how
Use for "how does X work", code walkthroughs before changing something, and placement / ownership / layering questions ("where should this live", "which package owns this", "is this the right layer"). Explains subsystem architecture, runtime flow, onboarding mental models. Use why for motivation.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/cursor/plugins --skill how- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads how automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
How
In Claude Code, read the Claude Code adapter once per session before you follow this skill. It maps the Cursor names in pstack skills to Claude Code.
Explore the codebase to answer "how does X work?" questions. Produce architectural explanations at the level of a senior engineer onboarding onto a subsystem, enough to build a working mental model, not so much that it reads like annotated source code.
Every spawn is a Task subagent with subagent_type: generalPurpose and readonly: true. Explorers use the how explorer line in the pstack-models.mdc rule (default grok-4.7-xhigh-fast), and every explainer uses the how explainer line (default claude-opus-5-5-xhigh). Set model to that line's value, or to the default if the rule or the line is missing. Leave model unset when the value is auto or inherit-parent. If the Task tool rejects a slug, use the default and say so. If it rejects the default, use the closest valid slug of the same family from its error message. Pick each subagent's reasoning level and fast or standard speed for the job, per the Subagents section of the poteto-mode skill.
1. Assess complexity
If the scope is ambiguous, state your interpretation and explore. The user can redirect.
- Simple (a single module, a small utility, a narrow question such as "how does function X work"): no explorers. Spawn one explainer that explores and explains in one pass, built from
references/explainer-prompt.mdwithout the explorer-findings section. Go to step 4. - Complex (a subsystem spanning multiple files or services, a cross-cutting feature, a full architectural overview): go to step 2.
When in doubt, take the simple path.
2. Explore (complex only)
Decompose the question into 2 to 4 angles, each a distinct slice of the subsystem. Spawn all explorers in a single message, each with references/explorer-prompt.md and its angle filled in.
3. Synthesize (complex only)
Once all explorers have returned, spawn one explainer with references/explainer-prompt.md and every explorer's findings filled in.
4. Present
Present the explainer's output. Light edits for clarity or context from the conversation are fine. Do not substantially rewrite it.
Output format
The explanation uses the sections defined in references/explainer-prompt.md, dropping any that do not apply: Overview, Key Concepts, How It Works, Where Things Live, Gotchas.
FAQ
What does the how skill do?
Use for "how does X work", code walkthroughs before changing something, and placement / ownership / layering questions ("where should this live", "which package owns this", "is this the right layer"). Explains subsystem architecture, runtime flow, onboarding mental models. Use why for motivation.
How do I install how?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/cursor/plugins --skill how in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/how/ (personal) or .claude/skills/how/ (project).
Which AI agents can use how?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is how safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains how?
It is published by cursor in cursor/plugins. It has 6,025 recorded installs.
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