# Project Hail Mary > Build, scaffold, troubleshoot, or product-shape a macOS rescue launcher, focus ritual, or last-minute shipping workflow that can start a hype song, open critical apps and docs, start a countdown, and copy a heads-down status update. Use when Codex needs to turn "Project Hail Mary", "panic mode", or "play Sign of the Times and open everything I need" into a realistic menu bar app, shortcut, script, or launch sequence without inventing unsupported music or messaging APIs. - Skill: `arnie016/project-hail-mary` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 8 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add arnie016/project-hail-mary` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/arnie016/project-hail-mary/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: Arnie016 (https://skillmd.com/u/arnie016) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/arnie016/project-hail-mary --- # Project Hail Mary Use this skill when the user wants a rescue button for crunch mode, deep focus, or a deadline save. Default product shape: a lightweight macOS launcher that opens the user's music and work surfaces fast, keeps the countdown visible, and leaves a clear next-step checklist instead of vague motivation. ## Quick Start 1. Choose the lane: `menu-bar-app`, `shortcut-pack`, `one-shot-script`, `dashboard`, or `support-only`. 2. Run `python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "" --anthem "Sign of the Times"` to normalize the request. 3. If the user wants something runnable right away, use `python3 scripts/hail_mary_launch.py --anthem "Sign of the Times" --service spotify --app "Visual Studio Code" --url "https://github.com"`. 4. Default Hail Mary sequence: - open a hype track or playlist in a real music surface - open the repo, docs, notes, call, or dashboard tabs the user actually needs - start a visible countdown or show the finish time - copy a heads-down status update into the clipboard instead of auto-sending it - make the next action obvious 5. Be explicit about capability boundaries: - do not promise silent playback control of paid music services unless the local app or browser flow supports it - keep sign-in inside Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, GitHub, Slack, Notion, or the user's browser - prefer launchers, timers, and copied communication drafts over hidden background control 6. If a real app scaffold is requested, prefer a SwiftUI menu bar app first and add richer flows only if the user asks. ## Workflow ### Choose The Lane - `menu-bar-app`: build a persistent Mac rescue button with an anthem, checklist, countdown, and links into work surfaces. - `shortcut-pack`: use Shortcuts, shell scripts, AppleScript, or browser launchers when the user wants something quick without a full app. - `one-shot-script`: fire off the anthem, open the right tools, copy the status line, and print a finish time in one local command. - `dashboard`: build a single-window launch board with sections like music, comms, critical links, and blockers. - `support-only`: explain the fastest realistic path without building anything. ### Build The Brief Run the brief script first. Useful commands: ```bash python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "make a panic-mode Mac menu bar app that opens my repo, Linear, and docs" python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "play Sign of the Times and open everything I need for a launch push" --anthem "Sign of the Times" python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "give me a one-shot rescue script for a 45 minute deadline" --lane one-shot-script --focus shipping ``` The brief should capture: - anthem or soundtrack preference - launch lane and shell - core work surfaces: repo, ticket board, docs, notes, call, dashboard - timebox length or target finish time - whether the user wants a copied status update or a visible checklist - fallback path if direct service control is not realistic ### Music Kickoff Guidance - Default to real user-owned music surfaces: - Apple Music search or playlist handoff - Spotify search or playlist handoff - YouTube search or video handoff - If the user explicitly wants a track like `Sign of the Times`, open the search or canonical result page unless the exact deep link is already available. - Do not bundle copyrighted audio into the repo. - If direct playback requires a signed-in app or browser session, say so and optimize time-to-music instead of pretending playback is guaranteed. - If the user wants a custom ritual sound, let them swap the anthem with a local file, playlist URL, or app deeplink. ### Countdown And Focus Guidance - For quick flows, a printed finish time or in-app timer is often enough. - If the user wants a system notification, use a local notification or reminder, not a fake background scheduler. - Treat Focus or Do Not Disturb changes as opt-in. Do not silently promise system-wide mode changes unless the chosen path actually supports them on that Mac. ### Communication Guidance - Copy a short status line to the clipboard rather than auto-posting into chat by default. - Good copied messages: - `Heads down for 45 minutes. Shipping the last blocker now.` - `Running a Hail Mary pass. I will post status by 6:30 PM.` - If the user wants Slack, Telegram, or another chat action, open the surface or prefill text only when that path is clearly supported. ### Security And Privacy - Keep logins and tokens in the user's own apps or signed-in browser profile. - Never frame messaging or music-service automation as acceptable on accounts the user does not control. - Prefer visible user-owned surfaces over hidden automation when secrets or account state are involved. ### Implementation Preferences - Start with the smallest reliable flow that gets the ritual live. - Prefer: - browser or app handoff - local launch script - menu bar wrapper - deeper automation last - If a browser flow matters, pair this skill with [$playwright](/Users/arnav/.codex/skills/playwright/SKILL.md). - If the user wants spoken prompts or countdown audio, pair this skill with [$speech](/Users/arnav/.codex/skills/speech/SKILL.md). ## Required Deliverables - A short implementation brief with the chosen lane. - Clear statement of what is directly automatable versus what hands off into the user's signed-in tools. - A concrete Mac surface: - menu bar app - one-shot script - shortcut pack - dashboard - support steps - The fastest path to a real Hail Mary ritual the user can trigger again. ## Resources - `scripts/hail_mary_brief.py`: normalizes the user's request into a build brief. - `scripts/hail_mary_launch.py`: small local launcher for music, work surfaces, countdown text, clipboard status, and a notification. - `references/supported-surfaces.md`: guardrails for music handoff, timers, and communication flows on macOS.