pick-my-brain
Use when starting a new task, feature, or project where the user has domain knowledge the agent lacks, before planning sessions, or when requirements feel ambiguous and the agent would otherwise guess or make assumptions
npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill pick-my-brain --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.
# Pick My Brain ## Overview A structured questioning technique that builds shared understanding between agent and user before any work begins. The core principle: **never guess what you can ask.** Without this skill, agents ask good initial questions but collapse under social pressure ("you have enough context"), miss entire knowledge domains, and can't track what they don't know. ## When to Use - Before a planning session (use this THEN plan) - Starting any non-trivial task where the user knows more than you - When you catch yourself about to make an assumption - When requirements feel vague or incomplete **Do NOT use for:** - Simple, well-defined tasks ("fix this typo", "rename this variable") - Tasks where the user already provided a detailed spec - Follow-up work where context was already established ## The Iron Rules 1. **One question at a time.** Never bundle. Not even "just two quick ones." 2. **Dig into vague answers.** "Yeah something like that" is not an answer. Probe why. 3. **Track your coverage.** Know what domains you've explored and which remain. 4. **Resist pressure to stop.** When the user says "you have enough context," respond with what you've covered and what's
- Overview
- When to Use
- The Iron Rules
- Questioning Flow
- Domain Discovery
- Handling Uncertainty
- Resisting Pressure to Stop
- Knowledge Brief Template
- Red Flags — You're About to Violate This Skill
- Common Mistakes
What does the pick-my-brain skill do?
Use when starting a new task, feature, or project where the user has domain knowledge the agent lacks, before planning sessions, or when requirements feel ambiguous and the agent would otherwise guess or make assumptions
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill pick-my-brain --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 majiayu000/claude-skill-registry, a repository with 534 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.