# Extended Thinking

> Deep reasoning with Claude's extended thinking feature for complex multi-step problems. Use when implementing think-aloud reasoning, complex analysis, or debugging difficult issues.

- Skill: `vanman2024/extended-thinking` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add vanman2024/extended-thinking`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vanman2024/extended-thinking/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: vanman2024 (https://skillmd.com/u/vanman2024)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vanman2024/extended-thinking

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# Extended Thinking Skill

Enable Claude to "think out loud" before responding - dramatically improves complex reasoning tasks.

## When to Use Extended Thinking

- Complex math, logic, or coding problems
- Multi-step analysis requiring careful reasoning
- Tasks where you need to verify Claude's thought process
- Debugging intricate issues
- Strategic planning and decision-making

## Budget Guidance

| Complexity   | Budget Tokens | Use Case                  |
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------------------- |
| Simple       | 1,024         | Quick verification        |
| Medium       | 4,000-8,000   | Standard analysis         |
| Complex      | 16,000+       | Deep reasoning            |
| Very Complex | 32,000+       | Consider batch processing |

## Key Patterns

### Basic Extended Thinking

See `templates/basic-thinking.ts` and `templates/basic-thinking.py`

### Interleaved Thinking with Tools

Requires beta header: `anthropic-beta: interleaved-thinking-2025-05-14`

### Streaming Extended Thinking

Stream thinking blocks for real-time visibility into reasoning process.