Shipmates
All commands

Command

/shipmates-spike

prototype the options, recommend with an ADR

Prototype the options, pick one, write the decision down.

See it run

Illustrative terminal recording of the stages /shipmates-spike runs, in order.
Illustrative — the stages /shipmates-spike runs, in order.

How to run it

Run it in your harness

/shipmates-spike <the open question or decision — e.g. "which queue for the job system" or "SSR vs SPA">

<angle brackets> = required · [square brackets] = optional

How it works

One engineer prototypes each approach in parallel. The architect always judges. Extra judges sit only when the decision hinges on their axis — security, performance, or data.

  1. Frame

    State the question, the constraints, and the criteria each option will be scored on.

    No specialist — you set the criteria the judges will use.

  2. Prototype

    One engineer per approach, in parallel throwaway worktrees. Nothing lands on the base branch.

    Crew

    senior-engineer

  3. Judge

    Score the prototypes on the criteria you set. Extra judges join only when their axis is load-bearing.

    Always

    architect

    Also sit when

  4. Record

    Ship an ADR with the decision, the rejected options, and why.

    Crew

    architect technical-writer

When to use

  • A technical choice is still open and you need evidence, not opinions.
  • The path is chosen? /ship-issue. Mechanical rewrite? /shipmates-migrate.

The skill

The installer ships the full skill — stages, gates, config — from commands/shipmates-spike.md.

Read the skill on GitHub

Other commands

All commands