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Superpowers is a development workflow skill pack for AI programming tools. It prompts the AI to first organize requirements and create a plan before writing code, reducing the number of repeated modifications. * * * ## Common Pitfalls of AI Coding After describing the requirements, the AI immediately starts writing code, writes hundreds of lines, and then realizes it's gone off track -- edge cases weren't handled, API styles don't match, or key logic was misunderstood. Then it goes back and forth for modifications, and the time spent on corrections sometimes exceeds the time spent initially writing the code. Even more troublesome are complex requirements involving multiple modules that need to be implemented in stages. As the AI goes off track, by the time you notice, many files have been modified, making rollback difficult. * * * ## Root Cause The default behavior of AI programming tools after receiving requirements is to write code directly. This works fine for simple tasks, but for slightly more complex requirements, "writing directly" skips a critical step: understanding the requirements clearly. Any ambiguities in the requirements will ultimately become problems in the code. AI doesn't proactively ask questions, nor does it have a systematic implementation plan -- it just moves forward based on its current understanding, and when it goes off track, it goes back to fix it. > If we can have AI first clarify the requirements, list an implementation plan, confirm edge cases, and only then start working, the entire process will be much more stable. * * * ## What is Superpowers Superpowers is a development workflow skill pack for AI programming tools. It organizes key stages of software development -- requirements gathering, implementation planning, test-driven development, code review, and branch management -- into skill files. After loading these into an AI programming tool, the AI will automatically trigger the corresponding workflow at the appropriate time, without needing manual prompts each time. In short: give AI a set of development methodologies and let it work according to the process, rather than starting to write code as soon as it receives requirements. | Project | Information | | --- | --- | | GitHub Repository | [https://github.com/obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | | License | MIT | | Supported Tools | Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Codex App, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot CLI | * * * ## Workflow Overview Superpowers' core process is divided into four phases, each with clear goals and deliverables. AI won't skip any step.  | Phase | Name | What It Does | Deliverable | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Requirements Gathering | AI asks questions in reverse to clarify ambiguities, presents design solutions in segments for confirmation | Confirmed requirements document | | 2 | Implementation Planning | Break work into specific tasks of 2-5 minutes each, each task including files, code, and verification method | Executable task list | | 3 | Task Execution | Execute tasks one by one, with dual-layer checks (spec + quality) after each task completion | Verified code | | 4 | Code Delivery | Confirm all tasks completed, code meets design specifications and quality standards | Deliverable code | * * * ## Installation Methods Different AI programming tools have different installation methods. Choose the method corresponding to the tool you use. ### Claude Code (Recommended Method) Claude Code can be installed directly from the official plugin marketplace. # Install from official plugin marketplace (recommended) /plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official You can also install through Superpowers' own marketplace. # Add Superpowers marketplace /plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplace # Install from Superpowers marketplace /plugin install superpowers@superpowers-marketplace ### Cursor Enter the command in Cursor's Agent dialog to install. # Enter in Agent dialog /add-plugin superpowers You can also search for superpowers in the plugin marketplace to install. ### Codex CLI # Open plugin management interface /plugins # Search for superpowers, select Install Plugin ### Gemini CLI # Install via extension gemini extensions install https://github.com/obra/superpowers > Each tool needs to be installed separately. Installing it in Claude Code doesn't mean it's also available in Cursor. | Tool | Installation Method | Needs Additional Marketplace | | --- | --- | --- | | Claude Code | `/plugin install` | Official marketplace is sufficient, Superpowers marketplace also works | | Cursor | `/add-plugin` or plugin marketplace search | Not needed | | Codex CLI | Search and install via `/plugins` interface | Not needed | | Gemini CLI | `gemini extensions install` | Not needed | * * * ## Actual Experience After Installation After installation, you don't need to learn new commands or change your work habits. Just describe your requirements as usual, and Superpowers will automatically intervene in the background. ### When Starting a New Feature After you describe the requirements, AI won't immediately start writing code. Instead, it will ask you several questions in reverse to clarify ambiguities, and present the design solution in segments for your confirmation. This phase is called brainstorming, and its purpose is to align requirements before starting work. Only after you confirm will AI proceed to the next step. ### Entering Implementation Phase After requirements are confirmed, AI will generate an implementation plan, breaking the work into specific tasks of 2-5 minutes each. Each task includes: which files are involved, what code to write, and how to verify. The granularity in the plan is detailed enough that "a junior engineer can execute this description" -- this design is so that subagents can reliably execute each step, reducing understanding deviations during execution. ### Execution Phase After the plan is confirmed, AI executes tasks one by one. After completing each task, it performs two rounds of checks: first checking if it meets design specifications, then checking code quality. If problems are found, they are resolved within the current task, without carrying problems forward. The entire execution process doesn't require you to stand guard. Let AI run; if it gets stuck, it will pause and come to you. ### Verifying Installation For example, when we input in Claude Code: Design a nice mobile product landing page We will see superpowers:brainstorming, which indicates the installation was successful: !(https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/superpowers-workflow-1.webp) ### A Typical Beginner Scenario: Developing a Todo App from Scratch Suppose we want to implement a Todo app supporting CRUD operations (React + local storage). Traditional direct prompt method: Help me write a Todo App with React. AI typically generates a large amount of code at once, which appears to have complete functionality, but may actually have the following problems: * Non-standard state management * Missing unit tests * Edge cases (like empty lists, concurrent operations) not handled * Modifying one place easily causes other bugs * The result is often code that's hard to maintain, with high iteration costs later. Superpowers' structured approach is completely different. It doesn't let AI immediately enter the coding phase. Instead, it advances through the following steps: !(https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/superpowers-workflow-2.webp) * * * ## Core Workflow Details Superpowers provides three core workflows, covering different stages of development. ### Test-Driven Development (TDD) The test-driven-development skill forces AI to follow the RED-GREEN-REFACTOR sequence. First write a failing test, watch it fail, then write the minimum code to make it pass, and finally refactor. If AI writes code before writing tests, this skill will require it to delete and start over. | Step | Name | What It Does | | --- | --- | --- | | RED | Write failing test | Write a test case that will currently fail, clarifying expected behavior | | GREEN | Write minimum code to pass | Only write the minimum code to make the test pass, nothing more | | REFACTOR | Refactor | Optimize code structure under test protection, ensuring tests still pass | > For projects without TDD habits, this process may feel uncomfortable, but itIndeed can / Truly able to