A methodology-driven skill for defining problems, exploring solutions, and planning implementation using the Shape Up framework.
Install & Download
1. ClawHub CLI
The fastest way to install a skill directly from the registry.
npx clawhub@latest install shaping
2. Manual Installation
Copy the skill folder to one of these locations
~/.openclaw/skills/ <project>/skills/ Priority: Workspace > Local > Bundled
3. Prompt Installation
Copy this prompt to OpenClaw to install it automatically.
Help me install shaping using Clawhub. If Clawhub is not installed, install it first (npm i -g clawhub).
Prefer to download?
Get the raw skill files in a ZIP archive.
What is Shaping & Breadboarding?
This skill brings the Shape Up methodology to your AI agent, allowing you to iterate on problem definitions and solution options before committing to code. It bridges the gap between high-level product ideas and technical implementation by using Openclaw Skills to breadboard systems into UI and code affordances. This ensures a solid architectural foundation by separating what you need from how you might build it.
By integrating this structured approach, developers can perform fit checks to see what is solved and what isn't before implementation begins. Whether you are mapping an existing system or exploring a new feature, this skill provides the notation and logic needed to maintain consistency across the development lifecycle within Openclaw Skills.
Shaping & Breadboarding Use Cases
- Exploring a new feature or product direction to define clear constraints.
- Comparing multiple solution approaches using fit checks before building.
- Mapping an existing system to understand exactly where new changes will land.
- Breaking a complex, selected solution into vertical implementation slices.
- Facilitating team discussions on whether to build specific features based on requirements.
How Shaping & Breadboarding Works
- Populate Requirements (R) by documenting problem constraints and pain points as they emerge.
- Sketch a Shape (S) to propose a high-level approach or solution for the identified problem.
- Detail the shape by breaking it down into specific components and UI/code affordances.
- Perform a Fit Check using a binary decision matrix to evaluate shapes against the full list of requirements.
- Breadboard the system to map out the wiring and flow between different places and components.
- Slice the breadboarded shape into vertical increments that result in a demo-able UI.
Shaping & Breadboarding Setup
To integrate this skill into your workflow, you must include the shaping and breadboarding reference documents in your project path. This allows the agent to access the methodology rules provided by Openclaw Skills.
# Example of organizing the required reference files
mkdir -p references
cp shaping.md references/shaping.md
cp breadboarding.md references/breadboarding.md
Shaping & Breadboarding Data Schema & Taxonomy
The skill organizes product discovery data through a specific notation system and structured tables.
| Level | Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | R0, R1... | Problem constraints used for fit checks |
| Shapes | A, B, C... | High-level solution options |
| Components | C1, C2... | Parts contained within a specific shape |
| Alternatives | C3-A, C3-B | Different approaches to a specific component |
Additionally, affordance tables track Places, Components, Controls, and Wiring (Control and Data flow).
Shaping & Breadboarding Advanced Features
- Binary Fit Checks: A strict decision matrix ensuring every requirement is addressed without ambiguity.
- Breadboarding Notation: Specialized mapping of UI and code affordances using Mermaid conventions.
- Spiking Workflow: Dedicated process for investigating technical unknowns before finalizing a shape.
- Vertical Slicing: Logical breakdown of work into max 9 slices, each ending in a demo-able mechanism.
- Integrated Reference Loading: Ability to pivot between shaping and slicing phases within Openclaw Skills.
SKILL.md
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