do?
Flip core assumptions to reveal hidden constraints and alternative approaches - "what if the opposite were true?". Inversion Exercise is an agent skill from sandgardenhq/sgai.".
How do I install Inversion Exercise in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise in sandgardenhq/sgai) into .claude/skills/inversion-exercise in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Inversion Exercise in Codex?
Run `npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise in sandgardenhq/sgai) into .agents/skills/inversion-exercise in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Inversion Exercise 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 sandgardenhq/sgai --skill inversion-exercise -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/inversion-exercise, .gemini/skills/inversion-exercise, .github/skills/inversion-exercise and .opencode/skills/inversion-exercise in your project.
What does Inversion Exercise need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Inversion Exercise is instructions for the agent only.
Does Inversion Exercise 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 Inversion Exercise 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 Inversion Exercise use?
Inversion Exercise has a licence file (the repository's licence) that doesn't match a standard licence. Read it on GitHub before reusing the skill.
How many tokens does Inversion Exercise use?
About 521 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.1k 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 Inversion Exercise?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Inversion Exercise: Inversion (danium/lateral-thinking, 319 stars), Wobbling Ty Constraint Order (astral-sh/ruff, 50k stars), Constraint-Driven Development (addyosmani/agent-skills, 103k stars) and Prioritize Assumptions (phuryn/pm-skills, 27k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Inversion Exercise?
sandgardenhq (a GitHub organization) maintains it in sandgardenhq/sgai, which has 137 GitHub stars. The repository holds 53 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on September 21, 2026.
Source: sandgardenhq/sgai on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.