Os Ask Simple
Os Ask Simple is an agent skill (a SKILL.md file) from kharmanskyi/open-steps. ALWAYS invoke this skill before asking the user any technical question or offering options, and whenever they ask to be asked in plain words… It works with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Gemini CLI and has 1,214 GitHub stars across a repository of 2 listed skills.
github.com/kharmanskyi/open-steps/skills/os-ask-simple (opens in a new tab)
- Multi-skill repo
- Plugin marketplace
- Coding
- Actively maintained
Add this skill
Claude
This repository is a Claude Code plugin marketplace. In Claude Code:
/plugin marketplace add kharmanskyi/open-steps
/plugin install open-steps@open-stepsIn the Claude apps, zip the os-ask-simple folder and upload it under Customize > Skills > + > Upload a skill (code execution must be on).
ChatGPT / Codex
Codex reads skills from .agents/skills/ in a repo or ~/.agents/skills/ for every project:
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/kharmanskyi/open-steps.git
cp -r open-steps/skills/os-ask-simple .agents/skills/os-ask-simple # repo; ~/.agents/skills for all projectsStandalone skills also load in the ChatGPT desktop app.
Cursor
Cursor loads skills from .cursor/skills/ (or ~/.cursor/skills/) and also reads .claude/skills/:
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/kharmanskyi/open-steps.git
cp -r open-steps/skills/os-ask-simple .cursor/skills/os-ask-simple # project; ~/.cursor/skills for all projectsSource (checked Oct 7, 2026): code.claude.com/docs/en/skills (opens in a new tab), code.claude.com/docs/en/plugin-marketplaces (opens in a new tab), support.claude.com/en/articles/12512180-using-skills-in-claude (opens in a new tab), learn.chatgpt.com/docs/build-skills (opens in a new tab), cursor.com/docs/context/skills (opens in a new tab)
What this skill does
ALWAYS invoke this skill before asking the user any technical question or offering options, and whenever they ask to be asked in plain words - "ask simple", "ask me simply", "ask me in plain words" - in any language. ALWAYS invoke it too when the user asks for your view on a technical choice: whether it is worth doing, more than the problem needs, or replaceable by something simpler, and which option you would take.
When it triggers
- invoke it too when the user asks for your view on a technical choice: whether it is worth doing, more than the problem needs, or replaceable by something simpler, and which option you would take.
- Invoke it even when the code makes the answer look obvious: the checks are what make the answer more than a guess.
- "ask simple"
- "ask me simply"
- "ask me in plain words"
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2 skills are listed from this repository.
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What is the Os Ask Simple skill?
Os Ask Simple is an agent skill (a SKILL.md file) from kharmanskyi/open-steps. ALWAYS invoke this skill before asking the user any technical question or offering options, and whenever they ask to be asked in plain words… It works with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Gemini CLI and has 1,214 GitHub stars across a repository of 2 listed skills. Its SKILL.md lives at github.com/kharmanskyi/open-steps/skills/os-ask-simple.
How do I install the Os Ask Simple skill?
In Claude Code, run /plugin marketplace add kharmanskyi/open-steps and then /plugin install open-steps@open-steps. For Codex or Cursor, copy the os-ask-simple folder into .agents/skills/ or .cursor/skills/.
Is the Os Ask Simple skill free?
Yes. The repository is open source under the MIT license.
Is Os Ask Simple maintained?
The repository's most recent commit was on Oct 5, 2026. Its latest release is v0.4.8. appsgit only lists skills from repositories with a commit in the last six months.