The Core Engineering Loop
A six-step loop for any coding task: clarify, check, choose, execute, verify, recommend.
loop10 min1 copies
CATALOG NO. 001 · JULY 2026 EDITION
A pattern language for building with AI agents
Field-tested loops, goals, workflows, and prompts. Look one up, copy it, paste it into Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex. No account, no theory, no fluff.
- ENTRIES
- 157 and counting
- SECTIONS
- 10
- FORMATS
- loop · goal · workflow · prompt
- LICENSE
- CC-BY-4.0
- AGENT API
- /api/patterns.json
Start by outcome
Three routes into the catalog
⌘K
157 entries in the catalog
SEC. 01
Engineering & Coding
19 entriesSelf-Verifying Build Loop
Make the agent build, run, diagnose, and retry until there's real passing evidence, not a hunch.
loop15 min1 copies
Ambiguity Halt and Ask
Make the agent name exactly what's unclear and stop, instead of guessing silently and building on it.
prompt5 min0 copies
Bold Idea Sidecar
Get one honest, out-of-the-box improvement idea alongside routine execution, without derailing the task.
prompt5 min0 copies
Complexity Tier Classifier
Classify a new build into a size tier before scaffolding, so you don't over- or under-build it.
goal10 min0 copies
Decision Batch Checkpoint
Collect small pending decisions during a long task and approve them together at one checkpoint.
loop10 min0 copies
Decision Log Append
Log every real technical decision so it never gets silently relitigated by a future session.
loop10 min0 copies
Hostile Reviewer Pass
Make the agent tear apart its own diff like a hostile senior reviewer before you ship it.
prompt10 min0 copies
Integration Decision Checklist
Before adding any new dependency or service, check for an existing alternative and the real cost first.
goal10 min0 copies
Leaf-to-Root Build Order
Build UI leaf-first: components, then composites, then pages, routing, state, and API.
workflow30 min0 copies
No Fix Without a Failing Test
Refuse any bug fix until a test reproduces the bug, so the fix is proven, not vibes.
goal15 min0 copies
Performance Budget Loop
Optimize against a stated numeric budget with median-of-5 measurements, reverting any change that doesn't move them.
loop30 min1 copies
Pushy Skill Description Audit
Rewrite thin skill descriptions so agents actually reach for them instead of silently ignoring them.
loop10 min0 copies
Reference Repo to Reusable Skill
Study a reference codebase once, then extract its patterns into a reusable skill instead of re-reading it.
workflow30 min0 copies
Repomix Context Handoff
Pack the full codebase into one file before closing a session, so the next agent inherits real code.
workflow10 min0 copies
Smallest Useful Move Scoper
Cut an oversized task into ordered slices and execute only the first, with the rest explicitly deferred.
loop10 min1 copies
Stack Decision Gate
Force an explicit preset-vs-custom decision before scaffolding a new project.
goal15 min0 copies
Strategic Thread Tracker
Open every session by placing today's task inside the bigger roadmap, not as an isolated request.
loop10 min0 copies
Tradeoff Menu, Single Recommendation
Force one clear recommendation with a one-line tradeoff instead of a noncommittal list of options.
prompt5 min0 copies
SEC. 02
Debugging & Evaluation
16 entriesRoot Cause Debugging Loop
Force one hypothesis at a time against real evidence, so the AI stops guess-and-check fixing.
loop10 min0 copies
Rubric Grading Loop for AI Output
Score AI-generated code against a checklist and keep iterating until every item passes.
workflow20 min0 copies
Verify Before Claiming Fixed
Don't accept 'fixed it' from an AI agent until it re-runs the exact failing case and shows real output.
loop5 min0 copies
Adversarial Fix Verification Loop
Have a second, fresh-context pass try to prove the first agent's fix is wrong before you trust it.
loop15 min0 copies
Assumption Audit Before Debugging
List every assumption behind a bug theory and mark each confirmed, unconfirmed, or false.
goal5 min0 copies
Ban 'Should Work Now' Claims
A standing rule that blocks an AI agent from claiming a fix works without pasting real output.
prompt2 min0 copies
Bug Postmortem From a Fix
Turn a fixed bug into a structured postmortem so the same class of bug doesn't ship again.
workflow15 min0 copies
Dependency Upgrade Breakage Isolation
Pin down which single dependency bump in a multi-package upgrade actually broke the app.
workflow20 min0 copies
Error Message Forensics Loop
Force the AI to parse the exact error text and stack trace before it's allowed to guess a cause.
loop10 min0 copies
Flaky Test Triage Loop
Re-run a failing test enough times to tell a real regression from noise before you touch any code.
loop10 min0 copies
Git Bisect Regression Hunt
Automate git bisect with a real pass/fail check so the agent finds the exact breaking commit.
workflow20 min0 copies
Log Diff Divergence Loop
Compare logs from a working run and a broken run side by side to find where behavior splits.
loop15 min0 copies
One Variable at a Time
A standing rule: one change per run while debugging, predict before you edit, revert what didn't help.
prompt2 min0 copies
Probe Bisection Through the Pipeline
Binary search a broken data flow with tagged log probes to find the exact step where the value goes wrong.
workflow25 min0 copies
Shrink the Repro Until It Confesses
Cut a failing case down until every remaining line is load-bearing and the bug has nowhere left to hide.
goal20 min0 copies
Silent Failure Hunt
Scan a codebase area for swallowed errors and ignored rejections that hide real bugs.
goal15 min0 copies
SEC. 03
Operations & DevOps
13 entriesEnd-of-Session Git Checklist
Run before closing any coding session so nothing sits uncommitted overnight.
workflow5 min0 copies
Pre-Deploy Safety Check
Confirm build, routes, and diff are clean before you push to production.
workflow10 min0 copies
Session Handoff Note for a Different Session or Teammate
Write a handoff so the next session or teammate starts working in minutes, not re-explaining.
workflow8 min0 copies
CI Failure Triage Loop: Code, Flake, or Infra
Classify every red CI run as code, flake, or infra, then fix or retry with proof until the branch is green.
loop20 min0 copies
Destructive Cleanup Blast-Radius Check
Force a recoverability check before any delete, drop, or force-push touches real state.
loop6 min0 copies
Env Var Drift Audit: Code vs Template vs Platform
Reconcile every env var across code, .env.example, and your deploy platform until nothing is unaccounted for.
goal25 min0 copies
Parallel Worktree Risk Audit
Sweep every worktree before touching any of them, and label each safe or risky.
loop15 min0 copies
Port and Process Squatter Sweep
Find every dev server, stray node process, and container squatting on your ports before you debug the wrong app.
prompt5 min0 copies
Post-Task Risk & Next-Action Report
End every task with what changed, what's verified, what's risky, and one clear next move.
loop4 min0 copies
Pre-Push, Pre-Merge Approval Gate
Stop an agent from pushing or merging without your explicit go-ahead, every time.
workflow8 min0 copies
Project State Handoff File (Phase, Environment, Decisions)
Maintain one HANDOFF.md that survives across sessions: phase, ports, decisions log.
workflow10 min0 copies
Rollback Readiness Check
Before you deploy, confirm you can actually roll back, not just that the deploy itself is clean.
workflow10 min0 copies
Service Provisioning Decision Pass
Decide every third-party service a new build needs before wiring any of them ad hoc.
goal20 min0 copies
SEC. 04
Product & Planning
15 entriesComplexity-Gated Scoping Before Any Build
Classify a task's complexity first, then gate execution behind your approval so agents stop over- or under-building.
workflow15 min0 copies
Turn a Rough Idea into a Structured PRD
Feed a one-line idea in, get a real PRD out: problem, goals, non-goals, stories, P0/P1/P2.
goal10 min0 copies
Turn a One-Line Task into a Self-Verifying Brief
Expand a one-liner into success criteria and a verify step so the agent can loop without you babysitting it.
workflow10 min0 copies
Keep a Running Assumption Ledger Through Planning
Log every silent planning assumption in a ledger and force confirmation before you build on it.
loop5 min per session, ongoing0 copies
Cull the Backlog Against the North-Star Goals
Run the backlog through the spec's original goals and cut what doesn't serve any of them.
workflow20 min0 copies
Batch Every Clarifying Question Before Planning Starts
Batch every clarifying question into one list instead of guessing or asking one at a time.
workflow10 min0 copies
Re-Check the Complexity Tier When Scope Moves Mid-Build
Force a tier re-classification every time a new requirement lands mid-build, catching drift early.
loop10 min per check, ongoing0 copies
Order Features by Dependency Before Sequencing the Roadmap
Turn a flat feature list into a dependency-ordered build sequence before assigning sprints.
workflow20 min0 copies
Decide the Distribution Surface Before You Scope the Build
Decide if this ships an API or MCP surface before you scope it; that decision changes the build.
goal15 min0 copies
Recalibrate the Roadmap as Actuals Land
Log estimate vs actual per finished ticket, compute a drift factor, and re-plan when the milestone math breaks.
loop5 min per ticket, ongoing0 copies
Capture Intent Before You Scaffold Anything
Answer four questions before you scaffold anything, so the build starts pointed at the right target.
prompt5 min0 copies
Pre-Mortem the Plan Until It Stops Dying
Assume the project failed, name the killers, patch the plan, repeat until a fresh pre-mortem finds nothing new.
loop25 min0 copies
Turn an Approved Spec into Engineering-Ready Tickets
Split a locked spec into sized tickets with acceptance criteria instead of one vague epic.
workflow15 min0 copies
Two Plans Enter, One Plan Ships
Force two rival plans, cheapest and most thorough, then make the agent attack both before you pick one.
prompt10 min0 copies
Mission Control: Challenger, Builder, Orchestrator
Run an independent challenge-and-build panel, falsify its lead plan, then execute the smallest proven move.
goal20 min0 copies
SEC. 05
Content & Writing
15 entriesBrain Dump to Polished Draft
Turn messy notes into a publish-ready blog post or landing page section in one pass.
prompt10 min0 copies
Proposal Draft From a Short Brief
Turn a short project brief into a structured client proposal or RFP response draft.
workflow20 min0 copies
Strip the AI Voice Out of a Draft
Edit AI-generated copy to cut filler, hedging, and generic AI phrasing without losing meaning.
prompt5 min0 copies
Rewrite One Draft for a Different Audience or Register
Convert an exec summary into a technical deep-dive (or the reverse) without rewriting from scratch.
prompt5 min0 copies
Find Every Abstract Claim and Force a Concrete Example
Flag every vague claim in a draft that has no real example backing it, then fill or cut it.
prompt10 min0 copies
Audit a Draft's Claims Against Your Source Notes
Catch every fact, number, or quote a draft invented that isn't actually in your source material.
goal15 min0 copies
Generate and Rank Headline or Subject Line Variants
Get headline options that hook a specific reader trigger, ranked, not ten flavors of the same idea.
prompt10 min0 copies
Interview Transcript to Publishable Article
Turn a messy recorded-conversation transcript into a structured Q&A or narrative article.
workflow25 min0 copies
Rewrite a Throat-Clearing Opening Into a Real Hook
Fix the first two sentences that make readers bounce before the actual point shows up.
prompt5 min0 copies
Make the README Stop Lying
Verify every command, path, and claim in your README against the actual repo, then fix what drifted.
goal20 min0 copies
Release Notes From Git Log, Not From Memory
Turn the commits since your last release into human release notes, every line tied to a real commit.
workflow15 min0 copies
Repurpose One Post Into a Multi-Format Pack
Turn one long-form post into a thread, a LinkedIn post, and an email blurb, not chopped-up excerpts.
workflow20 min0 copies
The Skeptical Reader Gauntlet
Loop hostile-reader objections against your draft, patch the real ones, repeat until it survives a clean pass.
loop25 min0 copies
Cut a Draft to a Hard Word Limit Without Losing the Point
Meet a hard word or character maximum by cutting weak sentences first, not shrinking every sentence a little.
goal10 min0 copies
Fix Voice Drift Across a Long Document
Loop section by section against a reference paragraph until a long doc reads like one writer wrote it.
loop30 min0 copies
SEC. 06
Design & UI
13 entriesMake It Bold, Not Generic: Self-Critique Loop for AI Slop UI
Give the agent a checklist of AI-slop tells and make it revise its own UI until it passes.
loop20 min1 copies
Turn a Rough Brand Brief Into a Design System the Agent Can Apply Consistently
Feed it three colors and a vibe, get back a concrete palette, type scale, and spacing scale to reuse everywhere.
workflow15 min0 copies
UI Approval Gate: Stop the Agent Before It Ships a Visual Change
Force your AI to describe the mockup and wait for your yes before touching production UI.
workflow10 min0 copies
Accessible Name Audit for Custom UI Controls
Check every custom select, toggle, and combobox for a real accessible name before you ship it.
workflow15 min0 copies
The Missing-States Loop: Catch Every Interactive Component Missing a State
Loop through every interactive component and force it to have every state it needs.
loop15 min1 copies
Dark Mode Parity Check: Find Where the Second Theme Was an Afterthought
Walk every page in both themes and catch the contrast failures light mode was hiding.
prompt10 min0 copies
Hit a Named Quality Bar: Design Review Against Reference Screenshots
Compare your UI with a reference screenshot, name material gaps, and verify any approved changes.
goal20 min0 copies
Token Drift Hunt: Zero Hardcoded Style Values, Proven by Grep
Hunt every hardcoded hex and px that bypasses your tokens, replace it, and prove drift is zero with grep.
goal25 min0 copies
Design a Real Empty State, Not a Blank Screen
Turn every '0 results' screen in the app into a state that explains, guides, and invites action.
prompt10 min0 copies
Audit, Rank by Harm, Fix One, Re-Verify: The Accessibility Fix Loop
Run automated and manual a11y checks, fix only the highest-impact blocker, then prove it.
loop30 min0 copies
The Zero-Pixel Refactor: Screenshot-Diff Loop for CSS Changes
Screenshot every affected route before and after, then loop until the styling refactor changes zero pixels.
loop30 min0 copies
Stress-Test a Layout With Real Content, Not Just Resize
Break every breakpoint with the ugliest real content you have before calling a layout responsive.
workflow15 min0 copies
The 44-Pixel Rule: Measure Every Touch Target Before Mobile Users Do
Measure tap targets in an agreed mobile route/state scope, fix confirmed misses, and show a before/after table.
goal15 min0 copies
SEC. 07
SEO & GEO
27 entriesGenerate an llms.txt File From Your Site
Build a clean llms.txt index so AI answer engines cite your site accurately.
workflow15 min0 copies
Generate JSON-LD Schema From Existing Page Content
Feed it a page's content, get back valid JSON-LD structured data ready to embed.
prompt5 min0 copies
Landing Page SEO/GEO Audit and Fix List
Audit a landing page's indexability and long-tail targeting, get a prioritized fix list.
workflow20 min0 copies
Audit Page Copy for AI Citation-Worthiness
Assess which sentences are clear, query-relevant, and supportable enough to be useful to answer engines.
goal20 min2 copies
Write a robots.txt Strategy for AI Crawlers
Decide which AI bots to allow or block in robots.txt, with reasoning per bot.
workflow15 min0 copies
Broken Internal Link Sweep and Fix Loop
Sweep the codebase for internal links that 404 or hit redirects, fix them, re-verify until zero remain.
loop20 min1 copies
Canonical Tag and Duplicate Content Resolver Loop
Cluster near-duplicate pages, pick one canonical each, and stop them competing.
loop25 min0 copies
Content Decay Audit: Which Pages Are Losing Rank and Why
Diagnose why specific pages are sliding in traffic before you spend time rewriting them.
workflow15 min0 copies
Core Web Vitals Diagnosis-to-Fix Loop
Turn a failing Core Web Vitals report into a confirmed root cause and a shipped fix.
loop30 min0 copies
Entity Consistency Audit: Align the Organization Surfaces You Control
Find conflicting descriptions across the organization surfaces you provide and propose one canonical record.
goal15 min0 copies
Mine FAQ Schema From Support Tickets and Help Docs
Turn scattered support answers into a publishable FAQ page with FAQPage schema.
prompt10 min0 copies
Internal Linking Gap Analysis
Find orphaned pages and thin topic clusters your internal links never reach.
workflow15 min0 copies
Keyword and Topic Gap Analysis Against Competitors
Find topics competitors cover that you don't, then rank editorial opportunities with the supplied evidence.
goal20 min0 copies
Generate Meta Descriptions at Scale Across Many Pages
Batch-write unique, click-worthy meta descriptions for dozens of pages at once.
workflow15 min0 copies
Zero-Loss Redirect Map for a Site Migration
Map every old URL to its new home, then loop until there are no chains, loops, or lazy homepage dumps.
loop30 min0 copies
Fix Broken Schema Markup From Validator Errors
Give it your JSON-LD plus the validator's error output, get back a corrected block.
prompt10 min0 copies
Segment and Freshen a Sitemap for a Large Site
Turn a flat URL list into a segmented sitemap with accurate canonical URLs and lastmod values.
workflow20 min0 copies
AI Search Citation Observation Loop
Run a fixed evidence-backed query set across AI search surfaces and log citations without inventing a rank.
loop30 min0 copies
Hreflang Locale-Integrity Loop
Build the real locale clusters, repair invalid or non-reciprocal hreflang, and rescan every variant.
loop25 min0 copies
JavaScript Search Render-Parity Loop
Compare raw HTML, browser DOM, and search rendering, then fix only search-critical JavaScript gaps.
loop25 min0 copies
Multimodal Search Discoverability Loop
Verify that useful images and video are crawlable, contextual, accessible, and consistent with visible metadata.
loop25 min0 copies
Non-Commodity Content Upgrade Loop
Replace generic claims with real tests, data, examples, or expert evidence, and verify the full page again.
loop30 min0 copies
Pre-Registered SEO Experiment Goal
Decide if an SEO change is testable, then lock cohorts, metrics, safety rules, and verdicts before launch.
goal30 min0 copies
Programmatic SEO Publish Gate
Gate a programmatic page system on real user value, source accuracy, boundary cases, and doorway risk.
goal30 min0 copies
Search Console Opportunity Prioritization Goal
Turn query-and-page Search Console data into an evidence-ranked action list without generic CTR benchmarks.
goal20 min0 copies
Search Indexation Root-Cause Loop
Trace a URL through crawl, render, canonical, and index evidence until the real controllable blocker is isolated.
loop25 min0 copies
Source-Backed SEO Content Brief Goal
Build one search brief whose user questions, factual claims, and unique contribution all trace to evidence.
goal25 min0 copies
SEC. 08
Market Research
13 entriesRegulatory Landscape Scan for a New Product Launch
Map licensing, compliance, and recent policy shifts for a product launch in one structured pass.
workflow20 min0 copies
TAM/SAM/SOM Market Sizing Scan
Scope TAM/SAM/SOM for a product idea in one pass, with every number labeled estimate or sourced.
workflow15 min0 copies
Target User Segment Breakdown
Turn a rough audience description into grounded user segments with needs, objections, and buying triggers.
prompt10 min0 copies
Build-vs-Buy and Switching-Cost Analysis Against Incumbents
Weigh building new against buying an incumbent, with real switching costs named, not assumed.
workflow20 min0 copies
Competitor Positioning Matrix, One Rival at a Time
Feed competitor pages in one at a time and build a running positioning matrix that ends in testable gap hypotheses.
loop25 min0 copies
Demand-Signal Validation Before You Build
Check search, forum, and workaround-tool signals for real demand before writing a line of code.
workflow15 min0 copies
Customer Interview Notes to Decision-Ready Themes
Loop scattered interview notes into ranked themes with quotes, until the same theme stops surfacing.
loop25 min0 copies
Macro Trend Relevance Scan for a Product Bet
Filter broad macro trends down to the 2-3 that actually change your product bet.
goal15 min0 copies
Market-Entry Timing Assessment: Why Now
Stress-test whether now is the right time to enter a market, or if you're early, late, or on time.
workflow20 min0 copies
Pre-Registered Demand Test: Commit the Pass/Fail Numbers First
Design a one-week demand test where the kill threshold is written down before you see a single result.
goal15 min0 copies
Pricing & Willingness-to-Pay Scan for a New Category
Estimate a defensible price range for a new product category using proxy signals, not guesses.
workflow15 min0 copies
The Riskiest Assumption Kill Loop
Rank a plan's load-bearing assumptions, then loop cheapest-test-first until each is validated or killed.
loop30 min0 copies
Voice-of-Customer Synthesis from Public Reviews
Turn a pile of pasted reviews for an adjacent product into ranked complaints and unmet needs.
prompt10 min0 copies
SEC. 09
Competitive Intelligence
13 entriesCompetitor Feature Scan
Turn a competitor's public pages into a structured pricing and feature comparison table.
workflow10 min0 copies
Competitor Watch Loop
A weekly check that flags only what changed on a competitor's public pages, not the whole page again.
loop5 min0 copies
Positioning Gap Analysis
Compare your product against competitor URLs to find the gaps worth leading with in messaging.
workflow15 min0 copies
Battlecard Rot Check
Re-verify every claim in your sales battlecard against competitors' live pages and flag what went stale.
loop15 min0 copies
Category-Creation vs. Incumbent-Framing Call
Decide whether to position against the category leader by name or define a new category instead.
goal20 min0 copies
Competitor Changelog Strategy Read
Classify six months of a competitor's changelog to see where they're headed before they announce it.
prompt10 min0 copies
Competitor Complaint Mining
Mine a competitor's negative reviews for weaknesses that recur, are recent, and a buyer would switch over.
goal20 min0 copies
Competitor Hiring Signal Loop
Track a competitor's open job postings over time to catch roadmap bets before they ship.
loop8 min0 copies
Competitor Messaging & Language Audit
Extract the exact words competitors use to sell, so you can tell echo from real differentiation.
workflow10 min0 copies
Incumbent Switching-Cost Teardown
Map documented switching friction and separate it from customer impact that still needs validation.
workflow12 min0 copies
Pricing & Packaging Teardown
Break down 2-4 competitors' pricing pages into tier structure, packaging levers, and pricing psychology.
workflow12 min0 copies
Substitute Products Scan
Find who else solves this problem, including spreadsheets and manual workarounds, not just named rivals.
prompt8 min0 copies
Win/Loss Signal Synthesis
Turn scattered G2, Reddit, and churn-survey quotes into a ranked list of why you actually lose deals.
workflow15 min0 copies
SEC. 10
Marketing & Growth
13 entriesTurn a Rough Campaign Idea Into a Creative Brief
Expand a one-line campaign idea into a full brief an agent or agency can execute against.
workflow20 min0 copies
Turn a Shipped Feature Into a Launch Thread
Turn what you just shipped into a structured hook-problem-solution-proof-CTA launch thread.
prompt10 min0 copies
Find Next Week's Highest-Leverage Growth Move
Feed an agent your weekly metrics and get one ranked growth lever with the reasoning shown, not five vague ideas.
workflow15 min0 copies
Call Your A/B Test: Ship, Kill, or Keep Running
Feed in variant numbers, get a verdict with the math shown and a date if the answer is keep running.
goal15 min0 copies
Decide How to Split a Fixed Budget Across Paid and Organic Channels
Feed channel performance data and a fixed budget in, get a specific dollar allocation out.
goal25 min0 copies
Generate a Cold Outreach Sequence From a Real ICP and Pain Point
Turn one specific ICP and a sourced pain point into a 3-email sequence that isn't generic spam.
prompt15 min0 copies
Hunt Every Broken CTA on Your Marketing Site Until the Report Comes Back Clean
A self-verifying loop that finds broken links, dead anchors, and untagged CTAs in your site repo and fixes them.
loop30 min0 copies
Run Your Headline Through the Gauntlet Until It Survives
Score your landing page headline against a 5-check rubric, rewrite, rescore, and loop until it passes all 5.
loop10 min0 copies
Turn Your Product's Real Activation Steps Into an Onboarding Email Sequence
Give it your actual activation funnel steps, get one nudge email per step, not a generic welcome series.
prompt10 min0 copies
Audit Your Pricing Page Against Real Buyer Objections
Give it your pricing copy and real sales objections, get told exactly which ones go unanswered.
workflow20 min0 copies
Find the Retention Cohort That's Actually Bleeding
Feed an agent cohort retention data and get one diagnosed churn point, not generic save-the-user tactics.
workflow15 min0 copies
Mine Quotable Testimonials Out of Raw Support and Feedback Transcripts
Feed raw support tickets or feedback dumps in, get verbatim quote-ready testimonials out.
workflow15 min0 copies
Turn Organic Mentions Into a Repeatable Amplification Loop
A recurring weekly check that turns scattered organic mentions into a ranked, actionable queue.
loop10 min0 copies