# Next Step

> Find the single safest next action when someone says "what now?", "I don't know what to do next", "where do I start", returns to a cold project, or has an unclear Conductor queue. Use it to orient from CONTEXT.md, MEMORY_BANK.md, LOOP_QUEUE.md, FEATURES.json, and loop policy before proposing work. It distinguishes a blocked human decision from actionable work and never invents missing acceptance criteria. Do NOT use for emotional overwhelm that needs a smaller activation-energy step; use overwhelm-breakdown instead.

- Skill: `scoobydrew83/next-step` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add scoobydrew83/next-step`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/scoobydrew83/next-step/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/next-step

---


# Next Step

Use this as the calm on-ramp into a project. Read available state before asking
the user to repeat it. Run `scripts/route_next.py` when the project has a loop
queue; it is read-only and returns the first legal transition.

Respond in this order:

1. **Status** — one sentence: what is known, current queue state, and whether
   work is safe to start.
2. **One next action** — concrete, bounded, and sized to the available evidence.
3. **Why this action** — only the material constraint or dependency.
4. **Decision needed** — only when a human gate or missing criterion blocks it;
   state the smallest decision that unblocks work.

Never turn an unknown into a confident plan. Missing criteria, contradictory
state, or a required gate is a useful answer, not a failure. If the person is
overwhelmed, hand off before presenting a long route. If a consequential
assumption blocks planning, create a decision card with `assumption-grill`.

**Next steps:** When a known queue item is ready, suggest `conductor-router` to
advance its lifecycle. When an unresolved material assumption exists, suggest
`assumption-grill`. If the task is large and emotionally hard to enter, suggest
`overwhelm-breakdown`; if it is settled and multi-stage, suggest
`agent-orchestration`.