scale game
Test at extremes (1000x bigger/smaller, instant/year-long) to expose fundamental truths hidden at normal scales
- Installs
- 510
- Last 24h
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- Trending rank
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- Security
- Not audited
Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/obra/superpowers-skills --skill scale-game- 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 scale game automatically when relevant.
- 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.
Scale Game
Overview
Test your approach at extreme scales to find what breaks and what surprisingly survives.
Core principle: Extremes expose fundamental truths hidden at normal scales.
Quick Reference
| Scale Dimension | Test At Extremes | What It Reveals |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 1 item vs 1B items | Algorithmic complexity limits |
| Speed | Instant vs 1 year | Async requirements, caching needs |
| Users | 1 user vs 1B users | Concurrency issues, resource limits |
| Duration | Milliseconds vs years | Memory leaks, state growth |
| Failure rate | Never fails vs always fails | Error handling adequacy |
Process
- Pick dimension - What could vary extremely?
- Test minimum - What if this was 1000x smaller/faster/fewer?
- Test maximum - What if this was 1000x bigger/slower/more?
- Note what breaks - Where do limits appear?
- Note what survives - What's fundamentally sound?
Examples
Example 1: Error Handling
Normal scale: "Handle errors when they occur" works fine At 1B scale: Error volume overwhelms logging, crashes system Reveals: Need to make errors impossible (type systems) or expect them (chaos engineering)
Example 2: Synchronous APIs
Normal scale: Direct function calls work At global scale: Network latency makes synchronous calls unusable Reveals: Async/messaging becomes survival requirement, not optimization
Example 3: In-Memory State
Normal duration: Works for hours/days At years: Memory grows unbounded, eventual crash Reveals: Need persistence or periodic cleanup, can't rely on memory
Red Flags You Need This
- "It works in dev" (but will it work in production?)
- No idea where limits are
- "Should scale fine" (without testing)
- Surprised by production behavior
Remember
- Extremes reveal fundamentals
- What works at one scale fails at another
- Test both directions (bigger AND smaller)
- Use insights to validate architecture early
FAQ
What does the scale game skill do?
Test at extremes (1000x bigger/smaller, instant/year-long) to expose fundamental truths hidden at normal scales
How do I install scale game?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/obra/superpowers-skills --skill scale-game 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/scale-game/ (personal) or .claude/skills/scale-game/ (project).
Which AI agents can use scale game?
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 scale game 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 scale game?
It is published by obra in obra/superpowers-skills. It has 510 recorded installs.
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