using-aegis — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install
Entrypoint router for the Aegis framework. Routes user prompts to debugging, goal-framing, or brainstorming workflows while keeping simple turns on the fast path.
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a claude-codeWhat using-aegis does
The skill acts as an intake gate at the start of each conversation turn. It reads user input to decide whether an Aegis subsystem is necessary. If the task is straightforward or explicit activation is required, the assistant stays on the fast path without loading heavy rule sets. Subagents skip this skill completely.
Routing follows explicit triggers. Prompts with grill me or grill this plan activate brainstorming. Mentions of bugs, regressions, or unexpected failures trigger systematic-debugging, while /aegis-goal invokes goal-framing. Before file modifications, the workflow takes a TaskStartSnapshot and checks if architecture review is needed. Ceremony alone never creates branches or worktrees.
What it helps with
- route conversation turns to dedicated Aegis skills automatically
- trigger structured debugging when encountering bugs or regressions
- initiate plan interrogation via grill this plan
- keep agent execution on a lightweight path for routine edits
Example prompts for the agent
- Aegis goal: refactor auth middleware without breaking active sessions
- grill this plan before modifying production database schemas
- The test suite failed with a regression in user billing, debug this
How to install using-aegis
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/using-aegis/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install GanyuanRan/Aegis using-aegis2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/GanyuanRan/Aegis --path skills/using-aegisManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -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 using-aegis
How to install using-aegis in Claude Code?
Run npx skills add GanyuanRan/Aegis --skill using-aegis -a claude-code. This command installs the skill definition into ~/.claude/skills/using-aegis/SKILL.md.
What does using-aegis do?
It determines how an AI agent handles incoming user turns. The skill directs complex requests into specialized Aegis modules and keeps standard questions on a fast path.
What triggers specific Aegis workflows?
Phrases like grill me start brainstorming, and /aegis-goal switches to goal-framing. Bug reports and failures automatically route to systematic-debugging.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: using-aegis
description: "Use when starting a turn or checking Aegis skill routing."
alwaysApply: true
---
<SUBAGENT-STOP>Skip for subagents.</SUBAGENT-STOP>
<EXPLICIT-MODE-GATE>
If activation mode is explicit and this request did not explicitly invoke Aegis or a named skill, stay on the fast path; do not route to any Aegis skill. Explicit invocation proceeds normally.
</EXPLICIT-MODE-GATE>
<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
You have Aegis. Load explicit/relevant Aegis skill before response/action;
otherwise proceed normally.
</EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>
## Outcome Anchor
Understand the requested object, scope, actions, conditions, and deliverables
from the conversation. Complete the authorized task within business constraints
and deliver a usable, verifiable result. Project goals guide durable choices;
they do not override the user's current scope. Preserve outstanding intent
across follow-ups; clarify material ambiguity before dependent action and
continue independent authorized work. Do not repeat satisfied approvals.
Judge success by the requested outcome. Execution, parsing, tests, and
architecture alignment prove only their covered scope; tests of real acceptance
criteria can prove that outcome. Fix the problem class at its owner, preserving
neighboring behavior. Report delivered results and remaining gaps honestly;
partial work is not complete. These are decision principles, not a new artifact,
universal goal-framing route, or completion authority.
Preserve task fidelity through understanding, transformation, execution and
delivery: retain decision-relevant meaning and evidence status, checking both
omissions and unsupported additions. Authorized summaries, designs and
evidence-based corrections are valid. Use existing checkpoints and sufficient
current evidence; no extra approval, six-item report or exhaustive trace is required.
## Hot Path
1. User/project instructions outrank Aegis.
2. Load only the smallest explicitly requested or clearly relevant skill/reference;
otherwise stay on the fast path. Compose `ui-ux-governance` for UI/UX effects;
retain task ownership and scope.
3. Active codebase question/"what next": use the authority index and relevant
README/ADR/rule/baseline sections, else a bounded index-first scan. Do not
recursively read all linked docs. Non-trivial work passively use relevant
`CONTEXT-MAP.md`/`CONTEXT.md`; model semantic conflicts only when found.
4. Primary routes: `grill me`/`grill this plan`/`审问我`/`盘问我`/`拷问我` -> `brainstorming` (literal/explanatory uses do not); `/aegis-goal` or `Aegis goal:` -> `goal-framing`. Bug, failure, regression, or unexpected behavior routes to `systematic-debugging`.
5. Implementation only: Classify before implementation. Low stays owner-local;
Medium/high: baseline read-set + plan. Spec Brief or Design Spec only for
ambiguous/contract/cross-module medium/high work. TDD: off=no auto route/load; auto=risk-based strict/light/skipped; explicit strict applies.
Pure explanation and read-only diagnosis skip implementation/TDD/write gates.
6. For writes, the owner workflow surfaces Change Necessity, records
`TaskStartSnapshot`, and decides `ArchitectureReviewRequired`; ceremony alone
never creates a branch/worktree.
7. At the first substantive user-visible stage say why Aegis is shaping
non-tiny work; do not wait for the user to ask. structured trace is only for audit/debug/release/long-task review/asked and does not route (`Trace Digest`).
8. Workspace support is lazy; use configured Aegis workspace support as needed.
Q&A/status writes no files except authorized baseline bootstrap before
code-changing advice; tiny work writes records only when required.
9. Tool/log/memory/search outputs are evidence candidates, not prompt payloads:
summary first; large input index->window->excerpt. Bound history/session/
transcript/log reads by scope/time/lines.
10. Read `references/skill-discipline.md` only when route/order/TDD/workspace/
context re-entry/host mapping detail is needed.
Contract: only a real fast path emits `Route: fast-path` and an `Aegis Reason Note`; a routed skill owns its next-stage contract.
© GanyuanRan · MIT · GanyuanRan/Aegis