# Sixteen Decisions Review

Gathers sixteen key decisions from the user before a risky plan is made.

- Repository: https://github.com/davidondrej/skills (4238 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add davidondrej/skills --skill 4x4 -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add davidondrej/skills --skill 4x4 -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add davidondrej/skills --skill 4x4 -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add davidondrej/skills --skill 4x4 -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Pull 16 fast decisions out of the user with 4 sets of 4 open questions, then present an implementation plan. Only for risky changes, large product decisions, or large refactors. Run when the user types /4x4. Agents may suggest it in one line but never start it on their own.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# 4x4

Get the user's judgment, taste, and decisions in 4 quick rounds. 16 open questions. A full run should take them 2, 3 minutes.

## The 4 sets

These are defaults. Adapt their names and focus to pull the most judgment and taste out of the user for this topic.

1. **Product**, what it does, who it's for, UI/UX, scope.
2. **Software design**, architecture, data, boundaries, what to reuse or delete.
3. **Practical**, execution order, rollout, what ships first.
4. **Edge cases**, the 4 most likely ways this breaks or surprises users. Each question asks how to handle one.

## Workflow

1. **Load context fast.** Use what's already in the thread. Skim only the files and docs that matter (scopes, ADRs, the diff). No research, no subagents.
2. **Pick the order.** Start with the set whose answers most change the others.
3. **Pick 4 questions per set.** Choose the 4 decisions with the biggest impact that only the user can make. Never ask what the code, docs, or common sense already answer. Skip anything already decided.
4. **Show one set at a time.** Never preview or list the other sets. Stop and wait. Show the next set only after the user answers.
5. **Adapt.** Rewrite later sets based on earlier answers.
6. **Present the plan.** After set 4, give plain step-by-step instructions to execute the work properly, built from the user's answers. Chat only. Then stop. Don't build or write docs until the user says go.

## Message format

```
## Set 2/4 · Software design

1. Where should X live?

2. ...

3. ...

4. ...
```

Nothing else. No intro, no outro.

## Rules

The rest: https://github.com/davidondrej/skills/blob/HEAD/skills/thinking-and-docs/4x4/SKILL.md