MCPInstall

karpathy-idea-files

Create and share ideas as abstract Gist-style specs instead of code — letting agents or others implement. Use this skill when the user wants to capture a new idea quickly, needs to write a project spec for an agent to implement, wants to share a concept without building it first, or says "write up this idea", "create a spec", "gist this", "idea file", "agent can implement this", "brief for this project". Based on Karpathy 27k-like LLM Wiki Gist post and GitHub repo.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/learnprompt/andrej-karpathy-skills --skill karpathy-idea-files
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads karpathy-idea-files automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Skill 9: Idea Files / Gist-First Sharing(想法文件优先)

Source: https://x.com/karpathy/status/2040470801506541998 | https://github.com/multica-ai/andrej-karpathy-skills "LLM Knowledge Bases idea file" — 27k likes

Core Principle

Ship the idea, not the implementation.

Karpathy's Gist pattern: write a clear abstract + success criteria + constraints, then let an agent (or anyone) implement it for their specific context. One idea spec → infinite implementations.

The old model: write code → share code → others adapt code. The Karpathy model: write idea spec → share spec → agents implement for context.

The Idea File Template

Every new idea gets this format before any code is written:

# [IDEA NAME]
> Status: [DRAFT / SPEC / ACTIVE / ARCHIVED]
> Created: [DATE]
> Source inspiration: [LINK or "original"]

## Abstract (2-3 sentences)
What is this? What problem does it solve? Why does it matter?

## The Core Insight
What's the one non-obvious observation that makes this idea work?
(If you can't write this, the idea isn't ready yet.)

## Success Criteria
When is this "done"? List 3-5 verifiable outcomes:
- [ ] [Observable outcome 1]
- [ ] [Observable outcome 2]
- [ ] [Observable outcome 3]

## Minimal Viable Version
Describe the simplest possible thing that would prove the concept works.
(One paragraph. No code yet.)

## Constraints
- Must work with: [tools/stack/dependencies]
- Must NOT require: [what to avoid]
- Scale target: [personal use / team / public]
- Time budget: [hours/days]

## Open Questions
Things I don't know yet that matter:
1. [Question 1]
2. [Question 2]

## Implementation Notes (optional)
Hints for whoever (agent or human) implements this:
- Suggested approach: [rough approach]
- Key risk: [what might go wrong]
- Prior art: [similar things that exist]

## Example Input/Output
Input: [example]
Output: [example]

Converting a Vague Idea to a Spec

When you have a rough idea, use this prompt to crystallize it:

I have a rough idea I want to turn into an implementation-ready spec.

Rough idea: [YOUR VAGUE IDEA IN NATURAL LANGUAGE]

Help me write a proper idea file with:
1. A precise 2-sentence abstract (what + why)
2. The core non-obvious insight (the thing that makes it work)
3. 3-5 verifiable success criteria
4. The minimal viable version (simplest proof of concept)
5. 3 things an implementer needs to know
6. 2 open questions I should resolve before building

Be precise. Remove vagueness. If something is unclear, ask — don't invent.

The Agent Implementation Prompt

Once you have an idea file, hand it to an agent:

Implement this idea spec for my specific context.

Idea spec:
[PASTE IDEA FILE]

My context:
- Environment: [OS, language, tools available]
- Existing codebase: [describe or paste relevant parts]
- Constraints: [anything specific to my setup]

Implementation rules:
1. Follow the success criteria exactly
2. Start with the minimal viable version
3. Ask before adding anything not in the spec
4. Output code + a README explaining how to run it
5. Flag any open questions from the spec that affect implementation

Sharing Idea Files

The Karpathy pattern for public sharing:

Polish this idea file for public sharing as a Gist.

[PASTE IDEA FILE]

Requirements:
- Abstract should be compelling but honest (no hype)
- Success criteria should be so clear anyone could verify them
- Implementation notes should be context-independent
- Add a "Variations" section: 3 different ways someone might implement this differently
- Add a note: "Implementations welcome — tag me in yours"

Format: clean markdown, no implementation code, pure idea.

Idea Capture (Quick Mode)

For capturing ideas on the fly (30 seconds):

I have a quick idea: [ONE SENTENCE]

Extract:
1. Problem solved (1 sentence)
2. Core mechanism (1 sentence)  
3. Minimum viable success criterion (1 testable statement)
4. What I need to figure out before building (top 1-2 questions)

Save as a minimal idea file. I'll flesh it out later.

Idea File Vault Structure

ideas/
├── active/         ← being built right now
│   └── llm-wiki.md
├── backlog/        ← solid specs, not started
│   └── autoresearch.md
├── draft/          ← rough, needs more thinking
│   └── neural-output.md
└── archived/       ← built or abandoned, kept for reference
    └── old-idea.md

Workflow

属于工作流:想法到上线(入口)

位置上游下游
入口(第1步)用户有新想法时直接触发karpathy-agentic-engineering(开始工程化实现)

完整链路:idea-files → agentic-engineering → minimalism → supply-chain-hygiene → vibe-to-agentic

Prompt Contract

Turn my idea into an idea file. Produce: 1) Abstract (2-3 sentences, what and why), 2) Target user (who benefits), 3) Success criteria (how to know it's done — verifiable), 4) Constraints (budget, tech stack, non-goals), 5) Implementation sketch (steps an agent could follow), 6) Open questions (what I haven't decided yet). Format as a single Markdown file ready to share as a Gist.

Verification Checklist

  • 想法文件有明确的 Abstract(不是模糊愿景)
  • 成功标准是可验证的(不是「做得好」)
  • 约束条件写了「绝对不做什么」
  • 实现建议足够具体,让不认识你的 Agent 也能开始
  • Open Questions 列出了你还没决定的部分
  • 整个文件可以直接发 Gist,不需要额外解释

FAQ

What does the karpathy-idea-files skill do?

Create and share ideas as abstract Gist-style specs instead of code — letting agents or others implement. Use this skill when the user wants to capture a new idea quickly, needs to write a project spec for an agent to implement, wants to share a concept without building it first, or says "write up this idea", "create a spec", "gist this", "idea file", "agent can implement this", "brief for this project". Based on Karpathy 27k-like LLM Wiki Gist post and GitHub repo.

How do I install karpathy-idea-files?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/learnprompt/andrej-karpathy-skills --skill karpathy-idea-files 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/karpathy-idea-files/ (personal) or .claude/skills/karpathy-idea-files/ (project).

Which AI agents can use karpathy-idea-files?

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 karpathy-idea-files safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains karpathy-idea-files?

It is published by learnprompt in learnprompt/andrej-karpathy-skills. It has 124 recorded installs.

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