# feature-design-assistant

Turns a rough feature idea into a design and spec by asking you structured questions. Useful before a large change to the codebase.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code · 247 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/development/feature-design-assistant
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/feature-design-assistant

## What it does

The skill runs in phases. It first explores the project to pick up structure, stack and existing conventions, then asks questions in batches of up to four through `AskUserQuestion`. Round one covers the goal, users, scope and timeline. Round two covers which layers the feature touches, quality requirements, error handling and testing approach. Round three covers integrations, dependencies, backwards compatibility and documentation.

Answers land in a design and spec rather than free-form chat. That matters when a feature crosses several layers: data model, API and UI get their own questions, so gaps in the plan show up before any code is written. The agent also announces when it starts using the skill, so you can tell it has switched into design mode.

This is a planning tool, not an implementation one. If you already know what to build and just want the code, the extra rounds of questions slow you down. The skill file sits at `~/.claude/skills/feature-design-assistant/SKILL.md`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **claude-code-templates**
```bash
npx claude-code-templates@latest --skill development/feature-design-assistant
```

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

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

### Codex

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

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install davila7/claude-code-templates feature-design-assistant
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/feature-design-assistant/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/davila7/claude-code-templates --path cli-tool/components/skills/development/feature-design-assistant
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/feature-design-assistant/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/development/feature-design-assistant

## When to use it
- break a feature idea into concrete requirements
- agree on scope and timeline before coding starts
- pick an error handling strategy for a new module
- check whether a change breaks existing clients
- produce a spec that covers API and documentation

## Example prompts
- use the feature-design-assistant skill: I want to add CSV export for reports
- design a subscription billing feature with feature-design-assistant
- run feature-design-assistant on the auth schema change

## Similar
- [design-handoff](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/design-handoff.md) — skill · 3500 installs
- [spec](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/spec.md) — skill · 4100 installs
- [4-spec](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/4-spec.md) — skill · 1800 installs
- [grill](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/grill.md) — skill · 793 installs
- [think](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/think.md) — skill · 15000 installs
- [plan-interview](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/secondsky-plan-interview.md) — skill · 395 installs

From the same set: [davila7/claude-code-templates](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/davila7/claude-code-templates.md) — 224 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