Add-ons & integrations · Skills & methodology
Superpowers
A skills framework plus a complete development methodology for coding agents: the agent plans first, writes tests first (TDD) and works through tasks via subagents — the right skills trigger automatically.
Superpowers isn’t a single feature but a set of composable "skills" plus a methodology that makes sure the agent actually uses them. Instead of jumping straight into code, the agent steps back and first clarifies what you’re really trying to build. After you sign off on the design, it produces an implementation plan clear enough for an inexperienced engineer to follow, emphasising true red/green TDD, YAGNI and DRY. Then a "subagent-driven" process kicks in: several agents work through the individual tasks, inspect and review their work and keep going — often autonomously for long stretches. Because the skills trigger automatically, you don’t have to do anything special.
🔧 SETUP
- Claude Code (official): `/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official`
- Or the Superpowers marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add obra/superpowers-marketplace`, then install the plugin from it
- Other harnesses (Codex, Cursor, Antigravity, Copilot CLI, OpenCode, Pi …): separate install paths in the README
- After installing, the skills trigger automatically — nothing else to do
✅ WHEN TO USE IT?
Seeing larger features through cleanly
Instead of coding right away, Superpowers forces brainstorming → design sign-off → plan → TDD — good for tasks where structure matters.
Long autonomous runs
The subagent process works through an approved plan for hours at a time, with reviews in between.
⛔ WHEN NOT TO?
Quick one-liners / throwaway scripts
The methodology overhead (design, plan, TDD) isn’t worth it for trivial changes.
Better: Just ask the agent directly, without the framework.
Team doesn’t want an imposed methodology
Superpowers nudges you toward a specific TDD/YAGNI/DRY style that doesn’t fit every workflow.
Better: Use individual skills selectively instead of the whole framework.
SOURCES
- GitHub: obra/superpowers ↗ github.com
- Install guide (README) ↗ github.com