poke-holes

Interrogates an existing plan, spec, or design through structured questions until every decision branch is resolved.

10|Updated May 12, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/sandsower/beislid --skill poke-holes-sandsower
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: poke-holes
Source: https://github.com/sandsower/beislid/tree/main/skills/poke-holes
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/sandsower/beislid --skill poke-holes-sandsower

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Plans, specs, and designs often contain hidden assumptions, unresolved tradeoffs, and unexamined branches that only surface during implementation. This Skill stress-tests an existing plan by relentlessly interviewing the user about every aspect of it, walking down each branch of the decision tree until shared understanding is reached. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Relentless decision-tree interrogation: Walks each branch of the design tree one question at a time, resolving dependencies between decisions and providing a recommended answer for every question. - Codebase-grounded answers: When a question can be answered by exploring the codebase, it explores the code instead of asking the user, keeping the interview evidence-based. - Workflow signal integration: Emits best-effort beislid workflow-signal events (working, waiting, blocked, done) so external tools can observe interrogation state; the command no-ops safely when unconfigured. - Optional visual decision-tree surfaces: When repo-level beislid:visual_surfaces config is active, it can render decision trees, tradeoff matrices, and risk maps as supplemental Lavish-backed HTML surfaces with typed feedback gates, while Markdown/chat remains canonical. - Use Case: After drafting an implementation plan for a database migration, say "poke holes in this plan" and the Skill will grill you on rollback strategy, data consistency, downtime windows, and dependency ordering until every branch is resolved. ## Quick Start Say "poke holes in this plan" or "stress-test this design" while pointing at an existing plan, spec, or design document.

Frequently Asked Questions about poke-holes

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I stress-test a design or plan before implementing it?▼

Trigger the skill with phrases like "poke holes", "grill me", or "stress-test this" while referencing an existing plan, spec, or design. It interviews you one question at a time across every decision branch, providing recommended answers until all branches are resolved.

What is the difference between poke-holes and a spec-writing skill?▼

Poke-holes pressure-tests an already existing plan, spec, or design; it does not extract requirements from scratch. If you have no plan yet, use the spec skill first to create one, then run poke-holes to challenge it.

Can poke-holes answer questions from the codebase instead of asking me?▼

Yes. When a question can be answered by exploring the codebase, the skill explores the code directly rather than asking you, keeping the interrogation grounded in evidence and reducing unnecessary back-and-forth.

Does poke-holes require the Lavish visual plugin to work?▼

No. Visual surfaces are optional and only activate when repo-level beislid:visual_surfaces config exists and the mode is not off. Without config, or when Lavish is unavailable, the skill runs entirely in Markdown/chat mode.

When should I not use poke-holes?▼

Do not use it to gather requirements from scratch or for simple linear critique that is clearer in plain chat. It is designed for plans with branching decisions, tradeoffs, and risks that benefit from systematic interrogation.