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Idea Coach
by
udiedrichsen
· GitHub ↗
· v0.2.0
2324
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1
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Versions
Install in OpenClaw
/install idea-coach
Description
AI-powered idea/problem/challenge manager with GitHub integration. Captures, categorizes, reviews, and helps ship ideas to repos.
README (SKILL.md)
Idea Coach
Your critical sparring partner for ideas, problems, and challenges — now with GitHub integration!
What It Does
Idea Coach helps you:
- Capture ideas, problems, and challenges as they come
- Categorize by type, domain, energy, urgency, and importance
- Review periodically (daily → quarterly based on importance)
- Ship ideas to GitHub repos when ready
- Track progress and know when to let go
Philosophy
Be critical, not just supportive. Idea Coach will:
- Suggest dropping ideas that aren't worth pursuing
- Ask hard questions during reviews
- Track which ideas actually ship vs. rot forever
Commands
Core Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/idea \x3Ctext> |
Capture a new idea |
/idea_list |
List active ideas |
/idea_list --due |
Show ideas due for review |
/idea_get \x3Cid> |
Get idea details |
/idea_update \x3Cid> |
Update idea attributes |
/idea_review \x3Cid> |
Add review interaction |
/idea_drop \x3Cid> |
Mark as dropped (requires reason) |
/idea_done \x3Cid> |
Mark as completed |
/idea_stats |
Show statistics |
GitHub Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/idea_link \x3Cid> \x3Cowner/repo> |
Link to existing repo |
/idea_ship \x3Cid> |
Create new repo for idea |
/idea_ship \x3Cid> --public |
Create public repo |
/idea_repo \x3Cid> |
Show linked repo status |
/idea_sync \x3Cid> |
Create/update GitHub issue |
Attributes
Types
- 💡 idea — Something to build or create
- 🔧 problem — Something to fix or solve
- 🎯 challenge — Something to overcome
Status Flow
captured → exploring → developing → shipped/done
↓ ↓
parked blocked
↓
dropped
Importance → Review Cycle
| Importance | Energy | Review Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| critical | high | daily |
| critical | * | weekly |
| important | high | weekly |
| important | * | biweekly |
| nice-to-have | * | monthly |
| parked | * | quarterly |
GitHub Integration
Prerequisites
ghCLI installed and authenticated- Run
gh auth loginif not set up
Workflow Example
# 1. Capture idea
/idea "Build a CLI for task management"
# 2. Develop it
/idea_update abc123 --status developing
# 3. Ship it to GitHub
/idea_ship abc123
# 4. Or link to existing repo
/idea_link abc123 moinsen-dev/my-cli
# 5. Check repo status
/idea_repo abc123
# 6. Sync as GitHub issue
/idea_sync abc123
CLI Usage
# Add idea
python scripts/coach.py add "Build something cool" --type idea --importance important
# List ideas
python scripts/coach.py list
python scripts/coach.py list --due
python scripts/coach.py list --github # Only with linked repos
# GitHub operations
python scripts/coach.py link \x3Cid> owner/repo
python scripts/coach.py ship \x3Cid> --owner moinsen-dev
python scripts/coach.py repo-status \x3Cid>
python scripts/coach.py sync-issue \x3Cid> --labels enhancement,idea
Data Storage
Ideas are stored in ~/.openclaw/idea-coach/ideas.json
Each idea tracks:
- Basic info (title, description, type, domain)
- Status and progress
- Energy, urgency, importance
- Review schedule and history
- GitHub integration (repo, issue, sync timestamps)
- Interaction log
Tips
- Capture quickly — Don't overthink the initial capture
- Review honestly — Use reviews to kill stale ideas
- Ship early — Create a repo as soon as an idea has momentum
- Sync issues — Use GitHub issues for detailed tracking
- Drop freely — A dropped idea is a decision, not a failure
Usage Guidance
This skill largely does what it says — local idea storage and GitHub integration — but the package metadata omits that it needs Python and the gh CLI and that gh will use whatever GitHub credentials are configured on your machine. Before installing or running it: 1) inspect scripts/coach.py yourself (it’s bundled and readable) to confirm there are no hidden actions; 2) ensure you trust the repository owner because gh commands will run with your gh auth and can create repos/issues; 3) run it under a limited account or sandbox if you want to limit GitHub scope; 4) back up ~/.openclaw/idea-coach/ideas.json before use; and 5) ask the publisher to update the manifest to declare the gh dependency and document exactly which gh operations will be performed (create repo, push, issue creation, etc.). If you want higher assurance, request a complete, untruncated copy of the script to review the remainder of the GitHub functions (repo creation/sync) before using.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: idea-coach
Version: 0.2.0
The OpenClaw AgentSkills skill bundle is classified as benign. The `scripts/coach.py` uses `subprocess.run` to interact with the `gh` CLI for GitHub integration, which is a core, stated purpose of the skill. All file system operations are confined to the expected `~/.openclaw/idea-coach/` directory. There is no evidence of data exfiltration to unauthorized endpoints, malicious execution patterns (like `curl|bash`), persistence mechanisms, or prompt injection attempts in the `SKILL.md` or other documentation files that would subvert the agent's intended behavior.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
The skill's name/description (idea manager with GitHub integration) matches the code and SKILL.md: it captures ideas, stores them under ~/.openclaw/idea-coach, and performs GitHub actions via the gh CLI. However the registry metadata claims no required binaries or env vars, while both README.md and SKILL.md (and the code) expect Python and the gh CLI to be present and authenticated. That mismatch is a configuration/information inconsistency.
Instruction Scope
The SKILL.md instructions and the included code focus on local idea CRUD, review scheduling, and GitHub operations. The runtime behavior described and visible in the code is limited to reading/writing local files under the user's home directory and calling the gh CLI. There are references in docs to optional cron/heartbeat and 'Memory-Integration', but the behaviors shown do not instruct the agent to read unrelated system files or exfiltrate data to unknown endpoints.
Install Mechanism
No install spec is provided (instruction-only skill with code included). No remote downloads or installer scripts are present. The code is included in the package; nothing in the manifest indicates fetching arbitrary external archives or running installers from untrusted URLs.
Credentials
The package declares no required environment variables or primary credential, yet relies on the gh CLI for GitHub operations. gh uses locally stored authentication (gh auth / GITHUB_TOKEN or oauth) — the skill will operate with whatever GitHub permissions the user's gh session provides. Because the manifest doesn't declare this necessary binary or the credential implications, a user may unknowingly grant a skill the ability to create repos, issues, or modify repositories via their existing gh authentication. That omission is a proportionality/clarity concern.
Persistence & Privilege
The skill stores data under ~/.openclaw/idea-coach and does not request to be always-enabled. It does not appear to modify other skills or system-wide agent configuration. Described cron/heartbeat behavior is optional/documented rather than being automatically installed in the provided code.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install idea-coach - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/idea-coach - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v0.2.0
Major update: Added comprehensive GitHub integration and expanded idea management capabilities.
- Introduced GitHub integration: link ideas to repos, create repos, and sync as issues.
- Added new commands for capturing, updating, reviewing, dropping, and viewing idea stats.
- Implemented detailed status flow and review cycles based on idea importance and energy.
- Ideas can now be categorized as ideas, problems, or challenges.
- All commands and usage examples are documented for both chat and CLI.
- Enhanced data storage with interaction logs and GitHub metadata.
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Idea Coach?
AI-powered idea/problem/challenge manager with GitHub integration. Captures, categorizes, reviews, and helps ship ideas to repos. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 2324 downloads so far.
How do I install Idea Coach?
Run "/install idea-coach" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is Idea Coach free?
Yes, Idea Coach is completely free (open-source). You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does Idea Coach support?
Idea Coach is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created Idea Coach?
It is built and maintained by udiedrichsen (@udiedrichsen); the current version is v0.2.0.
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