Principle Exhaust The Design Space
Apply when facing a novel UI interaction or architectural decision with no precedent in the codebase. Build 2-3 competing prototypes and compare side by side before committing.
- Skill ID
- cursor/plugins/principle-exhaust-the-design-space
- Publisher
- cursor
- Repository
- plugins
- Installs
- 0
- Files
- 1
- Synced
- Sep 23, 2026
Open any RiverX project, open the Skills panel in the chat, and search for this identifier. The files are fetched from the source repository at install time.
cursor/plugins/principle-exhaust-the-design-spaceInstalls these files- SKILL.md
What this skill tells the agent
Exhaust the Design Space
When a novel interaction or architectural decision has no established precedent, explore several concrete alternatives before implementation. Building the wrong thing costs more than exploring three options.
The rule. When the right answer is not obvious, build 2-3 competing prototypes or sketches. Compare them side by side. Only then commit. Design it twice is this rule by another name. A second flavor of the first shape does not count.
When it applies:
- Novel UI interactions (no prior art in the codebase)
- Architectural choices with multiple viable approaches
- Product design decisions where user experience depends on feel, not logic
When it doesn't:
- Mechanical implementation where the pattern is established
- Bug fixes or refactors with a clear target state
- Changes where constraints dictate a single viable approach
More from cursor
Use this skill in a project
Open any RiverX project, search the Skills panel for cursor/plugins/principle-exhaust-the-design-space, and install it in one click.