pol-probe — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Designs disposable validation experiments to test risky hypotheses before writing production code. Helps teams avoid sinking weeks into prototypes that teach nothing.
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a claude-codeWhat pol-probe does
The skill structures disposable reconnaissance experiments known as Proof of Life (PoL) probes. Instead of preparing a standard MVP, it outlines a cheap test designed to answer a single question within days. The artifact is built specifically to be deleted, preventing teams from sinking engineering time into flawed premises.
It maps your assumptions to one of five probe categories: technical feasibility checks, task-focused user flows, narrative prototypes, synthetic data simulations, or scrappy no-code builds. You provide the core hypothesis and the riskiest assumption, and the tool drafts the experiment structure alongside explicit failure thresholds.
The core constraint is disposability. When a prototype looks too polished to throw away, you enter prototype theater, wasting time defending an idea rather than measuring user reality.
What it helps with
- define a disposable test for a high-risk product assumption
- uncover product flaws before committing engineering hours
- select the right experiment format for a specific question
- set explicit criteria for abandoning an unviable idea
Example prompts for the agent
- Define a PoL probe: we believe managers will upload invoices daily if food costs calculate automatically.
- Help me design a quick validation test for our new subscription pricing hypothesis.
- Create a low-cost feasibility probe to check this API integration before we build it.
How to install pol-probe
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/pol-probe/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills pol-probe2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --path skills/pol-probeManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about pol-probe
How do I install pol-probe in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -a claude-code in your terminal.
What is the main purpose of a PoL probe?
It is a disposable experiment designed to test a narrow hypothesis before writing production software. You use it to surface harsh truths early and discard the artifact once data is collected.
How does a PoL probe differ from an MVP?
An MVP aims to deliver an initial product to customers, while a PoL probe is pre-MVP reconnaissance meant to be thrown away in days. It determines whether building an MVP is worth the engineering investment at all.
