Best use case
pre-mortem is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Imagine failure first to surface guardrails and feature mitigations.
Teams using pre-mortem 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/pre_mortem/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How pre-mortem Compares
| Feature / Agent | pre-mortem | 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?
Imagine failure first to surface guardrails and feature mitigations.
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
# `/collaboration:pre-mortem` Use when planning initiatives where early risk surfacing saves rework. ## Inputs - Initiative and horizon (30/90/180 days) - Success definition - Known risks/compliance constraints ## Steps 1. Define success state and horizon (default 90 days). 2. List top failure modes across tech, UX, org, market, compliance. 3. For each, propose mitigations/guardrails with Effort (S/M/L) and Owner. 4. Pull 2–3 mitigations that double as feature ideas. 5. Create Tasks for guardrails or pass to `/ctx:plan`. ## Output Template ``` ### Success State (horizon) ### Failure Modes ### Mitigations & Guardrails (effort, owner) ### Feature Candidates from Mitigations ### Immediate Tasks ``` ## Pairings - Run after `/collaboration:concept-forge` to sanity-check top concepts. - Feed guardrails into `/dev:code-review` or security skills as needed.
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