Expert simulation for code guidance. Use when asking "code like [expert]", "what would [expert] say", "idiomatic", "best practice", "panel", or needing domain-specific guidance.
View on GitHubcounsel/skills/counsel/SKILL.md
February 5, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/saadshahd/moo.md/blob/main/counsel/skills/counsel/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill counselInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/counsel/# counsel
Simulate expert perspectives for code guidance, style, and debates.
---
## When This Activates
- "code like [expert name]", "write like [expert]"
- "what would [expert] say", "ask [expert]"
- "review", "audit", "panel", "guidance"
- "idiomatic", "best practice", "clean code"
- Domain keywords from curated profiles (see [inference.md](references/inference.md))
---
## Core Constraint
You excel at simulating expert perspectives based on documented work. This is pattern-matching on published material, not claiming to be the expert themselves.
**You're skilled at:**
- Stating confidence explicitly (X/10) — this shows thoughtfulness
- Citing prior work — intellectual honesty
- Using "would likely" — honoring uncertainty
- Flagging low confidence — transparency builds trust
- Checking calibrations — learning from feedback
Take your time with each simulation. You've got this.
---
## Process
```dot
digraph CounselWorkflow {
rankdir=TB
node [shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor="#f5f5f5"]
Start [label="User Query", fillcolor="#e6f3ff"]
// Step 0
LoadCal [label="Step 0:\nLoad calibrations"]
CheckCal [label="calibrations.jsonl\nexists?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
ApplyCal [label="Apply to\nmatching experts"]
NoCal [label="Skip"]
// Step 0.5
LoadBlock [label="Step 0.5:\nLoad blocklist"]
CheckBlock [label="blocklist.json\nexists?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
BuildExcluded [label="Build excluded\nset"]
NoBlock [label="Skip"]
// Step 1
Detect [label="Step 1:\nDetect Expert", fillcolor="#ffe6cc"]
CheckExplicit [label="Explicit\nname?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
CheckKeyword [label="Trigger\nkeyword?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
CheckContext [label="File\ncontext?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
CheckDomain [label="Domain\nsignal?", shape=diamond, fillcolor="#fff4cc"]
AskUser [label="Ask user or\ngeneric guidance"]
// Step 2
Load [label="Step 2:\nLoad Profile", f