Critical thinking mode instructions
Challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking to ensure the best possible solution and outcomes.
- Type
- Subagent
- Repository
- github/awesome-copilot
- GitHub stars
- 39.4k
- License
- MIT
- Repo last updated
- Sep 27, 2026
- Source file
- agents/critical-thinking.agent.md
What Critical thinking mode instructions is
Critical thinking mode instructions is a subagent published in the github/awesome-copilot repository on GitHub, which has about 39.4k stars. The repository describes itself as: “Community-contributed instructions, agents, skills, and configurations to help you make the most of GitHub Copilot.”
A subagent is a specialist assistant that Claude can hand part of a task to. It is a markdown file whose frontmatter sets a name, a description that tells Claude when to delegate, and optionally the tools and model it may use; the body becomes the subagent's own system prompt.
Because a subagent works in its own context, it keeps the main conversation focused: Claude can send a narrow job, such as a review or a specialised analysis, to Critical thinking mode instructions and get back a compact result.
It is set up to use these tools: 'codebase', 'extensions', 'web/fetch', 'findTestFiles', 'githubRepo', 'problems', 'search', 'searchResults', 'usages'. Limiting tools is a good sign: the subagent can only do what those tools allow.
How to install Critical thinking mode instructions
Claude Code
- Download critical-thinking.agent.md from the repository.
- Save it to ~/.claude/agents/ to use it in every project, or to .claude/agents/ inside one project to share it through version control.
- Claude Code watches these folders, so the subagent is usually available right away. Ask Claude to use it by name, or @-mention it to make sure it runs.
Claude Cowork
- Cowork loads subagents through plugins. If the repository is packaged as a plugin marketplace, add it under Customize → Plugins → Add marketplace and install the plugin that contains this subagent.
- Otherwise, bundle the file into your own plugin's agents/ folder and upload it from Customize → Plugins.
New to extending Cowork? Our plugins guide and Customize guide explain how skills, plugins, and connectors fit together.
Inside the source file
An excerpt from agents/critical-thinking.agent.md, shared under the repository's MIT license. Read the full file on GitHub.
You are in critical thinking mode. Your task is to challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking to ensure the best possible solution and outcomes. You are not here to make code edits, but to help the engineer think through their approach and ensure they have considered all relevant factors.
Your primary goal is to ask 'Why?'. You will continue to ask questions and probe deeper into the engineer's reasoning until you reach the root cause of their assumptions or decisions. This will help them clarify their understanding and ensure they are not overlooking important details.
Instructions
- Do not suggest solutions or provide direct answers
- Encourage the engineer to explore different perspectives and consider alternative approaches.
- Ask challenging questions to help the engineer think critically about their assumptions and decisions.
- Avoid making assumptions about the engineer's knowledge or expertise.
- Play devil's advocate when necessary to help the engineer see potential pitfalls or flaws in their reasoning.
- Be detail-oriented in your questioning, but avoid being overly verbose or apologetic.
- Be firm in your guidance, but also friendly and supportive.
- Be free to argue against the engineer's assumptions and decisions, but do so in a way that encourages them to think critically about their approach rather than simply telling them what to do.
- Have strong opinions about the best way to approach problems, but hold these opinions loosely and be open to changing them based on new information or perspectives.
- Think strategically about the long-term implications of decisions and encourage the engineer to do the same.
- Do not ask multiple questions at once. Focus on one question at a time to encourage deep thinking and reflection and keep your questions concise.
Before you install
- Read the whole file first. Skills, commands, and subagents are instructions Claude will follow, so make sure they match what you want.
- Check which tools, scripts, or MCP servers it uses. Local servers and scripts run with your permissions.
- Try it in a test project or a copy of your files before pointing it at real work.
- Pin the version you tested, and review changes before updating.
- Watch for instructions that fetch web content or run shell commands; those are where prompt injection risks start. See our prompt injection guide.
FAQ
What is Critical thinking mode instructions?
Critical thinking mode instructions is a subagent for Claude Code and Claude Cowork from the github/awesome-copilot repository on GitHub. Challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking to ensure the best possible solution and outcomes.
How do I install Critical thinking mode instructions in Claude Code?
Download critical-thinking.agent.md from the repository. Save it to ~/.claude/agents/ to use it in every project, or to .claude/agents/ inside one project to share it through version control. Claude Code watches these folders, so the subagent is usually available right away. Ask Claude to use it by name, or @-mention it to make sure it runs.
Can I use Critical thinking mode instructions in Claude Cowork?
Cowork loads subagents through plugins. If the repository is packaged as a plugin marketplace, add it under Customize → Plugins → Add marketplace and install the plugin that contains this subagent. Otherwise, bundle the file into your own plugin's agents/ folder and upload it from Customize → Plugins.
Is Critical thinking mode instructions safe to install?
It is a third-party community resource, not reviewed by Anthropic or this site. Read the source file first, check which tools and connectors it uses, and install only from sources you trust.
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