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Get Started Free →dicklesworthstone/when-stuck
Dispatch to right technique when you hit a wall
Passed 16 of 22 test cases with the skill, and 8 of 22 without it.
and 11 more in the full report
8 fixed8 passed either way6 still failing0 broke
Tokens, turns and time describe resource use, not a dollar price.
One of 8 test cases the skill fixed. Same model, same prompt, with and without the skill.
An automated workflow keeps re-running the exact same failing integration test suite, saying 'Maybe this run will pass without changes'. What anti-pattern is this and what is the rule?
| Checked | Without skill | With skill |
|---|---|---|
| Classifies the behavior as the 'Hoping' anti-pattern | Missed | Passed |
| Instructs to stop, diagnose, and change approach | Passed | Passed |
The instructions your model reads when the skill loads.
You're stuck when:
| Stuck Type | Symptoms | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Don't understand | Requirements unclear | → Ask user for clarification |
| Can't find code | No idea where logic lives | → Semantic search, file patterns |
| Bug won't die | Fix doesn't work | → Root cause tracing |
| Tests keep failing | Can't get green | → Defense in depth, fresh look |
| Scope creep | Task keeps growing | → Scope boundary check |
| Missing context | Need info I don't have | → Read more files, ask user |
| Wrong approach | This path won't work | → Brainstorm alternatives |
| Overwhelmed | Too complex | → Break into smaller pieces |
| Going in circles | Same ground repeatedly | → Fresh agent via subagent |
STOP trying to guess
ASK: "I'm unclear on [specific thing]. Could you clarify [specific question]?"
WAIT for response before proceeding
1. Semantic search with concept terms
2. Grep for unique strings
3. File pattern matching
4. Read likely files
5. List directories to discover structure
test cases passed, vs 8 / 22 without
More skills from the same source and nearby in the registry, with their headline benchmark lift.