# Idea Validator

> DEPRECATED — this skill was superseded by `hemlock` on 2026-07-04 because the two were competing for the same triggers ("should I build X", "validate this idea", "is this worth building"). Do NOT trigger this skill. If you see this description matching a user request, use `hemlock` instead — it now covers everything that lived here: the incumbent-first gate, the risk ÷ cost-to-test assumption ranking, the real-vs-differentiated split (real-but-commodity is a NO), pre-registered kill criteria, the GO / NO-GO / CONDITIONAL-GO verdict with scorecard, the anti-pattern taxes, the honesty rules, and the worked examples (moved to hemlock/references/) — plus a bundled linter that mechanically enforces the honesty rules this skill only stated. This tombstone exists to preserve graph integrity; treat it as a no-op redirect.

- Skill: `scoobydrew83/idea-validator` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add scoobydrew83/idea-validator`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/scoobydrew83/idea-validator/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: scoobydrew83 (https://skillmd.com/u/scoobydrew83)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/scoobydrew83/idea-validator

---


# Idea Validator — DEPRECATED

This skill was **superseded by `hemlock`** on 2026-07-04.

hemlock covers everything that lived here — the incumbent gate, the ranked
assumptions, the pre-registered kill bar, the verdict + scorecard, the taxes,
the honesty rules, and the worked examples (now at
`hemlock/references/worked-examples.md`) — and adds the mechanical linter
this skill lacked.

**If you reached this file: use `hemlock` instead.**

**Next steps:** Route to `hemlock`.