# What is superpowers, and should you install the whole thing?

Canonical URL: https://bestskillsforclaude.com/en/skills/superpowers
Language: en
Skill: superpowers
Publisher: Jesse Vincent (obra) (https://github.com/obra)
Source: https://github.com/obra/superpowers
License as stated by the publisher: MIT
Runtime: Claude Code and other supported coding agents
Category: Planning and teamwork
Last reviewed: 2026-08-05

Not a skill. A method, delivered as a set of skills that expect each other.

## Short answer
Superpowers is a complete development methodology for coding agents, published by Jesse Vincent under MIT, built from composable skills covering brainstorming, planning, test driven development, systematic debugging, verification and subagent work. Install it when you want the agent to follow a process rather than jump straight to code. Install individual pieces when you already have a process.

Best for: Teams that want agent work to follow a repeatable method instead of depending on who wrote the prompt.
Skip it if: You want one narrow behaviour, in which case take the single skill and leave the methodology.

## What to remember
- It is a method, so its value depends on people actually following it.
- The pieces compose, which also means half adopting it produces contradictions.
- It supports several agent runtimes, not only Claude Code.
- Overlaps with other TDD and debugging skills. Pick one source of truth per job.

## What it changes in practice
Without a method, agent output quality tracks whoever wrote the prompt. Two engineers get very different results from the same model on the same task, and neither can explain why.
A methodology moves the variance out of the prompt. Brainstorm, write a plan, implement against tests, verify before claiming completion. It is unremarkable as engineering practice, which is exactly why it works.
- Planning skills: brainstorming, writing plans, subagent driven development.
- Execution skills: test driven development, systematic debugging, verification before completion.
- Meta skills: writing new skills, and using the system itself.

## Where it disappoints
It is opinionated by design. If your team disagrees with the opinions, you will fight the skills rather than benefit from them, and the fight is invisible because it happens inside the agent's context.
It also collides with similar skills from other publishers. Two debugging methodologies loaded at once is worse than either alone.

## Install and first run
1. Install from obra/superpowers, which documents setup for Claude Code and several other agents.
2. Start with planning and verification only, and add the rest once the team feels the benefit.
3. Notice which skills your team quietly ignores, and remove them rather than pretending.

## Questions
### Is it only for Claude Code?
No. The repository documents installation for several coding agents, though Claude Code is the common case.

### Can I take one skill instead of all of them?
Yes, and that is often the right start. The skills work alone, and compose when you want more.

### What license is it?
MIT, published by Jesse Vincent under the obra account.

## Sources
- obra/superpowers on GitHub: https://github.com/obra/superpowers
- Agent skills directory listing: https://skills.sh

## Other languages
- Spanish: https://bestskillsforclaude.com/es/skills/superpowers
- Brazilian Portuguese: https://bestskillsforclaude.com/pt-br/skills/superpowers
- Japanese: https://bestskillsforclaude.com/ja/skills/superpowers