Before You Build
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AI Skill

Before You Build Skill

Don't ask AI to build it yet. Ask why it might fail first.

Use this skill in your AI coding tool before starting a product, adding a feature, or expanding something users still have not proven they want.

Open GitHub repoSee how it works

The skill package is open-source on GitHub. No API key is needed for normal use. Optional Case Memory can query Before You Build with a minimal idea summary.

What it does

  • Reviews a product idea before code is written.
  • Challenges user, pain, alternative, distribution, pricing, and retention assumptions.
  • Produces a short reality check instead of a bloated business plan.

Use it before

  • Building a new product idea
  • Adding a feature to an existing product
  • Turning an AI demo into a real SaaS
  • Spending more time on a project with no users, revenue, or retention

Case Memory

  • Can query similar public cases when available.
  • Sends only a minimal idea summary.
  • Still works from failure patterns when Case Memory is unavailable.

Open Source

Available on GitHub

Before You Build Skill lives in its own public GitHub repository. The repository contains the complete installable package: the main skill file, tool configuration, failure-pattern references, evidence-check notes, Case Memory API notes, and usage examples.

Use GitHub when you want the latest source, want to inspect how the skill works, clone the repository, or download a ZIP from GitHub.

Open GitHub repository

Repository contents

  • SKILL.md - the main pre-build risk review instructions.
  • agents/openai.yaml - configuration for compatible AI tools.
  • references/ - failure patterns, evidence checks, and Case Memory API notes.
  • examples/ - sample prompts for new ideas, feature changes, and launched projects.

Install

Install it in your AI tool

The fastest path is the npm installer. It copies the skill into the local folder or project rule format used by each tool.

Recommended

npx before-you-build-skill install codex

Codex

Installs the skill folder under ~/.codex/skills/.

npx before-you-build-skill install codex

Claude Code

Installs a local skill copy under ~/.claude/skills/.

npx before-you-build-skill install claude

Cursor

Writes a project rule at .cursor/rules/before-you-build.md.

npx before-you-build-skill install cursor --path /path/to/project

OpenClaw

Copies the skill to ~/.openclaw/skills/.

npx before-you-build-skill install openclaw

Hermes

Copies the skill to ~/.hermes/skills/.

npx before-you-build-skill install hermes

Gemini CLI

Creates a /before-you-build command plus local skill reference.

npx before-you-build-skill install gemini

OpenClaw native install

OpenClaw users can also install directly from Git.

openclaw skills install git:bin1874/before-you-build-skill@main --as before-you-build

Prefer GitHub if you want to inspect the source, clone the repository, or download a ZIP. The package is plain Markdown, so you can still paste the main skill into custom instructions when a tool has no skill folder.

After installation, start a product or feature request with before you build and let the agent review risk before it writes implementation details.

Privacy boundary

Normal use does not require an API key. Case Memory is an optional remote query to Before You Build. When used, it sends only a concise idea summary to retrieve similar public cases.

Do not send secrets, customer names, private financials, credentials, private user data, or unreleased confidential details. The server may record cleaned keywords, IP address, user agent, and short-term network metadata for abuse prevention and product improvement. Full IP addresses are cleared after 90 days.

Read the broader privacy notes.

Source

Open the GitHub repository to inspect the source, clone the package, or download a ZIP from GitHub.

Open GitHub repo

FAQ

Does it need an API key?

No. Normal use does not require an API key.

Will it build my app?

No. It is designed to stop the agent from jumping into implementation too early.

Does it search the web?

No, not by default. It may use the structured Before You Build case source when available. Web search is only for an optional evidence check.

Does it prove my idea will fail?

No. It gives failure risks, similar cases, and validation steps. It does not predict the future.

Where is the source code?

The full skill package is open-source on GitHub, including SKILL.md, tool configuration, references, and examples.

Can I install it with npx?

Yes. The npm package is before-you-build-skill. Use npx to install local adapters for Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, OpenClaw, Hermes, and Gemini CLI.

Search cases before you build
Before You Build Skill — Ask why it might fail first