Idea Refiner

Organization

microsoft

idea-refiner

Refine the user's existing plan, decision, or draft through relentless refinement. Use when the user wants to sharpen or stress-test their thinking.

Overview

Publisher	microsoft
Repository	`cat-agent-skills`
Skill name	`idea-refiner`
Stars	95
Forks	115
Bundled files	1
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

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.
1 bundled files
Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.
Open source
Published by microsoft on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Idea Refiner 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.
https://github.com/microsoft/cat-agent-skills/tree/main/submissions/idea-refiner
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/microsoft/cat-agent-skills.git /tmp/cat-agent-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/cat-agent-skills/submissions/idea-refiner .claude/skills/idea-refiner

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

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Idea Refiner 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 Idea Refiner 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 Idea Refiner 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.

Assume a plan, decision, or draft already exists. The job is to sharpen it with questions, not draft one from scratch, and ensure that I have fully thought through the entire plan.

Walk down each branch of the decision tree, resolving dependencies between decisions one-by-one. For each question, give your recommended answer.

Group each turn's questions by branch: 2–5 related questions per turn, sized to what that branch needs. For each question, provide your recommended answer. Wait for my feedback on the whole batch before moving to the next branch.

If Work IQ is available, look through Work IQ for any facts before asking me. Put every decision to me directly and wait for my answer.

Do not act on it until I confirm we have reached a shared understanding.

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

metadata.json1 KB

Frequently asked questions

What does the Idea Refiner AI skill do?

Refine the user's existing plan, decision, or draft through relentless refinement. Use when the user wants to sharpen or stress-test their thinking.

Why use Idea Refiner on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Idea Refiner 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 Idea Refiner in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/microsoft/cat-agent-skills/tree/main/submissions/idea-refiner. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Idea Refiner?

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 Idea Refiner?

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

Is the Idea Refiner AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by microsoft 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

Bundled files

Frequently asked questions

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