# behavioral-modes

Gives the agent a set of operating modes, from brainstorming to shipping. Useful when replies should match the kind of task at hand.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 157 installs
- Author: davila7
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/ai-research/behavioral-modes
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/behavioral-modes

## What it does

The skill lays out seven modes: BRAINSTORM, IMPLEMENT, DEBUG, REVIEW, TEACH, SHIP and EXPLORE. Each one spells out how the agent tackles a task, what it asks first and how it formats the answer. IMPLEMENT, for instance, favours finished code with no walkthrough, while DEBUG moves from hypothesis to test to root cause.

Mode selection runs on trigger words. Ask for ideas or options and you get BRAINSTORM; mention a bug or an error and DEBUG kicks in; say deploy and SHIP takes over. You can also switch by hand with `/brainstorm`, `/implement`, `/debug` or `/review` at the start of a message. The skill only carries `Read`, `Glob` and `Grep`, so it reads your code but never edits it.

Heavy tasks can follow the PLAN-EXECUTE-CRITIC loop: a planner breaks the work into steps in `task.md`, an executor writes the code, a critic checks it. Install with `npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill ai-research/behavioral-modes`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill ai-research/behavioral-modes
```

2. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill behavioral-modes -a claude-code
```

3. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/behavioral-modes/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/behavioral-modes/

### Codex

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/behavioral-modes/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/behavioral-modes/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates behavioral-modes
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/behavioral-modes/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/ai-research/behavioral-modes
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/behavioral-modes/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates/tree/HEAD/cli-tool/components/skills/ai-research/behavioral-modes

## When to use it
- get code instead of a lecture from the agent
- trace a bug back to its cause rather than patch symptoms
- collect several solution options before committing to one
- run a review with findings sorted by severity
- work through a pre-release checklist before deploying

## Example prompts
- Switch to brainstorm mode and give me architecture options for an orders service
- Debug mode: why does auth fail after the token refresh
- Review this pull request and sort the findings by severity

## Similar
- [thinking-model-router](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/thinking-model-router.md) — skill · 605 installs
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From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 495 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md