Brainstorming
obra/superpowers
Makes the agent clarify intent and agree on a design with you before writing any code, scaling the process from a quick spike to a written spec.
A skill your agent uses when starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills, including using Skill tool before announcing usage, following brainstorming…
Install Using Skills
$ npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill using-skills -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai using-skills --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/using-skills .claude/skills/using-skills && 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 "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .claude/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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/using-skillsType 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 using-skills -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai using-skills --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/using-skills .agents/skills/using-skills && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .agents/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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 using-skills -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai using-skills --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/using-skills .cursor/skills/using-skills && 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 "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .cursor/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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/using-skills--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 using-skills -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install sandgardenhq/sgai using-skills --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/using-skills .gemini/skills/using-skills && 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 "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .gemini/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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 using-skillsInstalls 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 using-skills -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/using-skills .github/skills/using-skills && 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 "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .github/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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 using-skills -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 using-skills --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/using-skills .opencode/skills/using-skills && 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 "using-skills" agent skill from https://github.com/sandgardenhq/sgai/tree/main/cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills into .opencode/skills/using-skills/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "using-skills", 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
using-skills- GitHub stars
- 137
- Token cost
- ~1.1k tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 630 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 53
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- Custom licence
At a glance
A skill your agent uses when starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills, including using Skill tool before announcing usage, following brainstorming…
- Works in 5 steps: ☐ List available skills in your mind → ☐ Ask yourself: "Does ANY skill match… → ☐ If yes → Use the Skill tool to read… → …
- Starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills
- SKILL.md covers MANDATORY FIRST RESPONSE…, Critical Rules, Common Rationalizations That… and Skills with Checklists, plus 3 more sections
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
What it does
Using Skills is an agent skill from sandgardenhq/sgai. Use when starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills, including using Skill tool before announcing usage, following brainstorming before coding, and creating TodoWrite todos for checklists
Its SKILL.md is about 1.1k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
It sits in Agent Workflows, covering Brainstorming. The repository describes itself as: Sandgarden AI Software Factory.
When your agent uses it
- Starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills
- Including using Skill tool before announcing usage
- Following brainstorming before coding
- Creating TodoWrite todos for checklists
Example prompts
- “/using-skills”
Workflow steps
5 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.
- ☐ List available skills in your mind
- ☐ Ask yourself: "Does ANY skill match this request?"
- ☐ If yes → Use the Skill tool to read and run the skill file
- ☐ Announce which skill you're using
- ☐ Follow the skill exactly
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
Using Skills loads about 1.1k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 62 tokens; SKILL.md has 630 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 630 words (~1,134 tokens).
“If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST read the skill.”
- name
- using-skills
Files
Just SKILL.md in cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills of sandgardenhq/sgai.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 9efbb7b
Compare with similar skills
Using Skills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using Skills this skillsandgardenhq/sgai | 137 | — | ~1.1k | Automated safety check: Pass | Custom licence | |
| Brainstormingobra/superpowers | 297k | 1 repos | ~2.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Brainstormingxpinjection/test-driven-spring-boot | 112 | 53 repos | ~2.6k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Yao Meta Skillyaojingang/yao-meta-skill | 2.7k | — | ~768 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Typesafe AIOpenAgentsInc/openagents | 455 | 9 repos | ~2.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Trellis StartROYIANS/foliq-print-template-designer | 136 | 6 repos | ~646 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
Similar skills
Brainstorming
xpinjection/test-driven-spring-boot
You MUST use this before any creative work - creating features, building components, adding functionality, or modifying behavior.
Yao Meta Skill
yaojingang/yao-meta-skill
Create, improve, or evaluate an existing skill from workflows, prompts, SOPs, scripts.
Typesafe AI
OpenAgentsInc/openagents
Build AI-powered software with TypeSafe: small units of AI intelligence you can use like programming primitives.
Trellis Start
ROYIANS/foliq-print-template-designer
Initializes an AI development session by reading workflow guides, developer identity, git status, active tasks, and project guidelines from .trellis/.
Brainstorming Before Building
jnMetaCode/superpowers-zh
Turns a rough idea into an approved design before any code is written, sorting the request into spike, bounded or architectural and enforcing an approval gate.
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Related
Categories
Questions about Using Skills
What does Using Skills do?
A skill your agent uses when starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills, including using Skill tool before announcing usage, following brainstorming…. Using Skills is an agent skill from sandgardenhq/sgai.
When should I use Using Skills?
Using Skills fits situations like: starting any conversation - establishes mandatory workflows for finding and using skills; including using Skill tool before announcing usage; following brainstorming before coding; creating TodoWrite todos for checklists.
How do I install Using Skills in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill using-skills -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills in sandgardenhq/sgai) into .claude/skills/using-skills in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Using Skills in Codex?
Run `npx skills add sandgardenhq/sgai --skill using-skills -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (cmd/sgai/skel/.sgai/skills/using-skills in sandgardenhq/sgai) into .agents/skills/using-skills in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Using Skills 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 using-skills -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/using-skills, .gemini/skills/using-skills, .github/skills/using-skills and .opencode/skills/using-skills in your project.
What does Using Skills need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Using Skills is instructions for the agent only.
Does Using Skills 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 Using Skills 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 Using Skills use?
Using Skills 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 Using Skills use?
About 1.1k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 4.5k 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 Using Skills?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Using Skills: Brainstorming (obra/superpowers, 297k stars), Brainstorming (xpinjection/test-driven-spring-boot, 112 stars), Yao Meta Skill (yaojingang/yao-meta-skill, 2.7k stars) and Typesafe AI (OpenAgentsInc/openagents, 455 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Using Skills?
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.