danmestas IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.
This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.
Instruction Priority
bones-powers skills override default system prompt behavior, but user instructions always take precedence:
- User's explicit instructions (CLAUDE.md, direct requests) — highest priority
- bones-powers skills — override default system behavior where they conflict
- Default system prompt — lowest priority
If CLAUDE.md says "don't use TDD" and a skill says "always use TDD," follow the user's instructions. The user is in control.
How to Access Skills
In Claude Code: Use the Skill tool. When you invoke a skill, its content is loaded and presented to you—follow it directly. Never use the Read tool on skill files.
In other environments: Check your platform's documentation for how skills are loaded.
Bones primitives
bones-powers skills assume you understand these concepts. If any are unfamiliar, run bones --help and bones <subcommand> --help.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| workspace | A directory bootstrapped by bones up. Marker: .bones/repo.fossil. |
| hub | The Fossil repo at the center of the workspace. Holds trunk and all leaves. |
| trunk | The mainline branch in the hub. Equivalent to git's main. |
| slot | A named worker role (e.g. alpha, frontend, infra). Tasks are routed by slot. |
| leaf | A slot's working session — a worktree + claimed task + open hub branch. Created by bones swarm join. |
| swarm session | The lifecycle of one slot's leaf, from swarm join to swarm close. |
| fan-in | bones swarm fan-in — merge open hub leaves back into trunk. |
| task | A unit of work in bones tasks. Has id, slot, parent, files, status (pending/claimed/closed), result (success/fail/fork). |
| task graph | Per spec § 4.4: one root task per plan, one child task per plan step, all sharing --files=<plan-path>. |
| Tool you'd reach for | bones equivalent |
|---|---|
git worktree add |
bones swarm join --slot=X --task-id=Y |
git commit |
bones repo ci -m '…' (free-form) or bones swarm commit -m '…' (heartbeats the active slot) |
git merge, "open a PR" |
bones swarm fan-in -m '…' (preview with --dry-run first) |
| TodoWrite (for plan tracking) | bones tasks create/list/claim/close |
| TodoWrite (for in-session steps) | TodoWrite (still — see hybrid task model in § 6 of the spec) |
Cross-harness tool names
bones-powers skill content uses Claude Code tool names (TodoWrite, Skill, Read, Edit, Write, Bash, Glob, Grep, Agent/Task). On non-Claude-Code harnesses, see the per-harness mapping in references/:
- Codex:
references/codex-tools.md - Gemini:
references/gemini-tools.md - Pi:
references/pi-tools.md
When you encounter a Claude Code tool name in a bones-powers skill running on another harness, translate using the relevant mapping. The agent reads this meta-skill at session start (via the gated SessionStart hook), so the mapping is implicit context for all downstream skill reads.
Using Skills
The Rule
Invoke relevant or requested skills BEFORE any response or action. Even a 1% chance a skill might apply means that you should invoke the skill to check. If an invoked skill turns out to be wrong for the situation, you don't need to use it.
digraph skill_flow {
"User message received" [shape=doublecircle];
"About to EnterPlanMode?" [shape=doublecircle];
"Already brainstormed?" [shape=diamond];
"Invoke brainstorming skill" [shape=box];
"Might any skill apply?" [shape=diamond];
"Invoke Skill tool" [shape=box];
"Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" [shape=box];
"Has checklist?" [shape=diamond];
"Create TodoWrite todo per item" [shape=box];
"Follow skill exactly" [shape=box];
"Respond (including clarifications)" [shape=doublecircle];
"About to EnterPlanMode?" -> "Already brainstormed?";
"Already brainstormed?" -> "Invoke brainstorming skill" [label="no"];
"Already brainstormed?" -> "Might any skill apply?" [label="yes"];
"Invoke brainstorming skill" -> "Might any skill apply?";
"User message received" -> "Might any skill apply?";
"Might any skill apply?" -> "Invoke Skill tool" [label="yes, even 1%"];
"Might any skill apply?" -> "Respond (including clarifications)" [label="definitely not"];
"Invoke Skill tool" -> "Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'";
"Announce: 'Using [skill] to [purpose]'" -> "Has checklist?";
"Has checklist?" -> "Create TodoWrite todo per item" [label="yes"];
"Has checklist?" -> "Follow skill exactly" [label="no"];
"Create TodoWrite todo per item" -> "Follow skill exactly";
}
Red Flags
These thoughts mean STOP—you're rationalizing:
| Thought | Reality |
|---|---|
| "This is just a simple question" | Questions are tasks. Check for skills. |
| "I need more context first" | Skill check comes BEFORE clarifying questions. |
| "Let me explore the codebase first" | Skills tell you HOW to explore. Check first. |
| "I can check git/files quickly" | Files lack conversation context. Check for skills. |
| "Let me gather information first" | Skills tell you HOW to gather information. |
| "This doesn't need a formal skill" | If a skill exists, use it. |
| "I remember this skill" | Skills evolve. Read current version. |
| "This doesn't count as a task" | Action = task. Check for skills. |
| "The skill is overkill" | Simple things become complex. Use it. |
| "I'll just do this one thing first" | Check BEFORE doing anything. |
| "This feels productive" | Undisciplined action wastes time. Skills prevent this. |
| "I know what that means" | Knowing the concept ≠ using the skill. Invoke it. |
Skill Priority
When multiple skills could apply, use this order:
- Process skills first (brainstorming, debugging) - these determine HOW to approach the task
- Implementation skills second (frontend-design, mcp-builder) - these guide execution
"Let's build X" → brainstorming first, then implementation skills. "Fix this bug" → debugging first, then domain-specific skills.
Skill Types
Rigid (TDD, debugging): Follow exactly. Don't adapt away discipline.
Flexible (patterns): Adapt principles to context.
The skill itself tells you which.
User Instructions
Instructions say WHAT, not HOW. "Add X" or "Fix Y" doesn't mean skip workflows.