avoid-acting-on-assumptions

name: avoid-acting-on-assumptions description: Common mistake — proceeding with assumptions about ambiguous requirements instead of asking a clarifying question first. This skill reminds you to stop and ask before acting on uncertain interpretations. category: common_mistakes

Avoid Acting on Assumptions

Mistake pattern: User says something ambiguous → you assume the most likely interpretation → you deliver something → it's wrong.

Fix: When requirements are ambiguous, ask ONE clarifying question. The cost of pausing to ask is always lower than the cost of delivering the wrong result.

Especially risky assumptions:

• The target programming language or framework.
• Whether a file should be overwritten or appended.
• What "clean up" or "improve" means in context.
• Whether a test environment or production is the target.