first-principles-decomposer
Break any problem down to fundamental truths, then rebuild solutions from atoms up. Use when user says "firstp", "first principles", "from scratch", "what are we assuming", "break this down", "atomic", "fundamental truth", "physics thinking", "Elon method", "bedrock", "ground up", "core problem", "strip away", or challenges assumptions about how things are done.
Best use case
first-principles-decomposer is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Break any problem down to fundamental truths, then rebuild solutions from atoms up. Use when user says "firstp", "first principles", "from scratch", "what are we assuming", "break this down", "atomic", "fundamental truth", "physics thinking", "Elon method", "bedrock", "ground up", "core problem", "strip away", or challenges assumptions about how things are done.
Teams using first-principles-decomposer 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/first-principles-decomposer/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How first-principles-decomposer Compares
| Feature / Agent | first-principles-decomposer | 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?
Break any problem down to fundamental truths, then rebuild solutions from atoms up. Use when user says "firstp", "first principles", "from scratch", "what are we assuming", "break this down", "atomic", "fundamental truth", "physics thinking", "Elon method", "bedrock", "ground up", "core problem", "strip away", or challenges assumptions about how things are done.
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.
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SKILL.md Source
# First Principles Decomposer ## When To Use - Designing new products or features - Feeling stuck on a complex problem - Existing solutions seem overcomplicated - Need to challenge assumptions - Starting any new project or initiative ## The Process ### Phase 1: Identify Assumptions Ask: "What am I assuming to be true that might not be?" List every assumption embedded in the current approach. ### Phase 2: Break to Atoms For each assumption, ask: "What is the most fundamental truth here?" Keep asking "why?" until you hit bedrock facts. ### Phase 3: Rebuild From Truth Starting ONLY from verified fundamentals, ask: "What's the simplest solution that addresses the core need?" ## Interactive Flow When user invokes this skill: 1. **Clarify the problem** (1-2 questions max) 2. **Surface assumptions** - list what's being taken for granted 3. **Decompose to fundamentals** - show the atomic truths 4. **Rebuild solution** - construct from ground up 5. **Compare** - show how this differs from conventional approach ## Output Format ``` PROBLEM: [stated problem] ASSUMPTIONS IDENTIFIED: 1. [assumption] → Challenge: [why this might be wrong] 2. [assumption] → Challenge: [why this might be wrong] FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS: • [bedrock fact 1] • [bedrock fact 2] • [bedrock fact 3] REBUILT SOLUTION: [New approach built only from fundamentals] VS CONVENTIONAL: [How this differs from the obvious approach] ``` ## Example Triggers - "Break down our parent communication problem from first principles" - "I want to rethink how we do [X] from the ground up" - "What are we assuming about [problem] that might be wrong?" ## Integration This skill compounds with: - **inversion-strategist** - After rebuilding from fundamentals, invert to find what would guarantee failure of the new approach - **second-order-consequences** - Project downstream effects of implementing the rebuilt solution - **pre-mortem-analyst** - Stress-test the rebuilt solution by imagining its failure - **six-thinking-hats** - Apply all six perspectives to validate each fundamental truth identified ## Skill Metadata **Created**: 2026-01-06 **Last Updated**: 2026-01-06 **Author**: Artem **Version**: 1.0 --- See references/framework.md for detailed methodology See references/examples.md for Artem-specific examples See references/integrated-frameworks.md for Stanford Design Thinking + MIT Systems Engineering combo
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