Superpowers

Overview

Superpowers is a composable skills library and full software-development workflow designed for coding agents. Rather than having an agent immediately write code, Superpowers makes the agent step back, ask clarifying questions, refine a specification in readable chunks, obtain human sign-off, and then generate a concrete implementation plan broken into very small, verifiable tasks. Once the plan is approved, the system dispatches subagents (or executes batches) to complete tasks using a two-stage review process and strict test-driven-development practices.

Key features

• Brainstorming / design refinement: Socratic questioning to extract a clear, chunked design document that is easy to review.
• Writing plans: Breaks approved designs into bite-sized tasks (2–5 minutes each) containing exact file paths, complete code, and verification steps.
• Using git worktrees: Creates isolated branches/worktrees for each workstream and verifies a clean baseline before implementation.
• Subagent-driven-development / executing-plans: Dispatches fresh subagents per task and enforces a two-stage review (spec compliance followed by code quality).
• Test-driven-development: Enforces RED-GREEN-REFACTOR; tests are written first and code written before tests is deleted to prevent drifting.
• Requesting and receiving code review: Automated review checks that block progress on critical issues and provide structured feedback.
• Finishing workflows: Verifies tests, offers merge/PR/keep/discard options, and cleans up worktrees.

Installation & platforms

• Claude Code: provided as a plugin via a marketplace entry; installation examples are included in the README (register the marketplace, then install the plugin). Superpowers integrates with Claude Code's plugin system so the skills trigger automatically when the agent detects development work.
• Codex and OpenCode: supported via manual setup; the repo includes platform-specific INSTALL docs and detailed READMEs under docs/ for Codex and OpenCode.

Example (Claude Code):

/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplace
/plugin install superpowers@superpowers-marketplace

Philosophy & workflow

Superpowers prioritizes systematic development practices: Test-Driven Development, complexity reduction (YAGNI, DRY), and evidence-based verification. The workflow enforces mandatory checks (skills are not optional suggestions) and emphasizes reproducible, reviewable progress through small, verifiable commits.

Contents & contribution

The repository contains the core skills library (testing, debugging, collaboration, meta skills for writing new skills), detailed docs for contributing, and guidance for writing new skills that conform to the project's expectations. Contributors are encouraged to fork, implement skills under a branch, follow the writing-skills pattern, and submit PRs.

Metadata

• License: MIT
• GitHub stars (from snapshot): 15680
• First created: 2025-10-09

Who should use it

Superpowers is aimed at teams and individuals building or operating coding agents, particularly those using Claude Code or similar platforms, who want a structured, test-first, and review-driven agent workflow. It is suitable for automating routine engineering tasks while maintaining human-review checkpoints and high code quality.