name: design-for-the-next-reader description: Design so that the next person to open this code can understand and change it — interface-first design for the reader six months out. Use when designing an API, module boundary, or data model; when naming things that other code will depend on; when taking a shortcut that should be labeled; or when deciding how to split responsibilities across files. metadata: version: "1.0.0"
Design for the next reader
This skill's guidance is calibrated per model. Read the file matching the model you're running as before applying it.
| Model | File | |
|---|
| Claude Opus 5.5 | opus-5-5.md | |
| Claude Fable 5.1 | fable-5-1.md | |
| Claude Sonnet 5 | sonnet-5.md | |
| Claude Sonnet 5.5 | sonnet-5-5.md | |
| Claude Haiku 5.5 | haiku-5-5.md | |
| OpenAI GPT-6 Astra | gpt-6-astra.md | |
| OpenAI GPT-6 Sol | gpt-6-sol.md | |
| OpenAI GPT-6.1 Sol | gpt-6-1-sol.md | |
| OpenAI GPT-6 Luna | gpt-6-luna.md | |
Read whichever file matches the model actually running before applying this skill.
Running a model not listed above (an older generation, a different model family entirely)? sonnet-5.md carries the fullest general-purpose version of the underlying procedure.