Add forwards-to frontmatter field for command stubs that chain-load skills
Resolved 💬 3 comments Opened Jan 6, 2026 by eugene-at-apporto Closed Feb 19, 2026
Problem
Commands and skills have different naming conventions:
- Commands: imperative verbs (
/file-bead,/brainstorm) - Skills: gerund forms (
filing-bead,brainstorming)
Currently, command stubs contain text instructions telling the agent to load the skill:
---
description: Instantly capture a discovery as a bead
argument-hint: about <reference>
---
Load skill: `Skill('superpowers:filing-bead')`
Then follow the filing-bead skill exactly as written.
Reference: $ARGUMENTS
This works but requires an extra round-trip:
- Agent calls
Skill('superpowers:file-bead') - Stub returns with "Load skill: ..." instruction
- Agent calls
Skill('superpowers:filing-bead') - Actual skill content is returned
Proposed Solution
Add a forwards-to frontmatter field that causes the Skill tool to automatically chain-load the target:
---
description: Instantly capture a discovery as a bead
forwards-to: superpowers:filing-bead
argument-hint: about <reference>
---
Reference: $ARGUMENTS
When the Skill tool sees forwards-to:
- Load the target skill instead of returning stub content
- Pass through
$ARGUMENTSand other context - Return the target skill content directly
Benefits
- Eliminates extra round-trip for command→skill invocation
- Keeps command/skill naming conventions (users type
/file-bead, agents work withfiling-bead) - Backwards compatible (field is optional)
- Simplifies command stubs (no need for "Load skill: ..." instructions)
Context
Discovered during introspection of a Claude Code session where the agent called the command stub instead of the skill directly, causing an unnecessary extra exchange.
🤖 Generated with Claude Code
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