# Skill Decision Support

Present options with trade-offs for informed decision-making, use when choosing...

- Repository: https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus (4351 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-decision-support -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-decision-support -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-decision-support -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add nyldn/claude-octopus --skill skill-decision-support -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add nyldn/claude-octopus`

## Description

Present options with trade-offs for informed decision-making, use when choosing between approaches

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

# Decision Support & Options Presentation

## Overview

Structured approach to presenting options and alternatives with clear trade-offs, enabling informed decision-making.

**Core principle:** Understand context → Generate options → Analyze trade-offs → Present clearly → Support choice.

---

## When to Use

**Use this skill when user:**
- Asks for options or alternatives
- Says "fix or provide options"
- Needs help deciding between approaches
- Wants to see different ways to solve a problem
- Is uncertain about best path forward

**Do NOT use for:**
- General research ("what is X?") → use flow-probe
- Implementation work → use flow-tangle
- Simple yes/no questions
- Already-decided approaches

---

## The Process

### Phase 1: Context Understanding

#### Step 1: Understand the Decision Point

```markdown
**Decision Context:**

What needs to be decided: [the core question]
Why it matters: [impact of this decision]
Constraints: [time, resources, compatibility, etc.]
Current state: [what exists now]
```

#### Step 2: Gather Requirements

Use AskUserQuestion if needed to understand:
- Must-have requirements
- Nice-to-have features
- Deal-breakers
- Timeline constraints
- Budget/resource constraints

---

### Phase 2: Generate Options

#### Step 1: Identify Viable Approaches

Generate 2-4 distinct options (not just variations):

| Option Type | When to Include |
|-------------|-----------------|
| **Conservative** | Low risk, proven approach |
| **Moderate** | Balanced risk/reward |
| **Innovative** | Higher risk, potentially better outcome |
| **Minimal** | Simplest possible solution |

**Don't generate options that:**
- Violate stated constraints
- Are clearly inferior to others
- Are essentially the same with minor tweaks

#### Step 2: Research Each Option

For each option, understand:
- How it works
- What it requires
- What the outcome looks like
- What could go wrong

---

### Phase 3: Trade-off Analysis

For each option, analyze:

The rest: https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus/blob/HEAD/.claude/skills/skill-decision-support/SKILL.md