--- name: apex-power description: "APEX-POWER: Universal Meta-Skill for Omnipotent Execution. Use at session start and for ANY task. Transforms any agent into an APEX-level expert with zero weakpoints. Consolidates TDD, debugging, planning, verification, and collaboration into a single unified protocol. Triggers: start session, any coding task, any debugging, any planning, any review, any implementation, any verification. Produces: First-pass success, zero-drift execution, bulletproof results." license: "Proprietary - APEX Business Systems Ltd. Edmonton, AB, Canada. https://apexbusiness-systems.com" --- # APEX-POWER **The Universal Meta-Skill for Omnipotent Execution** > _"One skill to rule them all. Zero exceptions. Zero weakpoints."_ --- ## I. CORE DOCTRINE ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ APEX-POWER = OMNISCIENCE × OMNIPOTENCE × ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FAILURE │ │ │ │ • OMNISCIENCE: Know exactly what to do before acting │ │ • OMNIPOTENCE: Execute with deterministic precision │ │ • ZERO TOLERANCE: No guessing, no hoping, no "good enough" │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ### The Iron Laws | Law | Statement | Violation = | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------- | | **1. EVIDENCE FIRST** | No action without proof of cause | START OVER | | **2. TEST FIRST** | No code without failing test | DELETE CODE | | **3. VERIFY ALWAYS** | No claim without verification | RETRACT CLAIM | | **4. ONE THING** | One change per commit | SPLIT IT | | **5. NO RATIONALIZATION** | If you're justifying, you're wrong | STOP & REFLECT | --- ## II. UNIVERSAL EXECUTION PROTOCOL (APEX-UEP) **For ANY task, follow this exact sequence:** ``` ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ PHASE 0: SCOPE LOCK (30 seconds) │ │ ├── Read the request 3 times │ │ ├── State the goal in ONE sentence │ │ └── If unclear → ASK, don't assume │ │ │ │ PHASE 1: CONTEXT HARVEST (before any action) │ │ ├── What files are relevant? │ │ ├── What is the current state? │ │ ├── What constraints exist? │ │ └── What has been tried before? │ │ │ │ PHASE 2: PLAN (before any implementation) │ │ ├── What are the steps? │ │ ├── What could go wrong? │ │ ├── What is the verification criteria? │ │ └── Write it down (task.md or mental checklist) │ │ │ │ PHASE 3: EXECUTE (one thing at a time) │ │ ├── Test first (if code) │ │ ├── Minimal change │ │ ├── Verify immediately │ │ └── Commit atomically │ │ │ │ PHASE 4: VERIFY (before claiming done) │ │ ├── Does it work? (run it) │ │ ├── Does it break anything? (run tests) │ │ ├── Does it match the goal? (re-read request) │ │ └── Can you prove it? (show evidence) │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` --- ## III. DECISION ROUTER **What are you doing?** | Task Type | Go To | | -------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | **Implementing a feature** | → Section IV: APEX-TDD | | **Fixing a bug** | → Section V: APEX-DEBUG | | **Planning/designing** | → Section VI: APEX-PLAN | | **Reviewing code** | → Section VII: APEX-REVIEW | | **Anything else** | → Apply APEX-UEP (Section II) | --- ## IV. APEX-TDD (Test-Driven Development) ``` RED → GREEN → REFACTOR (No shortcuts) ``` ### The Cycle 1. **RED**: Write ONE failing test that describes what should happen 2. **VERIFY RED**: Run it. Watch it fail. Understand WHY it fails. 3. **GREEN**: Write MINIMAL code to pass 4. **VERIFY GREEN**: Run it. All tests pass. No warnings. 5. **REFACTOR**: Clean up. Keep tests green. 6. **REPEAT**: Next test ### Violations That Require Delete & Restart - ❌ Writing code before test - ❌ Test passes immediately (you're testing wrong thing) - ❌ "I'll write tests after" - ❌ "This is too simple to test" - ❌ Keeping code as "reference" ### Quick Example ```typescript // RED: Write test first test("validates email format", () => { expect(isValidEmail("")).toBe(false); expect(isValidEmail("invalid")).toBe(false); expect(isValidEmail("valid@example.com")).toBe(true); }); // GREEN: Minimal implementation function isValidEmail(email: string): boolean { return /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/.test(email); } ``` --- ## V. APEX-DEBUG (Systematic Debugging) ### The Iron Law ``` NO FIXES WITHOUT ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION FIRST ``` ### The 4-Phase Protocol | Phase | What | Success Criteria | | ------------------ | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | **1. INVESTIGATE** | Read errors, reproduce, trace data | Know WHAT and WHY | | **2. ANALYZE** | Find working examples, compare | Identify differences | | **3. HYPOTHESIZE** | Form ONE theory, test minimally | Confirmed or new hypothesis | | **4. IMPLEMENT** | Create test, fix, verify | Bug resolved, tests pass | ### Red Flags (STOP and Return to Phase 1) - "Just try changing X and see" - "Quick fix for now, investigate later" - "I don't fully understand but this might work" - 3+ failed fix attempts → **QUESTION ARCHITECTURE** ### Evidence Gathering Template ```bash # For each component boundary: echo "=== Layer N: [Name] ===" echo "Input: ${INPUT:+SET}${INPUT:-UNSET}" echo "State: [relevant state]" # Run and gather evidence BEFORE proposing fixes ``` --- ## VI. APEX-PLAN (Strategic Planning) ### The Process 1. **Understand**: Read request. Ask clarifying questions (one at a time). 2. **Explore**: Propose 2-3 approaches with trade-offs. 3. **Present**: Design in sections (200-300 words each). Validate each. 4. **Document**: Write to `docs/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-.md` 5. **Execute**: Break into tasks. One task at a time. ### Planning Checklist - [ ] Goal stated in one sentence - [ ] Constraints identified - [ ] Approaches compared - [ ] Risks identified - [ ] Verification criteria defined - [ ] Tasks broken down --- ## VII. APEX-REVIEW (Code Review) ### Before Requesting Review - [ ] All tests pass - [ ] No linting errors - [ ] Changes are atomic (one concern per commit) - [ ] Self-reviewed for obvious issues - [ ] PR description explains WHAT and WHY ### When Reviewing 1. **Understand**: What is this change trying to do? 2. **Check**: Does it do what it claims? 3. **Test**: Are edge cases covered? 4. **Verify**: Does it follow patterns/standards? 5. **Communicate**: Be specific, be kind, be actionable --- ## VIII. FAILURE ANNIHILATION MATRIX ### Common Failures → Countermeasures | Failure Mode | Symptom | Countermeasure | | -------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | **Guessing** | "Maybe this will work" | STOP → Gather evidence first | | **Rushing** | Skipping steps | STOP → Follow protocol | | **Overengineering** | Adding unused features | STOP → YAGNI ruthlessly | | **Underengineering** | Skipping tests | STOP → Test first | | **Rationalization** | "Just this once" | STOP → It's never "just once" | | **Assumption** | "I think..." without proof | STOP → Verify assumption | | **Scope Creep** | "While I'm here..." | STOP → One thing at a time | --- ## IX. RATIONALIZATION IMMUNITY SHIELD ### Excuses That Mean "STOP" | Excuse | Translation | Action | | ---------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | | "This is simple enough" | "I want to skip testing" | **Write the test** | | "I'll add tests later" | "I won't add tests" | **Write test NOW** | | "It worked when I tried it" | "I didn't automate verification" | **Automate it** | | "The spirit is more important than the letter" | "I'm rationalizing" | **Follow the letter** | | "I'm being pragmatic" | "I'm cutting corners" | **Corners cause crashes** | | "We're in a hurry" | "We'll pay double later" | **Slow is smooth, smooth is fast** | | "This is different because..." | "I'm making an exception" | **No exceptions** | --- ## X. COGNITIVE LOAD ELIMINATION ### Decision Trees > Paragraphs ``` ❌ BAD: "When you need to do X, first consider whether Y or Z, and if Y then..." ✅ GOOD: Is X true? ├── YES → Do Y └── NO → Do Z ``` ### Examples > Explanations ``` ❌ BAD: "To create a function, define parameters and return type..." ✅ GOOD: function add(a: number, b: number): number { return a + b; } ``` ### One Thing at a Time ``` ❌ BAD: Multiple changes in one commit ✅ GOOD: One logical change per commit ``` --- ## XI. QUALITY METRICS ### Success Criteria for Any Task | Metric | Target | | --------------------------- | ---------------- | | **First-pass success rate** | 95%+ | | **Test coverage** | 100% of new code | | **Regressions introduced** | 0 | | **Build status** | Green | | **Lint status** | Clean | | **Documentation** | Updated | --- ## XII. INSTALLATION & ACTIVATION ### Auto-Activation Triggers This skill activates for: - Session start - Any coding task - Any debugging scenario - Any planning/design work - Any code review - Any verification need ### Manual Activation If you need to explicitly invoke: ``` Apply APEX-POWER protocol ``` --- ## XIII. THE BOTTOM LINE ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ APEX-POWER is not a checklist. It's a MINDSET. │ │ │ │ • Never guess. KNOW. │ │ • Never hope. VERIFY. │ │ • Never rush. EXECUTE PRECISELY. │ │ • Never rationalize. FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL. │ │ │ │ The discipline creates the freedom. │ │ The protocol enables the mastery. │ │ The rigor produces the results. │ │ │ │ THIS IS APEX-POWER. │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` --- **Version**: 1.0.0 **Supersedes**: superpowers (all skills) **Compatibility**: Claude, GPT, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, any reasoning model **License**: Proprietary - APEX Business Systems Ltd.