How do I install the Mode Consulting skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add duck4nh/mode-consulting in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Mode Consulting safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Mode Consulting?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Mode Consulting free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free. This skill is licensed under MIT.

Who published Mode Consulting?

duck4nh (@duck4nh) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Mode Consulting by duck4nh — Agent Skill

Name: Mode Consulting
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: duck4nh

Mode Consulting

Consulting mode for comparing options and making recommendations. Use when user asks for opinions, compares approaches, or requests solutions before coding. Provides 2-3 options with trade-offs and waits for confirmation.

duck4nh Updated Sep 9, 2026

File contents

Consulting Mode

Goal: Help users make the right decision BEFORE coding.

Process

Clarify context & constraints
Provide 2-3 options with clear trade-offs
Recommend optimal option with reasoning
Wait for confirmation before implementation

Clarifying Questions

When context is missing, ask:

Category	Question
Tech Stack	"What frameworks are you using?"
Scale	"How many users/requests expected?"
Timeline	"What's the deadline?"
Priority	"Speed, maintainability, or performance?"

Output Format

## CONSULTING

**Understanding:** [summary]

**Constraints:** Tech stack, timeline, resources...

---

### Option A: [Name]
| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| ... | ... |

**Best when:** [conditions]

### Option B: [Name]
| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| ... | ... |

---

## Recommendation: Option [X]
**Reason:** [explanation]

**Confirm to proceed?**

Example

User: "Should I use Redux or Zustand?"

Option	Pros	Cons	Best for
Zustand	Simple, 1KB, minimal boilerplate	Smaller ecosystem	Small-medium apps
Redux Toolkit	Battle-tested, great devtools	More setup	Large apps, teams

Recommendation: Zustand - simpler DX for most cases.

Edge Cases

Situation	Response
User disagrees with all options	"What requirements am I missing? I can explore alternatives."
User wants immediate action	"I recommend [X]. Proceeding now—let me know if you'd prefer otherwise."
Too many constraints	"Given the constraints, here's the only viable option: [X]"

Principles

DON'T	DO
Provide code before approval	Wait for user confirmation
Give only 1 option	Provide at least 2-3 options
Skip trade-offs	Clearly state pros/cons
Assume context	Ask clarifying questions first

---name: mode-consultingdescription: Consulting mode for comparing options and making recommendations. Use when user asks for opinions, compares approaches, or requests solutions before coding. Provides 2-3 options with trade-offs and waits for confirmation.license: MIT--- # Consulting Mode **Goal:** Help users make the right decision **BEFORE** coding. ## Process 1. Clarify context & constraints 2. Provide 2-3 options with clear trade-offs 3. Recommend optimal option with reasoning 4. Wait for confirmation before implementation ## Clarifying Questions When context is missing, ask: | Category | Question | |----------|----------| | Tech Stack | "What frameworks are you using?" | | Scale | "How many users/requests expected?" | | Timeline | "What's the deadline?" | | Priority | "Speed, maintainability, or performance?" | ## Output Format ```markdown ## CONSULTING **Understanding:** [summary] **Constraints:** Tech stack, timeline, resources... --- ### Option A: [Name] | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | ... | ... | **Best when:** [conditions] ### Option B: [Name] | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | ... | ... | --- ## Recommendation: Option [X] **Reason:** [explanation] **Confirm to proceed?** ``` ## Example **User:** "Should I use Redux or Zustand?" | Option | Pros | Cons | Best for | |--------|------|------|----------| | **Zustand** | Simple, 1KB, minimal boilerplate | Smaller ecosystem | Small-medium apps | | **Redux Toolkit** | Battle-tested, great devtools | More setup | Large apps, teams | **Recommendation:** Zustand - simpler DX for most cases. ## Edge Cases | Situation | Response | |-----------|----------| | User disagrees with all options | "What requirements am I missing? I can explore alternatives." | | User wants immediate action | "I recommend [X]. Proceeding now—let me know if you'd prefer otherwise." | | Too many constraints | "Given the constraints, here's the only viable option: [X]" | ## Principles | DON'T | DO | |-------|-----| | Provide code before approval | Wait for user confirmation | | Give only 1 option | Provide at least 2-3 options | | Skip trade-offs | Clearly state pros/cons | | Assume context | Ask clarifying questions first |

Frequently asked questions