Squirrel — Full-Cycle Software Development Skill

← Back to skills

Squirrel is a full-cycle AI coding skill that works across 9 AI coding agents. It auto-detects project state (greenfield, in-progress, or mature) and adapts its 8-phase engineering pipeline accordingly. Instead of a one-size-fits-all workflow, it figures out where the project actually is and jumps in at exactly the right point.

Category: Frontend & UI/UX
Repo: antigravity-awesome-skills
Path: skills/squirrel/SKILL.md
Updated: 6/15/2026, 9:11:44 AM
Open on GitHubHow to Install

AI Summary

Squirrel is a full-cycle AI coding skill that works across 9 AI coding agents. It auto-detects project state (greenfield, in-progress, or mature) and adapts its 8-phase engineering pipeline accordingly. Instead of a one-size-fits-all workflow, it figures out where the project actually is and jumps in at exactly the right point. It is useful for React and Next.js, CSS and design systems, UI components, accessibility, and frontend polish. Source: antigravity-awesome-skills (skills/squirrel/SKILL.md).

Squirrel — Full-Cycle Software Development Skill

Overview

Squirrel is a full-cycle AI coding skill that works across 9 AI coding agents. It auto-detects project state (greenfield, in-progress, or mature) and adapts its 8-phase engineering pipeline accordingly. Instead of a one-size-fits-all workflow, it figures out where the project actually is and jumps in at exactly the right point.

When to Use This Skill

  • Use when starting a new project from scratch (greenfield)
  • Use when improving an existing codebase (in-progress or mature)
  • Use when fixing bugs, adding features, or refactoring
  • Use when adding tests, linting, or CI/CD to a project
  • Use when writing production-grade documentation
  • Use when the user says "build me", "fix this", "squirrel this project", or any multi-step development task

How It Works

Step 0: Detect Mode

Squirrel classifies the project directory:

SignalModeEntry Point
Empty directoryGreenfieldAll 8 phases from scratch
Source files, no tests/docsIn-ProgressAudit first, then improve
Source + tests + CI + READMEMatureTargeted improvements
"fix this bug / add feature"TargetedScoped work only

The 8-Phase Pipeline

  1. Discover — Understand the project (audit existing code or gather requirements)
  2. Plan — Concrete task list with dependencies and done-criteria
  3. Build — Write or modify code (parallel sub-agents when supported)
  4. Test — Run existing tests, write new ones, 70%+ coverage target
  5. Bug Hunt — Static analysis + manual review
  6. Polish — Lint, format, type check, remove dead code
  7. Document — README + inline docs (update existing, don't overwrite)
  8. Ship — Final checklist: tests green, no secrets, CI configured

Failure Recovery (3-Strike Rule)

  1. Strike 1: Fix the specific error. Run tests. Move on.
  2. Strike 2: Re-read the code. Try a different approach.
  3. Strike 3: STOP. Revert. Document what failed. Ask the user.

Examples

Example 1: Build a REST API

> build me a REST API for a todo app with TypeScript and Express

Squirrel auto-detects greenfield mode and runs all 8 phases.

Example 2: Fix a bug

> fix this bug in src/auth/login.py

Squirrel enters targeted mode — abbreviated audit, scoped fix, verify.

Example 3: Improve existing project

> squirrel this project — add tests, fix lint errors, write README

Squirrel audits the existing codebase, then applies phases 4-8.

Best Practices

  • Respects existing code — matches naming conventions, test framework, import style, and architecture
  • Reads 2-3 similar files before writing a new one
  • Never suppresses type errors with as any or @ts-ignore
  • Never deletes failing tests to "pass"
  • Never leaves code in a broken state

Platform Compatibility

Squirrel works on: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Antigravity, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, OpenCode, Aider (9 total).

Install with:

# Universal installer
npx skills add flyingsquirrel0419/squirrel-skill

Limitations

  • Does not replace environment-specific validation or expert review
  • CI/CD templates are starting points, not drop-in guarantees
  • Parallel sub-agent execution depends on platform support

Related Skills

  • @brainstorming - For planning before implementation
  • @test-driven-development - For TDD-oriented workflows
  • @systematic-debugging - For methodical problem-solving

Related skills