clarify
Turn a vague request, voice dump, rough plan, or half-written prompt into a self-contained prompt that a fresh agent can execute. Use when asked to clarify, refine, improve, tighten, or stress-test an agent task. Resolve safe defaults directly. Ask one question at a time only when the answer would materially change the work.
- Installs
- 118
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/owainlewis/agent-skills --skill clarify- 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 clarify 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.
Clarify
Turn a rough request into a prompt another agent can execute.
Choose a mode
- Refine directly when the goal is clear and missing details have safe defaults.
- Interview when one unresolved choice would materially change behaviour, data, security, compatibility, cost, output, or proof.
- Execute the clarified prompt only when the user explicitly asks to run it or says "just do it."
Process
- Read the request and any referenced material.
- For repository work, inspect discoverable context such as
AGENTS.md,CLAUDE.md,README.md, the file tree, and relevant code before asking questions. - Extract the goal, current state, inputs, outputs, constraints, scope boundaries, failure behaviour, and success checks.
- Resolve unambiguous references and project conventions from the available context.
- Use a sensible assumption when the user can change it later without reworking the task.
- Ask one question when no safe assumption exists. After the answer, check whether another important decision remains.
- Include all context needed to execute the prompt. Do not refer to "our discussion" or information outside the prompt.
Ask useful questions
Ask about decisions such as:
- which input, file, directory, system, or audience is in scope
- what output must exist, where it belongs, and whether it may overwrite anything
- required behaviour for bad input, missing data, network failure, or partial success
- tradeoffs that change product behaviour, security, compatibility, cost, or architecture
- the observable result or check that proves completion
Do not ask about cosmetic choices, conventions the repository answers, details already supplied, or preferences with an obvious low-risk default.
Use this shape:
Question: <one decision>
Recommendation: <answer> because <short reason>.
Write the final prompt
Include only what changes execution:
- goal
- relevant context and current state
- exact inputs and outputs
- in-scope and out-of-scope work
- constraints and safe assumptions
- required failure behaviour
- success criteria and verification
Prefer positive instructions. Resolve contradictions or state which instruction wins. Use numbered steps only when order matters. Add [NEEDS: <detail>] only when the missing value cannot be safely assumed and the user has asked you to stop interviewing.
Return:
Final prompt:
<self-contained prompt>
Assumptions: <only material defaults; omit when empty>
Gaps: <only unresolved [NEEDS: ...] items; omit when empty>
Do not solve the prompt, explain the rewrite, or offer a menu of next actions unless the user asks.
FAQ
What does the clarify skill do?
Turn a vague request, voice dump, rough plan, or half-written prompt into a self-contained prompt that a fresh agent can execute. Use when asked to clarify, refine, improve, tighten, or stress-test an agent task. Resolve safe defaults directly. Ask one question at a time only when the answer would materially change the work.
How do I install clarify?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/owainlewis/agent-skills --skill clarify 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/clarify/ (personal) or .claude/skills/clarify/ (project).
Which AI agents can use clarify?
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 clarify 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 clarify?
It is published by owainlewis in owainlewis/agent-skills. It has 118 recorded installs.
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