Skills | Open Horizon Labs

Grounding

Understand the problem before solving it. These skills ensure you're working on the right thing.

Ai

/aim

Clarify the outcome you want—a change in user behavior, not a feature shipped. The aim IS the abstraction. Start here to know what you're solving for.

Use when Starting work, when "why are we doing this?" gets fuzzy, when shipping without impact

Outputs Aim statement with mechanism (how it works) and feedback signal (how we'll know)

Leads to /problem-space, /solution-space

Ps

/problem-space

Map what we're choosing to optimize and what constraints we treat as real. The problem space is the terrain where solutions live—get it wrong and you'll optimize the wrong thing.

Use when After clarifying aim, when constraints feel wrong, when "done" keeps moving

Outputs Problem space map: optimization targets, real constraints, assumed constraints

Leads to /problem-statement, /solution-space

Pt

/problem-statement

Frame the specific problem you're solving. Change the statement, change the solution space. A good problem statement opens possibilities; a bad one closes them prematurely.

Use when After mapping problem space, when stuck in local maxima, when solutions feel forced

Outputs Problem statement with clear scope, success criteria, and non-goals

Leads to /solution-space, /dissent

Execution

Build and ship. Move from understanding to working software in users' hands.

Ss

/solution-space

Explore candidate implementations. Fan out cheaply, score against constraints, prune hard. Four levels of response: Band-aid (patch symptom), Local optimum (optimize current framing), Reframe (question the problem), Redesign (eliminate the problem).

Use when Multiple approaches possible, after problem statement is clear

Outputs Ranked solutions with level (band-aid/optimize/reframe/redesign) and rationale

Leads to /execute, /dissent

Ex

/execute

Do the work. The terraform loop: Pre-flight (check orientation), Execute (build), Detect drift (watch for scope creep), Salvage (if drifting), Update terrain (encode learning). Steer or Abort—never thrash.

Use when Solution chosen, ready to build

Outputs Working implementation with documented decisions

Leads to /review, /ship, /salvage (if drift detected)

Sh

/ship

Deliver to users. Optimize the delivery path—the path from merged code to working install. When execution is cheap, delivery is the work. Reduce delivery-path tax: review-to-merge time, merge-to-prod time, manual approvals.

Use when Work complete, ready for users, or delivery feels slow

Outputs Shipped value, delivery path analysis, bottleneck recommendations

Leads to /review (post-ship), /problem-space (next iteration)

Reflection

Capture learning that compounds. Challenge assumptions. Extract wisdom before restarting.

Rv

/review

Check work and detect drift. Invokes metacognitive review to catch scope creep, over-engineering, incomplete implementations, and strategic misalignment. A second opinion before committing.

Use when Before commits, before PRs, when uncertain about approach, after shipping

Outputs Assessment with specific concerns, drift indicators, recommendations

Leads to /salvage (if drift), /execute (if aligned), /problem-space (next cycle)

Ds

/dissent

Structured disagreement mode. Deliberately seek contrary evidence and alternative framings. Useful for avoiding confirmation bias and groupthink on important decisions. "What would make this wrong?"

Use when Making irreversible decisions, when everyone agrees too quickly, before major commits

Outputs Counter-arguments, risks identified, alternative framings, steelman of alternatives

Combines with /problem-statement, /solution-space, /review

Sv

/salvage

Extract learning before restarting. Code is a draft; learning is the asset. Captures what changed your model, what guardrails should exist, what context was missing. Then restart clean.

Use when Work is drifting, approach reversed 3+ times, scope expanding while "done" fuzzing

Outputs Extracted learnings, new guardrails, updated context for fresh start

Leads to /problem-space (fresh start with new understanding)