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Install in OpenClaw
/install first
Description
Think from first principles instead of analogy. Break problems into fundamental truths, challenge assumptions, and rebuild better solutions from scratch.
README (SKILL.md)
Firstprinciples thinking
A local-first reasoning skill for breaking complex problems down to their most fundamental truths and rebuilding solutions from the ground up.
Use this when the user:
- is stuck in conventional wisdom
- wants original thinking instead of recycled advice
- needs to separate facts from assumptions
- wants to redesign a strategy, product, business model, or decision from scratch
- asks whether something is truly necessary, optimal, or possible
This skill should:
- Clarify the real objective.
- Surface explicit and hidden assumptions.
- Separate facts from analogies, conventions, and defaults.
- Break the problem into irreducible components.
- Identify real constraints, variables, and tradeoffs.
- Reconstruct a better solution from the ground up.
- Deliver a practical answer with clear next actions.
Output structure
When useful, organize the answer as:
- Goal
- Assumptions
- What is actually true
- Irreducible components
- Constraints and tradeoffs
- Rebuilt solution
- Best next action
Principles
- Do not treat convention as truth.
- Do not treat common practice as proof.
- Do not treat analogy as understanding.
- Start from what must be true.
- Rebuild toward something usable.
- Stay grounded in the user's real goal.
Success standard
A strong answer should make the user feel:
- "Now I understand the real problem."
- "These assumptions were weaker than I thought."
- "This solution is more fundamental and more original."
- "I can actually act on this."
Usage Guidance
This skill appears coherent and self-contained. Before enabling: (1) be aware it will create and persist data under ~/.openclaw/workspace/memory/firstprinciples (cases.json, patterns.md, case_index.md, and an exports folder); do not submit sensitive secrets or personally identifying content as problem text if you don't want it stored. (2) If desired, inspect the packaged Python files (scripts/lib/storage.py and scripts/lib/reasoning.py) to confirm behavior or change the STORAGE_DIR path. (3) Because it can be invoked by the agent, consider whether you want the agent to run it autonomously; the skill itself does not perform network I/O or request credentials.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: first
Version: 1.1.0
The skill bundle implements a structured framework for 'First Principles Thinking' by providing tools to analyze problems, extract assumptions, and rebuild solutions. All operations are local, involving keyword-based text analysis and file I/O within the designated OpenClaw workspace directory (~/.openclaw/workspace/memory/firstprinciples). There is no evidence of data exfiltration, network activity, malicious execution, or prompt injection intended to subvert the agent's safety.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
The name/description (first-principles reasoning) align with the provided Python scripts: reasoning heuristics, case creation, scoring, listing, exporting, and local pattern promotion. The files implement the declared functionality and there are no unrelated dependencies or unexplained external-service credentials.
Instruction Scope
The SKILL.md is scoped to reasoning tasks and does not instruct any network calls or access to unrelated system paths. However, the included scripts persist data (cases, patterns, exports) to disk; SKILL.md calls this a 'local-first' skill but does not explicitly enumerate the storage behavior (see storage path below). The skill does not read other user config or secrets.
Install Mechanism
There is no install spec or remote download. All code is packaged with the skill; nothing will be pulled from external URLs during install.
Credentials
The skill requests no environment variables or credentials. Its only privileged action is writing files under the user's home directory (no access to system-level credentials or unrelated service tokens).
Persistence & Privilege
The skill creates and updates files under ~/.openclaw/workspace/memory/firstprinciples (cases.json, patterns.md, case_index.md, exports). always is false and autonomous invocation is allowed (platform default). Persisting user-provided problem text locally is expected behavior but is important to note for sensitive data.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install first - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/first - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.1.0
- Added knowledge resources on case patterns, anti-patterns, boundaries, and heuristics.
- Expanded reasoning engine and schema handling in core scripts.
- Improved logic for analyzing problems and exporting case data.
- Updated storage and reasoning modules for better structure and extensibility.
v1.0.0
Firstprinciples thinking 1.0.0
- Initial release with a structured, local-first approach to problem-solving using first principles.
- Guides users to clarify goals, surface assumptions, and break issues into fundamental components.
- Provides a step-by-step method to separate facts from conventions and rebuild solutions from the ground up.
- Includes a clear output structure and practical next actions for original, actionable solutions.
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Firstprinciples thinking?
Think from first principles instead of analogy. Break problems into fundamental truths, challenge assumptions, and rebuild better solutions from scratch. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 274 downloads so far.
How do I install Firstprinciples thinking?
Run "/install first" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is Firstprinciples thinking free?
Yes, Firstprinciples thinking is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does Firstprinciples thinking support?
Firstprinciples thinking is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created Firstprinciples thinking?
It is built and maintained by AGIsearch (@agisearch); the current version is v1.1.0.
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