Superpowers

Superpowers

Overview

Use this skill when the user wants a stronger engineering workflow inside NextClaw.

This marketplace skill adapts the upstream obra/superpowers project into a single installable NextClaw skill. Because NextClaw marketplace installs one skill directory at a time, this package provides:

• one top-level workflow router,
• bundled local reference files for the most useful upstream superpowers skills,
• and clear rules for when to load which reference.

Be explicit about the boundary:

• This skill owns workflow selection, expectation-setting, and reference routing.
• The bundled reference files own the detailed superpowers methodology.
• NextClaw, the current project rules, and the actual tool runtime own execution.

Do not present bundled superpowers guidance as a higher-priority authority than the user's instructions, the current project's AGENTS.md, or the host platform's rules.

What This Skill Covers

• design-first brainstorming before implementation,
• implementation plan writing for multi-step work,
• test-driven development for feature and bugfix work,
• root-cause-first debugging,
• pre-merge or post-task code review prompts,
• evidence-before-claims verification,
• optional subagent-driven execution when the environment actually supports it.

What This Skill Does Not Cover

• overriding user instructions or project rulebooks,
• pretending NextClaw natively supports the upstream superpowers multi-directory auto-discovery model,
• forcing subagent workflows when the current runtime does not support them,
• claiming a workflow step happened when the needed evidence was not actually collected,
• replacing domain-specific project skills that are more specific than this general workflow skill.

Install Boundary

Always distinguish these paths:

• NextClaw marketplace install: nextclaw skills install superpowers
• Installed NextClaw skill assets: <workspace>/skills/superpowers/
• Upstream standalone installation outside NextClaw: clone https://github.com/obra/superpowers and follow the upstream install docs

For NextClaw users, prefer the marketplace-installed assets already bundled under skills/superpowers/.

Do not ask the user to install the upstream repo separately unless they explicitly want the original Codex or Claude plugin setup outside NextClaw.

Deterministic First-Use Workflow

When this skill triggers, follow this order.

Step 0: Verify bundled references exist

Check:

test -f skills/superpowers/references/brainstorming.md
test -f skills/superpowers/references/systematic-debugging.md

If either file is missing, the skill is not correctly installed in the current workspace.

Step 1: Classify the user's need

Choose the smallest matching workflow:

• feature or behavior design,
• implementation planning,
• implementation or bugfix execution,
• debugging an existing problem,
• review before merge or handoff,
• verification before claiming completion,
• plan execution with parallel agents.

Step 2: Load only the matching reference

Read only the smallest relevant reference instead of loading everything at once:

• design or requirements refinement: references/brainstorming.md
• implementation plan writing: references/writing-plans.md
• implementation or bugfix execution: references/test-driven-development.md
• debugging and root-cause analysis: references/systematic-debugging.md
• pre-merge or task-level review: references/requesting-code-review.md
• before saying work is done: references/verification-before-completion.md
• executing an approved plan with agent delegation: references/subagent-driven-development.md

Do not bulk-read all references unless the task truly spans multiple workflow stages.

Step 3: Reconcile with host rules before acting

Before following any bundled superpowers guidance, reconcile it with:

• the user's explicit request,
• the current repository's AGENTS.md,
• the host runtime's tool and permission model,
• and any more specific installed skill that directly matches the task.

If there is a conflict, follow the higher-priority local rule and use the bundled superpowers material as methodology, not authority.

Step 4: Execute with honest boundaries

• Prefer the project's existing validation and review commands when they already exist.
• If the current repository has stricter branching, testing, review, or release rules, follow those.
• If the environment lacks multi-agent support, skip the subagent path and continue with the non-delegated workflow.
• If the task is trivial, keep the workflow compact rather than theatrical, but still choose an explicit workflow.

Workflow Routing Guidance

New feature, refactor, or behavior change

Start with:

• references/brainstorming.md

If the work becomes multi-step or cross-module, continue with:

• references/writing-plans.md

During implementation, use:

• references/test-driven-development.md

Before declaring success, use:

• references/verification-before-completion.md

Bug, failing test, or unexpected behavior

Start with:

• references/systematic-debugging.md

Once root cause is understood and a fix is ready, use:

• references/test-driven-development.md

Before closing the task, use:

• references/verification-before-completion.md

Review or handoff checkpoint

Use:

• references/requesting-code-review.md

If the work was executed from a formal plan and the runtime supports delegation, optionally use:

• references/subagent-driven-development.md

Safe Usage Rules

• Treat the bundled references as workflow assets, not as license to ignore local project rules.
• Prefer the smallest process that still makes the work explicit and honest.
• Do not claim TDD happened unless a failing test was observed first.
• Do not claim a bug is fixed unless the original failure mode was re-verified.
• Do not claim completion without fresh verification evidence.
• Do not require subagent usage when the current runtime, product tier, or user request does not support it.

Troubleshooting

Reference files missing

• Re-check the skill installation.
• Confirm skills/superpowers/ exists in the active workspace.
• Reinstall the marketplace skill if needed instead of inventing fallback paths.

The current project already has stricter workflow rules

• Follow the stricter local rule.
• Use superpowers references only for the missing part of the workflow.

The task needs the upstream standalone ecosystem

• Be explicit that the marketplace skill is a NextClaw adaptation, not the original multi-plugin install.
• Point the user to the upstream repository and install docs only if they want that exact standalone setup.

The user wants speed over process

• Compress the workflow, but still keep the key gates:
  • clarify intent for creative work,
  • find root cause before fixing bugs,
  • verify before claiming completion.

Success Criteria

This skill is working correctly when:

• the user gets an explicit workflow instead of ad-hoc thrashing,
• the smallest relevant superpowers reference is loaded for the task,
• local project rules remain the source of truth,
• debugging starts with root-cause investigation,
• implementation uses test-first discipline when appropriate,
• and completion claims are backed by fresh verification evidence.

Attribution

This skill adapts the upstream obra/superpowers project for the NextClaw marketplace.

Upstream source mapping is documented in references/SOURCES.md.