Automated summary
Provides progressive hints (levels 1 to 3) to help a user stuck on a coding problem, starting with a brief conversation to target the hint.
Strengths
- Encourages the user to think before revealing the answer
- Offers three levels of detail, from vague to concrete
- Promotes interactive dialogue rather than passive response
Limitations
- Requires the user to describe their problem with enough context
- May be less effective if the user hasn't attempted solving the problem on their own
When the user is stuck and explicitly asks for progressive help without wanting the full solution.
When the user needs a direct fix or the problem requires a quick, precise solution.
Security analysis
SafeThe skill only uses Read, Write, Edit, Glob tools for file operations, but its primary purpose is to provide conversational hints, not to execute any dangerous commands. It does not instruct the AI to run external scripts, exfiltrate data, or perform destructive actions.
No concerns found
How this analysis is madeExamples
I'm trying to sort an array of numbers but my quicksort implementation is buggy. Can you give me a level 1 hint?I'm stuck on the coin change problem. Give me a level 2 hint please.I can't figure out how to detect cycles in a directed graph. I've tried a few things. Can I have a level 3 hint?name: hint description: Get a progressive hint for the current problem. Use when user is stuck and asks for help. argument-hint: [level 1-3] allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob
Hint - Conversational Help
The user is asking for a hint. Level requested: $ARGUMENTS (1, 2, or 3)
Your Approach
You're a mentor helping someone who's stuck. Don't just dump a hint - have a brief exchange first.
Before Giving the Hint
Start with a quick check-in:
- "Alright, before I give you a hint - tell me quickly, where exactly are you stuck?"
- "What have you tried so far?"
- "What's your gut feeling about this problem?"
This helps you:
- Give a more targeted hint
- Make sure they've actually attempted something
- Sometimes they'll figure it out just by explaining
Giving the Hint
Level 1 - Nudge (Light Touch)
Just a small push. Don't reveal structure.
- "Think about this: what operation do you need to do repeatedly? And what data structure makes that operation fast?"
- "The key insight here is about [pattern]. What do you know about that pattern?"
- "If you had to solve this by hand, what would you keep track of?"
Then ask: "Does that help point you in a direction?"
Level 2 - Structure (More Concrete)
Now give them the shape of the solution.
- "Okay, here's more structure. You'll want to use a [data structure]. The basic flow is: [3-4 steps in plain English]. Make sense?"
- Don't give code. Give the roadmap.
Then ask: "Can you see how to translate that into code?"
Level 3 - Pseudocode (Almost There)
Walk through the logic together.
- "Let me walk through the pseudocode with you. We start by... then we iterate... for each element we... and finally we..."
- Still don't write the actual code for them.
Then say: "That's the logic. Now you need to turn it into TypeScript. Give it a shot."
After the Hint
- Don't just leave them. Ask: "Does that make sense? Any part unclear?"
- If they're still stuck, ask what specifically is confusing
- Encourage them to try before asking for more help
Tone
- Supportive, not condescending
- Brief, not lecture-y
- "Let's figure this out together" energy
Note on Scoring
Each hint level costs points:
- Level 1: -0.25
- Level 2: -0.5
- Level 3: -1.0
Don't mention this unless they ask about scoring.
From the file to a first result
The download contains exactly the content displayed on this page. This copy may differ from the latest version in the source repository.
View the source and supporting filesThis download contains SKILL.md only. Any scripts, references, templates and dependencies are not included. Get the required files from the source, preserving their directory structure, before continuing.
1. Download the file
Download SKILL.mdFrom the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md, or use the command below. This folder is for inspecting the skill before installation.
Command for macOS/Linux or WSL: requires a POSIX shell and curl. On Windows without WSL, use the download button and create the folder manually.
mkdir -p '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/download' --output '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md'2. Check prerequisites
Read SKILL.md before using it. If it references scripts or external services, inspect them and prepare the required access in your test environment.
Tools declared by the author (check availability in your agent): Read, Write, Edit, Glob
No recognized prerequisites section in this file. This does not mean it is self-contained: libraries, tools and access requirements may be mentioned elsewhere in the content or source repository.
The platforms on this page are catalog indications. The paths below follow tool documentation; they do not prove this skill has been run in those tools. No minimum tool version is confirmed for this listing.
3. Load the skill
After inspection, copy the complete folder into your project using one of the commands below, then open a new tool session. The command stops if a folder with the same name already exists: compare the files before replacing it.
Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/hint' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1' '.claude/skills/hint'OpenSkills
OpenSkills must already be installed. The local install/read procedure is checked with OpenSkills 1.5.0, which requires Node.js ≥ 20.6.0. Catalog slugs are not resolved automatically.
Official OpenSkills installationopenskills install './.skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1'openskills read 'hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1'Reading should display the installed file content and its base directory. It does not run the skill or install its dependencies.
For an agent that reads AGENTS.md, then sync the index. This command changes AGENTS.md: review the diff before using it.
openskills syncManual method or another tool: attach SKILL.md to a conversation, or open it in an agent that can read files. Include any required supporting resources. No universal folder is recognized by every tool.
4. Try a first task
Use a short, synthetic input: an API endpoint, a small document or an interface brief. In a new conversation, attach the file or give the agent its path, then adapt this request:
Read .skill-downloads/hint-progressive-help-mm5t8ag1/SKILL.md and apply its instructions to this example: [describe a test input]. Identify any missing files, dependencies or access. Produce the result requested by the skill without inventing data or running unreviewed scripts.Expected result: output matching the skill instructions, or a precise list of missing prerequisites. A read confirmation alone does not validate a first use. If an external resource is unavailable, that path remains untested.
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