# do-in-steps

Splits a complex task into dependent steps, runs them in order, and has a separate judge check each step before the next one starts.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1200 installs · ★ 1787
- Author: NeoLabHQ
- License: GPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/do-in-steps/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-26
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/do-in-steps

## What it does

The skill acts as an orchestrator and keeps its own hands off the code. It breaks the task into ordered subtasks, then sends each one to a fresh sub-agent with an isolated context window. A summary of earlier outputs travels with the prompt, so the chain does not drag the whole repository along.

Verification has two layers. A meta-judge runs alongside the implementer and writes criteria for that particular step. Once both finish, an independent judge scores the result against those criteria. A failing step is retried up to three times with the same specification, and the meta-judge is not called again.

Model choice happens per step, not per run: `sonnet` and `haiku` by default, `opus` only when a step earns it under the skill's own rules. The `--model` flag overrides that for every sub-agent, while `--strict` removes leniency from scoring. It relies on sub-agents and the Task tool, which Claude provides.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill do-in-steps -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill do-in-steps -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill do-in-steps -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit do-in-steps
```

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

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill do-in-steps -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --path skills/do-in-steps
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit --skill do-in-steps -a opencode
```

### 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/NeoLabHQ/context-engineering-kit/tree/HEAD/skills/do-in-steps/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- break a refactor into steps where each depends on the last
- check every step's output before moving on
- carry context between subtasks without flooding the window
- match model size to the difficulty of a single step
- get an independent review of a sub-agent's work

## Example prompts
- Run `do-in-steps` to rename `UserService` and update every consumer
- Do this in steps `do-in-steps`: migrate the database schema, then fix the queries
- Break the API auth work into steps `do-in-steps` and add tests

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From the same set: [neolabhq/context-engineering-kit](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/neolabhq/context-engineering-kit.md) — 64 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