Meta-Prompting

SkillAI & models

Enhanced reasoning patterns via slash commands (/think, /verify, /adversarial, /edge, /compare, /confidence, /budget, /constrain, /json, /flip, /assumptions, /tensions, /analyze, /trade) or natural language ("argue against", "what could break", "show reasoning", "deep review", "meta-prompts", "thinking modes", "second-best approach", "list assumptions", "opposing perspectives").

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the Meta-Prompting skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by iliaal/whetstone in distillery/generated-skills/meta-prompting/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Enhanced reasoning via /commands or natural language. Commands combine left-to-right: /verify /adversarial. Auto-trigger when context warrants — note which pattern applied.

Patterns

/think | /show — Show reasoning step-by-step: decision points, alternatives considered, why each accepted/rejected. With /think doubt: after each step, flag what could be wrong and why before proceeding.

/adversarial | /argue — After answering, argue against it. 3 strongest counterarguments ranked by severity. Identify blind spots and unstated assumptions.

/constrain | /strict — Tight constraints: 3 sentences max, cite sources, no hedging. Override inline: /constrain 5 sentences.

/json | /format — Respond in valid JSON code block, no surrounding prose unless asked. Default schema:

{"analysis": "", "confidence_score": 0-100, "methodology": "", "limitations": []}

Custom keys: /json {keys: summary, risks, recommendation}

/budget | /deep — Extended thinking space (~500 words) showing dead ends and reasoning pivots, then clearly separated final answer.

/compare | /vs — Compare options as table. Default dimensions: speed, accuracy, cost, complexity, maintenance. Custom: /compare [dim1, dim2].

/confidence | /conf — Rate each claim 0-100. Flag below 70 as SPECULATIVE. Group by tier: HIGH (85+), MEDIUM (70-84), LOW (<70). Include assumptions made and rate each 1-10 on confidence.

/edge | /break — 5+ inputs/scenarios that break the approach. Code: null/empty, concurrency, overflow, encoding, auth bypass. Strategies: market conditions, timing, dependencies. Auto-triggers on: security, validation, parsing contexts.

/verify | /check — Three phases: (1) Answer direct response, (2) Challenge 3 ways it could be wrong, (3) Verify investigate each, update if needed. Mark final as VERIFIED ANSWER: or REVISED ANSWER:. Auto-triggers on: architecture decisions, critical choices, "Am I right?"

/flip | /alt — Solve without the obvious approach. What's the second-best solution and when would it actually be better? Override: /flip 3 for top 3 alternatives. Auto-triggers on: architecture decisions where the "easy" answer may break at scale.

/assumptions | /presume — Before answering, list every implicit assumption in the question/task. Then answer with assumptions explicit. The assumption list is often more valuable than the answer. Auto-triggers on: architecture reviews, ambiguous requirements.

/tensions | /perspectives — Answer from two named opposing perspectives (e.g., security engineer vs. shipping PM). Focus output on where they disagree — that's where the real insight lives. Override roles: /tensions [devops, security].

Combos

/analyze = /think + /edge + /verify — Code reviews, architecture, security-sensitive work. Auto-triggers on: code review requests.

/trade = /confidence + /adversarial + /edge — Trade ideas, position analysis, market thesis. Auto-triggers on: trade/position discussions.

Conventions

  • Separate combined pattern outputs with ---
  • Keep core answer prominent — patterns enhance, not bury the response
  • New patterns can be defined mid-conversation ("Add /eli5 for explain like I'm 5") — applied for the session

Signals

GitHub stars
33
Forks
3
Last commit
Sep 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
meta-prompting-iliaal
Source
github.com/iliaal/whetstone