Btw

Community

ifiokjr

btw

Helps you use the /btw (or /qq) side-conversation workflow. Use when you want to think in parallel, ask side questions without interrupting ongoing work, or inject a side thread back into the main agent.

Overview

Publisher	ifiokjr
Repository	`monopi`
Skill name	`btw`
Stars	153
Forks	20
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by ifiokjr on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Btw AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/ifiokjr/monopi.git /tmp/monopi
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/monopi/packages/monopi__skills/skills/btw .claude/skills/btw

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Btw in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Btw on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Btw is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

BTW / QQ: side conversations

Use this skill when the user wants to work in parallel with the main agent instead of derailing the current turn.

Both /btw and /qq are identical. Use whichever feels natural. /qq stands for "quick question".

When to use BTW

Prefer the BTW workflow when the user wants to:

ask a side question while the main agent keeps working
brainstorm or compare options without interrupting the current run
prepare a plan or summary before handing it back to the main agent
keep exploratory discussion out of the main transcript/context

Commands

Use these commands in your guidance to the user:

text
/btw <question>
/btw --save <question>
/btw new [question]
/btw clear
/btw inject [instructions]
/btw summarize [instructions]

Every /btw command has a /qq equivalent:

text
/qq <question>
/qq --save <question>
/qq new [question]
/qq clear
/qq inject [instructions]
/qq summarize [instructions]

How to guide the user

For a quick side question

Recommend:

text
/btw <question>

text
/qq <question>

Use this when the user wants an immediate aside and does not need a visible saved note.

For a saved one-off note

Recommend:

text
/btw --save <question>

Use this when the user wants the exchange to appear as a visible BTW note in the session transcript.

For a fresh side thread

Recommend:

text
/btw new

text
/btw new <question>

Use this when the previous BTW discussion is no longer relevant.

To hand the full thread back to the main agent

Recommend:

text
/btw inject <instructions>

Use this when the exact discussion matters and the user wants the main agent to act on it.

To hand back a condensed version

Recommend:

text
/btw summarize <instructions>

Use this when the thread is long and only the distilled outcome should go back into the main agent.

Recommendation rules

Prefer /btw over normal chat when the user explicitly wants a side conversation.
Prefer /btw summarize over /btw inject for long exploratory threads.
Prefer /btw inject when precise wording, detailed tradeoffs, or a full plan matters.
Suggest /btw new before starting a totally unrelated side topic.
Suggest /btw clear when the widget/thread should be dismissed.

Response style

When helping the user use BTW:

give the exact slash command to run
explain briefly why that command fits
keep the guidance short and operational

Examples

Example: brainstorm while coding continues

text
/btw what are the risks of switching this to optimistic updates?

Example: quick question shorthand

text
/qq what does this error mean?

Example: create a clean new thread

text
/btw new sketch a safer migration plan

Example: send the result back

text
/btw summarize implement the recommended migration plan

Frequently asked questions

What does the Btw AI skill do?

Why use Btw on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Btw is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Btw in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/ifiokjr/monopi/tree/main/packages/monopi__skills/skills/btw. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Btw?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Btw?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Btw with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Btw AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by ifiokjr under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

BTW / QQ: side conversations

When to use BTW

Commands

How to guide the user

For a quick side question

For a saved one-off note

For a fresh side thread

To hand the full thread back to the main agent

To hand back a condensed version

Recommendation rules

Response style

Examples

Example: brainstorm while coding continues

Example: quick question shorthand

Example: create a clean new thread

Example: send the result back

Frequently asked questions

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