First Principles Destructor

A skill for AI coding agents that strips any assumption down to its physics/math/logic floor, calculates the convention tax, and rebuilds from reality.

Works with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Cursor, and Amazon Kiro.

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What it does

Most of what any industry accepts as fixed is a set of agreements nobody has challenged recently enough.

This skill runs a 6-stage destruction process on any statement, business model, process, or industry belief:

1. Assumption Inventory — finds every hidden assumption (5–15 typical)
2. Reality Floor — strips convention; what do physics/math/logic actually require?
3. Convention Tax Calculator — what are you paying to maintain each assumption?
4. Assumption Removal Test — what breaks, what costs more, what turns out to be purely optional?
5. Rebuilt Version — reconstruct from reality, not habit
6. First Mover Question — if this rebuilt version is possible, why doesn't it exist yet?

Example

"Enterprise software has to have a long sales cycle"

The destructor finds 9 hidden assumptions, calculates the convention tax (avg 14 months and $280k CAC per deal), removes non-load-bearing ones, and rebuilds a product-led growth model with 3-week time-to-close.

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Install

Claude Code (global — all projects)

./install.sh --claude-global

Then in any Claude Code session: /first-principles [your statement]

Claude Code (project only)

./install.sh --claude-project

Gemini CLI

./install.sh --gemini

OpenAI Codex CLI

./install.sh --codex

Cursor

./install.sh --cursor

Adds .cursor/rules/first-principles.mdc — auto-activates when you ask to challenge an assumption.

Amazon Kiro

./install.sh --kiro

Adds .kiro/steering/first-principles.md — applied to every Kiro session in this project.

All global (Claude Code + Gemini CLI + Codex CLI)

./install.sh --all-global

Claude.ai (browser)

./package.sh

Then go to claude.ai > Customize > Skills > + > Create skill and upload first-principles.skill.

Manual (any SKILL.md-compatible agent)

Copy SKILL.md to your agent's skills directory:

Agent	Global skills path
Claude Code	~/.claude/skills/first-principles/
Gemini CLI	~/.gemini/skills/first-principles/
OpenAI Codex CLI	~/.codex/skills/first-principles/
Agents Standard	~/.agents/skills/first-principles/

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Usage

Once installed, trigger by saying:

• /first-principles [statement or belief]
• "Run first principles on: [idea]"
• "Destroy this assumption: [assumption]"
• "What's the convention tax on [process]?"
• "What's the reality floor for [belief]?"

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File structure

first-principles-destructor/
├── SKILL.md                          # Universal (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI)
├── .cursor/
│   └── rules/
│       └── first-principles.mdc      # Cursor
├── .kiro/
│   └── steering/
│       └── first-principles.md       # Amazon Kiro
├── install.sh                        # Installer for all platforms
├── package.sh                        # Build .skill ZIP for claude.ai upload
└── README.md

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Platform support

Platform	Format	Status
Claude Code	SKILL.md	Supported
Claude.ai (browser)	.skill ZIP	Supported
OpenAI Codex CLI	SKILL.md	Supported
Gemini CLI	SKILL.md	Supported
Cursor	.cursor/rules/*.mdc	Supported
Amazon Kiro	.kiro/steering/*.md	Supported
GitHub Copilot	SKILL.md (partial)	Partial

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License

MIT