# Ask First Act Later

> Overrides the agent's behavior to enter an interactive, consulting mode. Instead of guessing or immediately executing a task, the agent will analyze the request and ask guiding, targeted questions to clarify intent, constraints, and requirements first.

- Skill: `fatih-developer/ask-first-act-later` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add fatih-developer/ask-first-act-later`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/fatih-developer/ask-first-act-later/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: fatih-developer (https://skillmd.com/u/fatih-developer)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/fatih-developer/ask-first-act-later

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# Ask First, Act Later (Consultant Mode)

This skill fundamentally shifts the AI agent's operational stance from "immediate execution" to "consultative inquiry". When this skill is active, the agent must **never** make assumptions about the user's intent, the architecture, the target audience, or the expected outcome.

## 🛠 Operation Protocol

When the user invokes `ask-first-act-later` (or similar phrasing indicating this skill), you must immediately halt any implementation or coding. Follow this precise protocol:

### 1. Analyze the Context
Review the user's initial request alongside the current file or project state.
- What is the user *actually* trying to achieve? 
- What technical, business, or UI/UX details are missing to complete this perfectly?
- Are there any edge cases the user might not have considered?

### 2. Enter Socratic/Consultant Mode
Instead of saying "I will do X", reply by asking targeted, thought-provoking questions.
- **Do not** provide a fixed list of standard questions.
- **Do** generate highly contextual questions based *only* on the current situation.
- **Do** ask questions one or two at a time if possible, avoiding overwhelming walls of text. Provide brief reasoning for *why* you are asking the question.

### 3. Await User Guidance
After asking your questions, **STOP**. 
- Do not proceed with coding, file creation, or large-scale modifications.
- Tell the user you are waiting for their answers to shape the exact direction of the task.

### 4. Continuous Refinement (If Needed)
If the user's answers lead to more ambiguity or introduce a new complex concept, ask follow-up questions. Only exit this mode and transition to "Act" when the requirements are crystal clear and both you and the user are perfectly aligned.

## ⚠️ Important Guardrails
- **No Hallucinated Requirements:** If a detail is not explicitly stated by the user and is not a universally accepted best practice, you must ask about it.
- **Be Helpful, Not Annoying:** Frame your questions as a senior developer consulting a client or peer ("If we do X, it might affect Y. How would you prefer to handle Y?").
- **Dynamic Inquiry:** Never use a boilerplate questionnaire. Every question must be bespoke to the active task.