Superpowers AI Coding Agent Workflow Framework | Generated by AI

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Question: What is the GitHub project https://github.com/obra/superpowers and how does it work?

Answer:

Overview

Superpowers is an open-source AI coding agent workflow framework. It doesn’t add a new model — instead it forces AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, etc.) to follow a disciplined software engineering process using modular “skills”. (AIToolly)

Think of it as:

A development methodology encoded as skills that your AI agent must follow.

Instead of:

You: build login feature
Agent: writes random code immediately

It enforces:

1. clarify requirements
2. design
3. plan
4. implement (TDD)
5. review
6. merge

Core Idea

Superpowers = skills + workflow + auto-trigger rules

The agent does NOT jump into coding — it first extracts spec, creates plan, then executes using subagents. (GitHub)

How It Works (Step-by-Step)

1. Brainstorming (before coding)

Agent asks questions and clarifies what you actually want.

Example:

You: build todo app
Agent:
- web or mobile?
- local storage or backend?
- auth needed?

This produces a design document.

2. Write Implementation Plan

Then it creates small tasks (2–5 min each)

Example:

Task 1: create project structure
Task 2: add todo model
Task 3: write failing test
Task 4: implement minimal code

Each task includes:

This is generated automatically. (GitHub)

3. Subagent-driven development

Now it spawns sub agents to execute tasks one-by-one:

This allows long autonomous coding sessions. (GitHub)

4. Enforced TDD

It forces:

RED → failing test
GREEN → minimal fix
REFACTOR → cleanup

Agent is not allowed to write feature code before tests. (志文工作室)

5. Automatic Code Review

After each task:

6. Finish Branch

When done:

Built-in Skills (Examples)

Planning

Development

Debugging

Collaboration

All are composable skills. (GitHub)

It fixes the biggest AI coding problems:

Without Superpowers:

With Superpowers:

It’s basically turning LLM into disciplined junior engineer.

Supported Agents

Works with:

Example Commands

After install:

/superpowers:brainstorm
/superpowers:write-plan
/superpowers:execute-plan

These control the workflow. (GitHub)

In One Sentence

Superpowers = structured software engineering workflow for AI coding agents using modular skills.

When It’s Most Useful

This is especially powerful when:

Less useful for:

If you want, I can also explain:

References:

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