Structured reflective problem-solving methodology. Process: decompose, analyze, hypothesize, verify, revise. Capabilities: complex problem decomposition, adaptive planning, course correction, hypothesis verification, multi-step analysis. Actions: decompose, analyze, plan, revise, verify solutions step-by-step. Keywords: sequential thinking, problem decomposition, multi-step analysis, hypothesis verification, adaptive planning, course correction, reflective thinking, step-by-step, thought sequence, dynamic adjustment, unclear scope, complex problem, structured analysis. Use when: decomposing complex problems, planning with revision capability, analyzing unclear scope, verifying hypotheses, needing course correction, solving multi-step problems.
72
72%
Does it follow best practices?
Impact
54%
3.17xAverage score across 3 eval scenarios
Passed
No known issues
Optimize this skill with Tessl
npx tessl skill review --optimize ./skills/data/0-sequential-thinking/SKILL.mdQuality
Discovery
59%Based on the skill's description, can an agent find and select it at the right time? Clear, specific descriptions lead to better discovery.
The description is thorough in structure, with explicit 'Use when' triggers and listed capabilities, but suffers from being extremely abstract and generic. The actions described (decompose, analyze, verify) are meta-cognitive processes applicable to almost any task, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from other skills. The keyword list is extensive but padded with jargon and redundant terms rather than natural user language.
Suggestions
Narrow the scope by specifying what types of problems or domains this skill applies to, distinguishing it from general reasoning that any skill might employ.
Replace abstract jargon keywords like 'hypothesis verification' and 'course correction' with natural user phrases such as 'break down this problem,' 'think through this step by step,' or 'help me work through this.'
Add concrete examples of outputs or deliverables (e.g., 'produces structured analysis documents' or 'generates decision trees') to increase specificity and reduce conflict risk with other skills.
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Specificity | The description names a domain ('structured reflective problem-solving') and lists actions like 'decompose, analyze, hypothesize, verify, revise,' but these are abstract cognitive processes rather than concrete, tangible actions. It lacks specificity about what kinds of problems or what outputs are produced. | 2 / 3 |
Completeness | The description explicitly answers both 'what does this do' (structured reflective problem-solving with decompose/analyze/verify process) and 'when should Claude use it' (explicit 'Use when:' clause listing triggers like 'decomposing complex problems,' 'analyzing unclear scope,' etc.). | 3 / 3 |
Trigger Term Quality | It includes a long list of keywords like 'sequential thinking,' 'problem decomposition,' 'step-by-step,' and 'complex problem,' which are somewhat relevant but many are technical/methodological jargon rather than natural phrases a user would say. Terms like 'course correction' and 'hypothesis verification' are not typical user language. | 2 / 3 |
Distinctiveness Conflict Risk | This skill describes a very generic meta-cognitive process (problem-solving, analysis, planning) that could overlap with virtually any skill that involves reasoning or problem-solving. Terms like 'complex problem,' 'structured analysis,' and 'multi-step analysis' are so broad they could trigger for nearly any non-trivial task. | 1 / 3 |
Total | 8 / 12 Passed |
Implementation
85%Reviews the quality of instructions and guidance provided to agents. Good implementation is clear, handles edge cases, and produces reliable results.
This is a well-structured methodology skill that efficiently communicates a reflective problem-solving framework. Its strengths are excellent organization, progressive disclosure with clear references, and a complete workflow with validation checkpoints. The main weakness is that the actionability relies on template formats rather than fully concrete examples, though the referenced example files likely fill this gap.
| Dimension | Reasoning | Score |
|---|---|---|
Conciseness | The content is lean and efficient. It avoids explaining what sequential thinking or problem decomposition is conceptually, instead jumping straight into actionable process steps. Every section earns its place with no padding or unnecessary context. | 3 / 3 |
Actionability | The skill provides concrete formatting templates (thought markers, revision syntax, branching syntax) which are useful, but the guidance is more structural/methodological than executable. The code-like blocks are templates rather than executable code, and the actual thought content is left as placeholders. For a methodology skill this is reasonable but not fully concrete. | 2 / 3 |
Workflow Clarity | The multi-step process is clearly sequenced from initial estimate through structured thoughts, dynamic adjustment, revision, branching, hypothesis verification, and completion criteria. The completion checklist serves as a validation checkpoint, and the revision/verification steps provide explicit feedback loops for course correction. | 3 / 3 |
Progressive Disclosure | The SKILL.md serves as a clear overview with well-signaled one-level-deep references to core patterns, examples (API, debug, architecture), and advanced techniques. The references section is well-organized by topic, and optional scripts are clearly separated from the core methodology. | 3 / 3 |
Total | 11 / 12 Passed |
Validation
90%Checks the skill against the spec for correct structure and formatting. All validation checks must pass before discovery and implementation can be scored.
Validation — 10 / 11 Passed
Validation for skill structure
| Criteria | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
frontmatter_unknown_keys | Unknown frontmatter key(s) found; consider removing or moving to metadata | Warning |
Total | 10 / 11 Passed | |
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Table of Contents
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