Automated summary

This skill turns a question into a context request: before answering, the assistant lists the files it needs, ranked by priority, and flags what it is unsure about.

Strengths

Organizes the reply into four clear blocks: must see, should see, already have, uncertainties
Forces the assistant to state explicitly what it cannot infer without the code
Prevents speculative answers by inserting a round trip before any analysis
Short, neutral template that works with any chat-based assistant

Limitations

It is not an executable tool: you must paste the prompt and fill in the {{question}} placeholder yourself
Adds no value if the assistant has no repository access or the user cannot supply the requested files
Introduces an extra round trip, which slows down trivial questions

When to use it

Use it when a question concerns code the assistant has not seen yet and you want to avoid a fabricated answer.

When not to use it

Avoid it for a simple question, a general question with no code involved, or when the tool already indexes the whole repository.

Security analysis

Safe

Quality score72/100

The skill is a prompt template that asks the AI to list files needed to answer a question. It declares no tools and does not instruct any execution, network access, file modification, or data exfiltration. There is no meaningful execution risk.

No concerns found

How this analysis is made

Examples

Debug a retry bug

Before you answer: I'm seeing duplicate charges when the checkout retry logic runs. Tell me which files you need to see first, split into must-see and should-see, note anything already in this conversation, and list your uncertainties. Then wait for me to paste them.

Onboard to an unfamiliar service

I need to understand how the notification service decides which channel to use. Before answering, list the files you'd need to examine and why, and tell me what you're unsure about without seeing the code.

Scope a refactor

I want to extract the validation logic out of the user controller. Ask me for the files you need first — required vs helpful — and flag your open questions before proposing any refactor.

name: what-context-needed description: Ask Copilot what files it needs to see before answering a question

What Context Do You Need?

Name: Request Required File Context
Author: Skills Guide Bot

Before answering my question, tell me what files you need to see.

My Question

Instructions

Based on my question, list the files you would need to examine
Explain why each file is relevant
Note any files you've already seen in this conversation
Identify what you're uncertain about

Output Format

## Files I Need

### Must See (required for accurate answer)

- `path/to/file.ts` — [why needed]

### Should See (helpful for complete answer)

- `path/to/file.ts` — [why helpful]

### Already Have

- `path/to/file.ts` — [from earlier in conversation]

### Uncertainties

- [What I'm not sure about without seeing the code]

After I provide these files, I'll ask my question again.

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 files

This 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.md

From the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/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/request-required-file-context-msba3n20' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/download' --output '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/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.

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/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/what-context-needed' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20' '.claude/skills/what-context-needed'

Cursor

test -f '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.cursor/skills' && test ! -e '.cursor/skills/what-context-needed' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20' '.cursor/skills/what-context-needed'

Codex

test -f '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.agents/skills' && test ! -e '.agents/skills/what-context-needed' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20' '.agents/skills/what-context-needed'

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 installation

openskills install './.skill-downloads/request-required-file-context-msba3n20'

openskills read 'request-required-file-context-msba3n20'

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 sync

Manual 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/request-required-file-context-msba3n20/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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Claude CodeCursorCodexbeginnerSafe 20,122

Skills Guide Bot