# no-workarounds

This skill examines fixes that conceal an error or its symptoms. Use it when a change looks like a workaround or the defect comes from outside your codebase.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 566 installs · ★ 643
- Author: Pedro Nauck
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/pedronauck/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/mine/no-workarounds/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/no-workarounds

## What it does

The skill guides the agent to trace a symptom to the code or boundary responsible, address the cause, and check the result with an existing test or probe. It calls for context when reviewing diagnostic filters, caught errors, timed delays, and fallback paths: each deserves scrutiny, though none is automatically wrong. A related entry in `references/workaround-catalog.md` can help with the review.

For a defect outside the team’s control, the skill recommends containing an adapter at the boundary, recording the evidence and a removal condition, then protecting the affected behavior with existing checks. This review is not a required step for every bug fix. Project-mandated boundary validation and compatibility adapters should remain in place, so removing them just to silence a symptom would be the wrong fix.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pedronauck/skills --skill no-workarounds -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/no-workarounds/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/no-workarounds/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pedronauck/skills --skill no-workarounds -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/no-workarounds/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pedronauck/skills --skill no-workarounds -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/no-workarounds/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install pedronauck/skills no-workarounds
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/no-workarounds/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pedronauck/skills --skill no-workarounds -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/pedronauck/skills --path skills/mine/no-workarounds
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/no-workarounds/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pedronauck/skills --skill no-workarounds -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/pedronauck/skills/tree/HEAD/skills/mine/no-workarounds/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- trace an error hidden by diagnostic filtering
- assess whether an error handler or fallback is justified
- fix a defect and verify the original symptom
- contain an external defect behind a boundary adapter

## Example prompts
- Check whether this change fixes the cause or just hides the error.
- Review this fallback path and suggest a check for the original failure.
- An external dependency is failing. Show how to isolate it at the boundary and define when to remove the adapter.

## Similar
- [improve-codebase-architecture](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/improve-codebase-architecture.md) — skill · 1163035 installs
- [tdd](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/tdd.md) — skill · 1141062 installs
- [triage](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/triage.md) — skill · 990453 installs
- [codebase-design](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/codebase-design.md) — skill · 850344 installs
- [code-review](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/code-review.md) — skill · 789521 installs
- [implement](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/implement.md) — skill · 774700 installs

From the same set: [pedronauck/skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/pedronauck/skills.md) — 18 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