ask-user
Pattern for effectively interacting with users to gather information or get decisions. Use when you need user input.
Best use case
ask-user is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Pattern for effectively interacting with users to gather information or get decisions. Use when you need user input.
Teams using ask-user should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/ask-user/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How ask-user Compares
| Feature / Agent | ask-user | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Pattern for effectively interacting with users to gather information or get decisions. Use when you need user input.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Ask User Skill
Pattern for effective user interaction.
## When to Load This Skill
- You need to clarify requirements
- You need user to make a decision
- You have options to present
## Principles
### 1. Be Specific, Not Open-Ended
Bad: "What do you want?"
Good: "Should authentication use JWT or sessions?"
### 2. Offer Options When Possible
```
AskUserQuestion(
questions: [
{
question: "Which authentication method should we use?",
header: "Auth method",
options: [
{ label: "JWT", description: "Stateless, good for APIs" },
{ label: "Sessions", description: "Stateful, good for web apps" }
],
multiSelect: false
}
]
)
```
### 3. Provide Context
Explain WHY you're asking:
- What decision depends on this
- What trade-offs exist
- What you recommend and why
### 4. Batch Related Questions
Ask related questions together:
```
questions: [
{ question: "Auth method?", ... },
{ question: "Token expiry?", ... },
{ question: "Refresh token?", ... }
]
```
## When to Ask vs Decide
### ASK when:
- Multiple valid approaches with different trade-offs
- User preference matters
- Scope is unclear
- Risk of wasted work
### DECIDE when:
- Clear best practice exists
- Low impact choice
- Easily reversible
- Standard convention applies
## Question Types
### Clarification
"You mentioned 'fast' - do you mean response time < 100ms or just faster than current?"
### Confirmation
"I understand you want X, Y, and Z. Is this correct?"
### Decision
"Option A has [pros/cons]. Option B has [pros/cons]. Which do you prefer?"
### Scope
"Should this also handle [related case] or just [original request]?"Related Skills
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