ask-questions-if-underspecified
Clarify requirements before implementing. Use when serious doubts arise.
Profile →npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill ask-questions-if-underspecified --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# Ask Questions If Underspecified ## When to Use Use this skill when a request has multiple plausible interpretations or key details (objective, scope, constraints, environment, or safety) are unclear. ## When NOT to Use Do not use this skill when the request is already clear, or when a quick, low-risk discovery read can answer the missing details. ## Goal Ask the minimum set of clarifying questions needed to avoid wrong work; do not start implementing until the must-have questions are answered (or the user explicitly approves proceeding with stated assumptions). ## Workflow ### 1) Decide whether the request is underspecified Treat a request as underspecified if after exploring how to perform the work, some or all of the following are not clear: - Define the objective (what should change vs stay the same) - Define "done" (acceptance criteria, examples, edge cases) - Define scope (which files/components/users are in/out) - Define constraints (compatibility, performance, style, deps, time) - Identify environment (language/runtime versions, OS, build/test runner) - Clarify safety/reversibility (data migration, rollout/rollback, risk) If multiple plausible interpretations exist, assume
- When to Use
- When NOT to Use
- Goal
- Workflow
- 1) Decide whether the request is underspecified
- 2) Ask must-have questions first (keep it small)
- 3) Pause before acting
- 4) Confirm interpretation, then proceed
- Question templates
- Anti-patterns
- Limitations
What does the ask-questions-if-underspecified skill do?
Clarify requirements before implementing. Use when serious doubts arise.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills --skill ask-questions-if-underspecified --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills, a repository with 44,414 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.