Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Ask User Input agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Ask User Input skill (answers-ask-user-input) teaches an agent to pause and ask you a few short questions when a little missing context would make its advice noticeably better. Instead of typing long background details, you tap answer buttons and add free text if needed. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to trigger it, and where it does not fit.
Ask User InputXiaomiMiMo/MiMo-Code · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the answers-ask-user-input ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip the folder. Extract the archive so that SKILL.md sits inside the skill folder.
- 3Place the skill. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 4Or upload it in the apps. In the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the skill.
- 5Confirm your runtime renders the widget. Check that your chat interface supports the genui ask_user_input format, or the buttons will not appear.
- 6Ask a decision question. Describe a plan or choice that depends on your situation, such as a workout routine or a gift.
- 7Tap your answers. Select the buttons that fit or type in the free-text box, then let the agent give its recommendation.
What does the Ask User Input skill make the agent do?
When a short bit of missing context would materially improve an answer, the skill tells the agent to show a brief conversational message plus up to three questions. Each question has tappable answer options and a free-text box. After presenting the questions, the agent stops and waits for your taps before recommending anything.
The skill also tells the agent when not to use this pattern. It should answer directly when you ask for an opinion, a simple fact, or prose feedback on writing, and when you have already given detailed constraints.
- Shows a short message before the options, never silent buttons
- Asks up to three questions; three is a ceiling, not a target
- Offers 2-4 short options per question by default, up to 10
- Prefers multi-select, since most choices are not mutually exclusive
How do you install the Ask User Input skill?
Download the ZIP file for the skill from this page and unzip it. The skill's files include SKILL.md. Place the unzipped folder in one of these locations:
- Personal skills: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project skills: the .claude/skills/ folder inside a specific project
- Claude apps: upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills
How do you trigger the skill with natural requests?
You do not need a special command. Ask for help with a decision or plan that depends on your situation, and the agent decides whether a few questions would help. The skill's own examples include requests like planning a workout routine, finding a book to read, thinking about getting a pet, or picking a gift for a friend.
Requests that work well share one trait: the right answer depends on details you have not shared yet. Requests that do not trigger it include simple factual questions and direct requests for an opinion.
- "Help me plan a workout routine"
- "Help me find a book to read"
- "I'm thinking about getting a pet"
- "Help me pick a gift for my friend"
What does the question format look like?
Under the hood, the skill uses a genui ask_user_input widget. Questions are designed to uncover a concrete preference, constraint, or tradeoff, such as budget, timeline, schedule, or maintenance burden. The skill advises against questions whose options simply repeat the choices you are already comparing.
Each question includes a short, specific free-text placeholder. The format is shown below as the skill documents it.
genui{"ask_user_input":{"questions":[{"question":"What matters most for this recommendation?","options":["Lower cost","Less effort","Best quality"],"type":"multi_select","free_text_placeholder":"Add another priority"}]}}What do you need to run it?
The skill requires a runtime that renders the genui ask_user_input widget format. Without that renderer, the buttons will not appear and the output may look broken. The skill runs no scripts and uses no network access, according to its documentation.
- Requirement: a runtime that renders the genui ask_user_input widget
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: no
- Files: SKILL.md
What are the safety notes and limits?
The skill itself is a single instruction file with no scripts and no network use. Its main practical risk is a poor experience rather than a security one: in a runtime without the widget renderer, the questions appear as unusable text. The skill is also not meant for every conversation, so it is worth checking that a question-first flow is what you want before relying on it for a quick answer.
- No scripts and no network use are listed for this skill
- Without a compatible renderer, buttons will not show
- Extra questions can feel like second-guessing when you have already been detailed
What people use it for
- Planning a workout routine around goals, time available and equipment access
- Choosing a book based on genre, mood and recent favourites
- Thinking through a pet purchase by considering lifestyle, living situation and time commitment
- Picking a gift by narrowing occasion, budget and the friend's interests
- Testing a conversational assistant that should gather preferences before advising
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ask User Input skill free?
The source is licensed under MIT, which is the licence listed for this item. It does not list prices, so check the repository for any cost details before relying on it.
What do I need to use the Ask User Input skill?
You need a runtime that renders the genui ask_user_input widget format. Without it, the tappable buttons will not appear and the output may look broken.
Where do I put the skill folder?
Place it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps, you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does the skill run scripts or use the internet?
According to the listing, it runs no scripts and uses no network. The package contains only SKILL.md.
Why didn't the agent ask me questions for a simple question?
The skill tells the agent to answer factual questions and direct requests for opinions straight away. It only asks questions when missing context would meaningfully change the advice.
Can I use this skill instead of just typing more details?
Yes, that is the point. If you would rather tap answers than write long descriptions, the buttons let you give context quickly. If you have already given detailed constraints, the skill tells the agent to proceed without asking more.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you want tailored advice on plans, purchases or choices and prefer tapping answers over writing long descriptions, and your chat interface renders the genui widget. Skip it for simple facts, direct opinion requests, writing feedback, or runtimes that cannot show the buttons, where a plain answer will serve you better.
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