How do I install the Best Tool skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add zavelinski/best-tool in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Best Tool safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Best Tool?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Best Tool free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Best Tool?

zavelinski (@zavelinski) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Best Tool by zavelinski — Agent Skill

Name: Best Tool
Author: zavelinski

Best Tool

Use when starting any non-trivial task to pick the BEST available capability (skill, plugin, MCP connector, agent, workflow) instead of the first one that works. Maps relevant skills/MCPs/agents, compares, picks the highest-quality fit, announces it, then executes. Trigger with /best-tool or whenever about to start a task by hand without checking for a better tool.

zavelinski Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

best-tool: pick the best capability, not the first

Run this BEFORE executing a non-trivial task, so you use the highest-quality capability available instead of the first one that happens to work.

When to run

Start of any non-trivial task (research, design, build, data pull, doc, scrape, PDF, deploy, review).
Whenever about to do something by hand and unsure a dedicated skill/MCP exists.
Skip for trivial turns (chat, one-line answer, obvious single-file edit).

Steps

Name the objective in one line and the task type (code, research, design, data, content, ops, review).
Map candidates across all layers:
- Skills (Skill tool): scan the available-skills list for a domain match.
- MCP connectors (ToolSearch): search by keyword; include deferred tools (they need ToolSearch before they can be called).
- Agents (Agent tool) and Workflow: for fan-out, parallel, or multi-step work.
Compare on fit and quality, not convenience. A dedicated skill/MCP beats doing it by hand almost always.
Pick the best. If two tie, prefer the one more specific to the domain.
Announce: state which skill/tool/agent you chose and why, in one line.
Execute with it.

Rule of thumb

Do not work by hand when a better tool exists.
First-that-works is a smell. The win is total quality, not speed.
If nothing fits, say so, then proceed by hand. That is a valid outcome, just make it a decision and not a default.

For max-capability mode across a whole session (best-tool plus exhaustive plus verify plus persist), see the godmode skill, or say godmode.

---name: best-tooldescription: Use when starting any non-trivial task to pick the BEST available capability (skill, plugin, MCP connector, agent, workflow) instead of the first one that works. Maps relevant skills/MCPs/agents, compares, picks the highest-quality fit, announces it, then executes. Trigger with /best-tool or whenever about to start a task by hand without checking for a better tool.---# best-tool: pick the best capability, not the firstRun this BEFORE executing a non-trivial task, so you use the highest-quality capability available instead of the first one that happens to work.## When to run- Start of any non-trivial task (research, design, build, data pull, doc, scrape, PDF, deploy, review).- Whenever about to do something by hand and unsure a dedicated skill/MCP exists.- Skip for trivial turns (chat, one-line answer, obvious single-file edit).## Steps1. Name the objective in one line and the task type (code, research, design, data, content, ops, review).2. Map candidates across all layers: - Skills (Skill tool): scan the available-skills list for a domain match. - MCP connectors (ToolSearch): search by keyword; include deferred tools (they need ToolSearch before they can be called). - Agents (Agent tool) and Workflow: for fan-out, parallel, or multi-step work.3. Compare on fit and quality, not convenience. A dedicated skill/MCP beats doing it by hand almost always.4. Pick the best. If two tie, prefer the one more specific to the domain.5. Announce: state which skill/tool/agent you chose and why, in one line.6. Execute with it.## Rule of thumb- Do not work by hand when a better tool exists.- First-that-works is a smell. The win is total quality, not speed.- If nothing fits, say so, then proceed by hand. That is a valid outcome, just make it a decision and not a default.## Related- For max-capability mode across a whole session (best-tool plus exhaustive plus verify plus persist), see the godmode skill, or say `godmode`.

Frequently asked questions