Superpowers: a step-by-step work method for coding agents

What it does

What it is

Superpowers is a set of skills that gives your coding agent a clear way of working. Instead of writing code at once, the agent first asks what you want, writes a short design, makes a plan, and then builds step by step with tests.

Who it helps

People who build apps with an agent and want fewer broken results.
Teams who want every task to follow the same steps.

How it feels

You describe an idea. The agent asks questions one at a time. It shows you a plan to approve. Then it works in small pieces and checks each piece.

Be careful

More steps mean more time and more usage. The agent can run commands, so work in a folder you can restore. Remove the plugin if you prefer a faster, looser style.

How to install

$ /plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official

$ /plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplace

$ /plugin install superpowers@superpowers-marketplace

$ gemini extensions install https://github.com/obra/superpowers

How to use it

After install, describe what you want to build. The skills start the method: ask questions, write a design, write a plan, build in small steps, and review. You can ask for a single step, such as a plan only.

What to watch out for

It changes how the agent works. It asks many questions and may start helper agents, which uses more of your usage limit.
Skills can run shell and git commands in your project. Use a project under version control so you can undo changes.
The plugin adds a hook file that runs at session start.

Licence and author

Licence: MIT
Author: Jesse Vincent
Source code: github.com/obra/superpowers

How we tested it

We installed it on an empty test computer on 12 Oct 2026. Installed and started in a clean test system. Not yet used in a real AI session.

Test level

We did not run the method on a real project. We did not test the official-marketplace line, the Codex line or the Gemini line.

Technical details of the test

Date: 12 Oct 2026
Method: Added the author's marketplace and installed the plugin with the Claude Code command line in a clean container with no account. The plugin showed as enabled, and the folder held 15 skills, 2 agent files and one hook file. All 15 skill files have a name and a description, and the Claude, Codex and Gemini manifests are valid JSON.

Checked again on 12 Oct 2026

Sources

github.com/obra/superpowers