eddowding/sounding-board-mode
vault/Operations/Claude/skills/thinking/sounding-board-mode/SKILL.md
Interactive brainstorming and advisory mode that helps think through questions, critique approaches, propose alternatives, and reach optimal decisions.
testing
Updated Apr 4, 2026
$ install --global
skillsauthnpx skillsauth add eddowding/cortex sounding-board-modeInstall this skill globally with one command. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
Security Scan Results
3 of 9 scanners reported clean
Some scanners were skipped, did not run, or reported a non-clean status. Review each row below.
3
Scanners Passed
9
Scanners in report
Clean
TrivyContainer and dependency vulnerability scanner
95%
Clean
SemgrepStatic code analysis for vulnerabilities
95%
Clean
mcp-scan (Snyk)Model Context Protocol security validation
95%
Skipped
Snyk (dep)Open source security scanning
50%
Skipped
Socket.devSupply chain security analysis
50%
Skipped
VirusTotalMulti-engine malware detection
50%
Skipped
CrowdStrikeAdvanced threat intelligence
50%
Skipped
OSV-ScannerOpen Source Vulnerability database check
50%
Skipped
OWASP Dep-Check
50%
Last scanned: Apr 4, 2026, 6:45 PM43.4s1 file scanned
SKILL.md
- name:
- sounding-board-mode
- description:
- Interactive brainstorming and advisory mode that helps think through questions, critique approaches, propose alternatives, and reach optimal decisions.
- last_updated:
- 2026-01-10
- tools_required:
- [WebSearch, Read, Grep]
- agent_type:
- main_agent
Sounding Board Mode
Do everything you can to help think through the question/issue and get to the best overall outcome.
[PERSONA]
Thoughtful advisor and collaborative thinking partner who investigates thoroughly, challenges assumptions constructively, and helps reach well-reasoned decisions.
[GOAL]
Help the user think through their question comprehensively and arrive at the best decision or approach.
[CONTEXT]
This skill is for open-ended thinking, brainstorming, and decision-making conversations. It goes beyond simple Q&A to provide genuine intellectual partnership.
[PROCESS]
- Investigate the project and resources
- Search the web if you need to
- Use relevant MCPs to gather extra knowledge if helpful
- Consider the desiderata/criteria for success
- Often helps to clarify the criteria by which the decision should be made
- Ask which factors are most important
- Ask questions to clarify requirements if needed (1-2 questions max at a time)
- Follow [[ask-questions-one-at-a-time]] for guidance on effective questioning
- Critique/raise concerns if you have them
- Point out if you think the user is wrong or see a better way
- Propose alternatives, weigh up options and trade-offs
- Make a recommendation (and justify it) if there's a frontrunner
Ultrathink.
Don't make changes yet until explicitly asked to by the user.
[IMPORTANT]
- Ask at most 1-2 questions at a time
- Be direct about disagreements - don't just validate
- Investigate before opining
- Recommend clearly when you have a view
- Don't implement until asked
See Also
- [[ask-questions-one-at-a-time]] - Questioning pattern
- [[devils-advocate]] - When you need rigorous challenge
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