# AI use cases for Superpowers (obra/superpowers)

Repo: [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | Use cases: 4 | Page: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/

Superpowers is a set of composable skills and instructions that make coding agents follow a structured software development method: design first, then a written plan, test-driven implementation, review, and finishing the branch.

This file holds every use case of this repo. Each one starts with a "## " heading and ends with its URL.

- Build a feature from design to reviewed code: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/build-feature-from-design-to-review/
- Find the root cause of a bug before fixing it: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/debug-bug-by-root-cause/
- Isolate agent work on a branch and finish it cleanly: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/isolate-agent-work-on-branch/
- Find out why an agent session went wrong: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/diagnose-misbehaving-agent-session/

## How to build a feature from design to reviewed code with Superpowers

Repo: [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1 hour | Basis: From the README

Turn a feature idea into an approved design, a task plan, and code built one reviewed task at a time.

**Who it is for:** A developer who has a feature to add to an existing project and wants the coding agent to plan and build it without skipping design or testing.

**The problem:** Coding agents often start writing code before the goal is clear, which leads to rework, missing tests, and drift from what was wanted.

**The outcome:** An approved design, an implementation plan with exact file paths, and code built task by task with a review after each task.

### Steps

1. Install Superpowers in your agent. In Claude Code, run `/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official`.
2. Describe the feature to the agent and answer its questions so brainstorming can draw out what you want.
3. Read the design in the short chunks the agent shows you, then sign off on it.
4. Review the implementation plan from writing-plans, checking that each task lists exact file paths and verification steps.
5. Say "go" so subagent-driven-development starts, and check each review that requesting-code-review reports.

### Prompt to paste into your agent

```text
Using the Superpowers skills from the obra/superpowers repo, take the feature described here: <feature description>. Run brainstorming, then writing-plans, then subagent-driven-development in the project at <project path>. Expected output: an approved design, a written plan, and code with a review after each task. Verify that every plan task lists exact file paths before any code is written.
```

### Caveat

The README says the agent can work autonomously for a couple of hours without deviating from the plan, so review the approved design and plan carefully before you say go.

Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/

URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/build-feature-from-design-to-review/

## How to find the root cause of a bug before fixing it with Superpowers

Repo: [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 45 minutes | Basis: From the README

Have the agent work through a four-phase root cause process, then confirm the fix with evidence.

**Who it is for:** A developer facing a bug that keeps returning or whose cause is unclear, who wants a fix backed by a real root cause.

**The problem:** Agents often patch the visible symptom and declare the bug fixed without showing that it is gone.

**The outcome:** A stated root cause, a fix tied to that cause, and evidence that the bug is actually resolved.

### Steps

1. Install Superpowers in your agent, for example with `/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official` in Claude Code.
2. Describe the bug, including the steps that trigger it and what you expected to happen.
3. Ask the agent to apply systematic-debugging, and let it finish the root cause process before it changes code.
4. Ask the agent to confirm the fix with verification-before-completion and report the evidence it used.

### Prompt to paste into your agent

```text
Using the Superpowers skills from the obra/superpowers repo, apply systematic-debugging to this bug: <bug description>, in the project at <project path>. Expected output: a root cause statement, the fix, and verification-before-completion evidence. Verify that the agent names the root cause before it edits any code.
```

### Caveat

The README describes the debugging process in four phases but does not give the exact steps of each phase, so check that the agent's work matches the root cause standard you expect.

Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/

URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/debug-bug-by-root-cause/

## How to isolate agent work on a branch and finish it cleanly with Superpowers

Repo: [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 30 minutes | Basis: From the README

Keep agent changes in their own worktree and branch, then merge, open a PR, keep, or discard them.

**Who it is for:** A developer or team lead who wants agent-written changes kept apart from their main working copy until the tests pass.

**The problem:** Agent changes mixed into the main working copy are hard to review, hard to undo, and easy to merge too early.

**The outcome:** Agent work sits on a new branch in its own workspace, and you choose how to finish it once tests pass.

### Steps

1. Approve the design so the agent moves on to using-git-worktrees, which creates an isolated workspace on a new branch and runs project setup.
2. Check that the agent verified a clean test baseline before it made changes.
3. When the tasks are complete, let finishing-a-development-branch verify the tests.
4. Choose one of the options it presents: merge, PR, keep, or discard, and let it clean up the worktree.

### Prompt to paste into your agent

```text
Using the Superpowers skills from the obra/superpowers repo, create an isolated worktree on a new branch for the approved change <change name> in the project at <project path>. Expected output: a new branch with a clean test baseline and, at the end, a finishing-a-development-branch summary of the options. Verify that the test baseline result is reported before any code is changed.
```

### Caveat

The README lists merge, PR, keep, and discard as the finishing options but does not say how each option is carried out, so confirm the chosen action before the agent runs it.

Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/

URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/isolate-agent-work-on-branch/

## How to find out why an agent session went wrong with Superpowers

Repo: [obra/superpowers](https://github.com/obra/superpowers) | Difficulty: Beginner | Time: 30 minutes | Basis: From the README

Have the agent review a session transcript for skill failures and optionally package a bug report.

**Who it is for:** A developer whose agent skipped a skill, repeated work, ignored its plan, or used more tokens than expected, and who wants to know why.

**The problem:** When a session misbehaves, it is hard to tell which skill failed and what the agent actually did.

**The outcome:** A report of what happened in the session, with line-level evidence, and optionally a scrubbed bundle for a bug report.

### Steps

1. Install Superpowers in your agent, for example with `/plugin install superpowers@claude-plugins-official` in Claude Code.
2. Ask the agent to "figure out what went wrong with Superpowers in this session" to invoke diagnosing-superpowers.
3. To examine an earlier session, name it in the request.
4. Read the report and its line-level evidence.
5. If you want to file a bug, ask for the scrubbed bundle and check it before you share it.

### Prompt to paste into your agent

```text
Using the diagnosing-superpowers skill from the obra/superpowers repo, review the session <session name or 'this session'> and report what went wrong with superpowers. Expected output: a report with line-level evidence and an offer to package a scrubbed bundle. Verify that each finding cites a specific point in the transcript.
```

### Caveat

The README says the skill can package a scrubbed bundle, but it does not describe what the scrubbing removes, so review the bundle yourself before you share it.

Risk, credentials: The bundle is built from the session transcript, so check it for secrets or private code before you post it publicly.

Disclaimer: Third-party repos we don't own or vouch for. AI-generated use cases can be wrong: review everything and run at your own risk. Full text: https://dedupedai.com/disclaimer/

URL: https://dedupedai.com/use-cases/obra-superpowers/diagnose-misbehaving-agent-session/