Prototyping Toolkit

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Installing Superpowers for Claude Code ​

A setup guide for advanced students. Accurate as of September 2026. If something looks different, check the official page: https://github.com/obra/superpowers

Using Codex? Superpowers also works with Codex, but it installs differently and this guide doesn't cover it. See the Codex instructions at https://github.com/obra/superpowers.

What You Are Setting Up ​

Superpowers is a free plugin that gives Claude a strict, step-by-step way of working. Once installed, Claude doesn't jump straight into code. It:

  1. Brainstorms with you, asking questions and offering alternatives.
  2. Writes a design and shows it to you in short sections for approval.
  3. Plans the work as a list of small tasks.
  4. Builds with tests first, checking each piece works before moving on.
  5. Reviews its own work before calling anything done.

It was designed for software engineering, so it favors careful, finished work over quick exploration. Expect it to:

  • Take longer than plain Claude Code, and sometimes work on its own for a long stretch.
  • Use more of your plan's allowance.
  • Follow its rules strictly. Its test-first rule is firm: during a build, it may remove code that was written before its tests.

Try it when you want to take a prototype further, not for quick experiments.

Words You'll See ​

  • Plugin: an add-on that gives Claude new abilities.
  • Skill: a set of instructions Claude follows for a particular kind of task.
  • Branch: a separate line of work in Git, so changes don't affect your main version until you choose to combine them.
  • Test: a small program that checks whether part of your project works as expected.

Before You Start ​

This guide assumes:

  • VS Code is open with your project folder open.
  • The Claude Code extension is installed and you are signed in.
  • Your project uses Git. Superpowers keeps its work on separate branches.

Not sure about Git? Ask Claude:

Is this project folder set up as a Git repository? If not, explain what that means and set it up.

Step 1: Find Superpowers ​

  1. In the Claude Code prompt box, type /plugins and press Enter. The Manage plugins window opens.
  2. On the Plugins tab, search for superpowers.
  3. Click Install.

Superpowers doesn't appear in the search? Switch to the Marketplaces tab, add obra/superpowers-marketplace, then search again on the Plugins tab.

Step 2: Choose Where It Applies ​

Claude Code asks where to install the plugin. Choose Install locally.

ChoiceWhat it means
Install for youSuperpowers runs in every project you open.
Install for this projectSuperpowers runs for anyone who works on this project.
Install locallySuperpowers runs only for you, only in this project. Recommended.

Installing locally keeps your other projects working the way they do now, and doesn't change anything for classmates who share this project.

Step 3: Restart and Check ​

  1. A banner asks you to restart Claude Code. Click it.
  2. Start a new session: click the spark icon in the left-hand bar, then New session.
  3. Ask:

Which Superpowers skills do you have, and what does each one do? Keep it short.

Claude should list skills such as brainstorming, writing plans, and test-driven development.

Step 4: Try Brainstorming ​

Pick a small feature for your project and describe it loosely:

I'd like visitors to be able to save their favorite items. Let's brainstorm before doing anything.

As the workflow unfolds:

  • Answer its questions one at a time. They help it understand what you want.
  • Read the design sections carefully. This is your main chance to shape the result.
  • Decide whether to continue. After the design, it moves on to planning and building. You can stop after brainstorming if the design is all you wanted.

Superpowers saves its designs and plans as files in your project, so you can read them later.

Step 5: Stay in Control ​

  • Check before you allow. Superpowers runs many commands. If you're unsure about one, ask Claude to explain it first. Deny anything that would delete files, use sudo, or change things outside your project folder.
  • Check your usage. Click the spark icon in the left-hand bar and look at the Usage section.
  • Ask where it is. If it's been working a while, ask: "Summarize what you've done so far and what's left."
  • Say what you want. You can still redirect it, for example: "This is a prototype. Keep the plan to five tasks or fewer."
  • Rewind if needed. Hover over an earlier message and click the rewind button to put your files back the way they were at that point.

Turning It Off ​

  1. Type /plugins in the prompt box.
  2. Find superpowers in the installed list at the top.
  3. Switch its toggle off, or uninstall it.
  4. Restart Claude Code when the banner asks.

Checkpoint ​

Before moving on, check that Superpowers is active.

  1. Start a new session: click the spark icon in the left-hand bar, then New session.
  2. Send:

Which Superpowers skills do you have? Just list their names.

You should see: a list that includes skills such as brainstorming, writing plans, and test-driven development.

If not: see Troubleshooting below.

Troubleshooting ​

Claude doesn't seem to use Superpowers. Make sure you restarted Claude Code and started a new session. Then type /plugins and check that its toggle is on.

It keeps asking about tests or branches I don't understand. Ask: "Explain what you're asking in plain language before I answer."

It's doing much more than I wanted. Stop it and ask for a summary. Then describe a smaller goal, or turn Superpowers off for this project.

Tips ​

  • Privacy note. Superpowers has an optional visual companion for brainstorming. When used, it loads a logo from its maker's website, which reports the Superpowers version. It doesn't send anything about your project.
  • Read the design documents. They're a clear record of what you decided and why, and they're useful when explaining your prototype to others.

Next ​

When this guide's checkpoint works, continue with Homework: Put Your Setup to Work.