# Second Opinion

> Second opinion on one concrete proposal: stress-test it, rank alternatives, or both. TRIGGER when: user says 'second opinion', '2nd opinion', 'rate my fix', or 'weigh in on my approach'; user wants a candidate edit/decision evaluated. SKIP when: multiple decisions on a larger artifact — use `validate-answer`.

- Skill: `preetamnath/second-opinion` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add preetamnath/second-opinion`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/preetamnath/second-opinion/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: preetamnath (https://skillmd.com/u/preetamnath)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/preetamnath/second-opinion

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# Second Opinion

## Steps

### Step 1 — Anchor, then route

When there's no concrete anchor (a specific edit, chosen option, or phrasing under review), ask the user for one.

Route by what the proposal needs:

| The proposal needs | Run | Pass it as |
|---|---|---|
| "Is this worth doing? what am I missing?" | `sanity-checker` | **Subject** |
| "Is there a better option, and how does mine rank?" | `propose-alternatives` | **Current approach** |
| Want both, or high-stakes and unsure | both, in parallel | as above |

When ambiguous, default to `sanity-checker` — the cheaper, more common need.

Brief each agent with: the file path / surrounding context and constraints; the proposal verbatim and the problem it solves; alternatives the user already ruled out, with reasons.

### Step 2 — Synthesize only what ran

Present the chat output under a **Second opinion:** heading, including only the parts whose agent ran:

- **Table** (only if `propose-alternatives` ran) — proposal plus alternatives in one confidence frame, ordered by confidence:

  | # | Option | Tradeoff | Conf. |
  |---|---|---|---|
  | 1 | Proposal — [content] | … | 0.xx |
  | 2 | Alt — [content] | … | 0.xx |

- **Worth-it verdict** (only if `sanity-checker` ran) — [verdict] — [blind spots and open concerns | none].
- **Disagreement** (only if both ran) — [what they split on for keep-vs-replace: `propose-alternatives` ranks an alternative above the proposal while `sanity-checker` calls it sound, or the reverse | none — they agreed].
- **Recommendation** — [your pick] — [brief reasoning] (confidence 0.xx, distinct from the agents'). Spot-check the load-bearing claims behind your pick against the cited code first.
- **Checkpoint** — call `AskUserQuestion` with the top 2–3 options.