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allanninalallanninal/claude-code-skills/skills/ask-questions-if-underspecified/SKILL.md

ask-questions-if-underspecified

Skill1 starsChanged 9 months agoMITView on GitHub

Clarify requirements before implementing. Use when serious doubts araise.

We split this skill into the rules it gives an agent

13 rules. 11 are common, 2 are distinctive, and 0 are very specific to this project.

  • 11

    Common

    Most of the 13 edited versions we read keep these.

  • 2

    Distinctive

    This author's own choices. Worth a look.

  • 0

    Very specific

    Tied to their project's names, files or tools. Probably skip.

  • Common
  • Distinctive
  • Very specific
  1. Distinctive:

    Use this skill when a request has multiple plausible interpretations or key details (objective, scope, constraints, environment, or safety) …

    line 10
  2. Distinctive:

    Do not use this skill when the request is already clear, or when a quick, low-risk discovery read can answer the missing details.

    line 14
  3. Common:

    Ask the minimum set of clarifying questions needed to avoid wrong work.

    line 18
  4. Common:

    Treat a request as underspecified if after exploring how to perform the work, some or all of the following are not clear:

    line 24
  5. Common:

    If multiple plausible interpretations exist, assume it is underspecified.

    line 32
  6. Common:

    Ask 1-5 questions in the first pass.

    line 36
  7. Common:

    Do not run commands, edit files, or produce a detailed plan that depends on unknowns

    line 50
  8. Common:

    Do perform a clearly labeled, low-risk discovery step only if it does not commit you to a direction (e.g., inspect repo structure, read …

    line 51
  9. Common:

    If the user explicitly asks you to proceed without answers:

    line 53
  10. Common:

    Ask for confirmation; proceed only after they confirm or correct them

    line 55
  11. Common:

    Use numbered questions with lettered options and a clear reply format

    line 67
  12. Common:

    Don't ask questions you can answer with a quick, low-risk discovery read (e.g., configs, existing patterns, docs).

    line 84
  13. Common:

    Don't ask open-ended questions if a tight multiple-choice or yes/no would eliminate ambiguity faster.

    line 85

“Common” is measured: kept by at least 6 in 10 of the 13 edited versions of this file we could read. “Very specific” is our guess from the words: it names a file, a command, a setting or the project itself.

Keep what fits and drop the rest. Your version, ready for your agents.
Files
SKILL.md

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 it is underspecified.

2) Ask must-have questions first (keep it small)

Ask 1-5 questions in the first pass. Prefer questions that eliminate whole branches of work.

Make questions easy to answer:

  • Optimize for scannability (short, numbered questions; avoid paragraphs)
  • Offer multiple-choice options when possible
  • Suggest reasonable defaults when appropriate (mark them clearly as the default/recommended choice; bold the recommended choice in the list, or if you present options in a code block, put a bold "Recommended" line immediately above the block and also tag defaults inside the block)
  • Include a fast-path response (e.g., reply defaults to accept all recommended/default choices)
  • Include a low-friction "not sure" option when helpful (e.g., "Not sure - use default")
  • Separate "Need to know" from "Nice to know" if that reduces friction
  • Structure options so the user can respond with compact decisions (e.g., 1b 2a 3c); restate the chosen options in plain language to confirm

3) Pause before acting

Until must-have answers arrive:

  • Do not run commands, edit files, or produce a detailed plan that depends on unknowns
  • Do perform a clearly labeled, low-risk discovery step only if it does not commit you to a direction (e.g., inspect repo structure, read relevant config files)

If the user explicitly asks you to proceed without answers:

  • State your assumptions as a short numbered list
  • Ask for confirmation; proceed only after they confirm or correct them

4) Confirm interpretation, then proceed

Once you have answers, restate the requirements in 1-3 sentences (including key constraints and what success looks like), then start work.

Question templates

  • "Before I start, I need: (1) ..., (2) ..., (3) .... If you don't care about (2), I will assume ...."
  • "Which of these should it be? A) ... B) ... C) ... (pick one)"
  • "What would you consider 'done'? For example: ..."
  • "Any constraints I must follow (versions, performance, style, deps)? If none, I will target the existing project defaults."
  • Use numbered questions with lettered options and a clear reply format
1) Scope?
a) Minimal change (default)
b) Refactor while touching the area
c) Not sure - use default
2) Compatibility target?
a) Current project defaults (default)
b) Also support older versions: <specify>
c) Not sure - use default

Reply with: defaults (or 1a 2a)

Anti-patterns

  • Don't ask questions you can answer with a quick, low-risk discovery read (e.g., configs, existing patterns, docs).
  • Don't ask open-ended questions if a tight multiple-choice or yes/no would eliminate ambiguity faster.

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