ask

Overview

ask delivers direct, expert responses to technical questions or analysis requests without implementing code. It follows an Ultrathink approach, prioritizing clarity, honesty, and practical trade-offs, delivering concise answers first and richer context only when needed.

How This Skill Works

Ask a clear question and receive a direct answer upfront. Then, provide essential context, trade-offs, or caveats tailored to the question, without offering to implement code. For codebase questions, you can trigger a /research step first; for knowledge questions, respond directly and honestly.

When to Use It

• You need a precise, expert explanation or analysis without changing any code
• You’re evaluating architectural or design options and want multiple perspectives
• You’re seeking trade-offs, risks, or implications for a decision
• You want a concise answer followed by optional context or examples
• You’re challenging assumptions or validating requirements with a neutral expert view

Quick Start

1. Step 1: State the exact question and any relevant constraints
2. Step 2: If it’s a codebase question, mention whether to run /research first
3. Step 3: Read the direct answer, then review context and trade-offs if needed

Best Practices

• Lead with a clear, direct answer
• State any assumptions, constraints, and caveats upfront
• Use bullets, tables, or examples to clarify complex points
• Refer to the topic only; do not propose or offer to implement code
• If the question is vague, ask for clarification or propose multiple perspectives

Example Use Cases

• Explain the trade-offs between using a monolith vs microservices in a given domain
• Summarize why a chosen algorithm provides a certain time complexity and its practical impact
• Analyze potential bottlenecks or failure modes without changing the codebase
• Clarify concepts like consistency vs availability in a high-level, implementation-free way
• Evaluate risks of adopting a new tech stack without a pilot program

Frequently Asked Questions