Before You Build logo

Before You Build

CommunityPopular
wshobson
before-you-build

Pre-build product and feature risk review for founders, product managers, and AI-assisted builders. Use this skill when the user is about to build a landing page, MVP, SaaS product, internal tool, agent workflow, or major feature and needs to check demand, positioning, monetization, retention, trust, distribution, and adoption risk before implementation starts.

Overview

Publisherwshobson
Repositoryagents
Skill namebefore-you-build
Stars
39.8K
Forks
4.2K
Bundled files
1
LicenseMIT
Links
Skill sourceRepositoryHomepage
  • 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 wshobson on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

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

1

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.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. 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.
2

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/wshobson/agents.git /tmp/agents
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/agents/plugins/before-you-build/skills/before-you-build .claude/skills/before-you-build
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Before You Build 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 Before You Build 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 Before You Build 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.

Before You Build

Run a compact pre-mortem before implementation. The goal is not to block building; it is to identify the highest-risk assumption, the smallest validation step, and the build scope that should be delayed until evidence improves.

When To Use

Use this skill when a user asks to build or ship:

  • A new product, MVP, prototype, landing page, SaaS app, marketplace, content site, agent workflow, or internal tool
  • A major feature with unclear adoption, revenue, retention, trust, or distribution impact
  • A public launch asset where weak positioning could waste development or promotion effort

Skip this skill when the task is a narrow implementation fix, refactor, test repair, dependency update, or already-validated change with clear acceptance criteria.

Risk Checklist

Review the idea across these risks:

  • Demand: Is there evidence that a specific buyer or user urgently wants this?
  • Positioning: Can the target user understand what it is and why it matters in one sentence?
  • Monetization: Is there a credible path to payment, budget, or strategic value?
  • Retention: Is there a reason users would return after the first try?
  • Trust: Does the product require credibility, data access, integrations, or behavior change that users may resist?
  • Distribution: Is there a repeatable way to reach the target user?
  • Feature adoption: For feature work, will the feature change user behavior or just add surface area?

If the verdict is not obvious, use references/risk-checklist.md for deeper questions.

Output Format

Keep the response short and decision-oriented:

  1. Risk verdict: Low, medium, or high risk, with one sentence explaining why.
  2. Main assumption: The single assumption most likely to break the project.
  3. Evidence to find first: The smallest useful signal before building more.
  4. Do next: One concrete validation step or reduced build scope.
  5. Delay: What not to build yet.

Guidance

  • Be direct about weak evidence, but avoid dismissing the user's idea.
  • Prefer smaller validation steps over large research plans.
  • Separate product risk from engineering difficulty.
  • If the idea is already validated, say what evidence makes it lower risk and suggest the smallest implementation slice.
  • If facts are missing, name the missing evidence instead of inventing market claims.

Bundled files

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

Frequently asked questions

What does the Before You Build AI skill do?

Pre-build product and feature risk review for founders, product managers, and AI-assisted builders. Use this skill when the user is about to build a landing page, MVP, SaaS product, internal tool, agent workflow, or major feature and needs to check demand, positioning, monetization, retention, trust, distribution, and adoption risk before implementation starts.

Why use Before You Build on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Before You Build 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 Before You Build in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/wshobson/agents/tree/main/plugins/before-you-build/skills/before-you-build. 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 Before You Build?

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 Before You Build?

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

Is the Before You Build AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by wshobson 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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