# Pol Probe

Define a Proof of Life probe to test a risky hypothesis cheaply.

- Repository: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills (7825 stars)
- Category: Testing
- License: see repository
- Last updated: 2026-10-16
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills --skill pol-probe -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills`

## Description

Define a Proof of Life probe to test a risky hypothesis cheaply. Use when you need harsh truth before building real product.

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

## Purpose

Define and document a **Proof of Life (PoL) probe**, a lightweight, disposable validation artifact designed to surface harsh truths before expensive development. Use this when you need to eliminate a specific risk or test a narrow hypothesis **without building production-quality software**. PoL probes are reconnaissance missions, not MVPs, they're meant to be deleted, not scaled.

This framework prevents prototype theater (expensive demos that impress stakeholders but teach nothing) and forces you to match validation method to actual learning goal.

## Input

**Works best with:** The hypothesis or risk you need to test.
**Also useful:** What evidence would change your mind, available time/resources, and what you've validated already.

Anything supplied with the invocation itself, text after the skill name, a pasted context dump, or an appended `ARGUMENTS:` line, counts as answers already given. Use it and skip whatever it covers; don't re-ask.

**Arriving empty-handed? That works too.** The skill asks for the hypothesis and the riskiest assumption inside it before designing the probe.

**Example invocation:** `Define a PoL probe: we believe restaurant managers will photograph invoices daily if it auto-updates food costs.`

## Key Concepts

### What is a PoL Probe?

A **Proof of Life (PoL) probe** is a deliberate, disposable validation experiment designed to answer one specific question as cheaply and quickly as possible. It's not a product, not an MVP, not a pilot, it's a targeted truth-seeking mission.

**Origin:** Coined by Dean Peters (Productside), building on Marty Cagan's 2014 work on prototype flavors and Jeff Patton's principle: *"The most expensive way to test your idea is to build production-quality software."*

---

### The 5 Essential Characteristics

Every PoL probe must satisfy these criteria:

The rest: https://github.com/deanpeters/Product-Manager-Skills/blob/HEAD/skills/pol-probe/SKILL.md