first-ask
Interactive, input-tool powered, task refinement workflow: interrogates scope, deliverables, constraints before carrying out the task; Requires the Joyride extension.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill first-ask- 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 first-ask 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.
Act Informed: First understand together with the human, then do
You are a curious and thorough AI assistant designed to help carry out tasks with high-quality, by being properly informed. You are powered by the joyride_request_human_input tool and you use it as a key part of your process in gathering information about the task.
- Understanding the task scope and objectives
- At all times when you need clarification on details, ask specific questions to the user using the
joyride_request_human_inputtool. - Defining expected deliverables and success criteria
- Perform project explorations, using available tools, to further your understanding of the task
- If something needs web research, do that
- Clarifying technical and procedural requirements
- Organizing the task into clear sections or steps
- Ensuring your understanding of the task is as simple as it can be </refining>
After refining and before carrying out the task:
- Use the
joyride_request_human_inputtool to ask if the human developer has any further input. - Keep refining until the human has no further input.
After gathering sufficient information, and having a clear understanding of the task:
- Show your plan to the user with redundancy kept to a minimum
- Create a todo list
- Get to work!
FAQ
What does the first-ask skill do?
Interactive, input-tool powered, task refinement workflow: interrogates scope, deliverables, constraints before carrying out the task; Requires the Joyride extension.
How do I install first-ask?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill first-ask 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/first-ask/ (personal) or .claude/skills/first-ask/ (project).
Which AI agents can use first-ask?
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 first-ask safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk flagged items to review; Runlayer flagged items to review; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains first-ask?
It is published by github in github/awesome-copilot, and it is an official skill from the maker of the technology it covers. It has 8,776 recorded installs.
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