Nelson
A Claude Code skill that runs multi-agent work by a naval metaphor: planning, parallel tasks with checkpoints, stand-down
Medium risk
We rate an entry medium when the tool runs code, makes network calls or reads project files. Check what exactly it does before installing.
Why this level
- Spawns subagents and runs helper Python scripts
- Writes to a .nelson directory and coordinates changes in the project
Install
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add skills/nelsonDetects the agents on your machine, checks the risk and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a claude-code -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .claude/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a cursor -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a github-copilot -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .github/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .github/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a codex -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a gemini-cli -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .devin/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .devin/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Formerly Windsurf.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a cline -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .cline/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .cline/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a roo -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .roo/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .roo/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
A fork of Roo Code, same .roo folders.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
npx skills add aspegio/nelson --skill nelson -a opencode -yThe skills tool installs the current version from the repository. Add the -g flag to use the skill in every project.
Without third-party tools, from commit 6a0eaaa
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Run in a terminal in the project folder
tmp=$(mktemp -d)
git clone --filter=blob:none --no-checkout https://github.com/aspegio/nelson.git "$tmp"
git -C "$tmp" sparse-checkout set --no-cone /skills/nelson/
git -C "$tmp" checkout 6a0eaaab289266df5df9a18782f1eeb883f7e7a2
mkdir -p .agents/skills
cp -R "$tmp/skills/nelson" .agents/skills/nelsonCommands for macOS and Linux, on Windows run them in Git Bash.
Install the plugin in Claude Code: /plugin marketplace add harrymunro/nelson, then /plugin install nelson@nelson-marketplace. Then just describe the mission, the skill loads without a slash command.
Other ways from the author
/plugin marketplace add harrymunro/nelson
/plugin install nelson@nelson-marketplaceCommands are given as in the repository README.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The skill gives the agent a workflow for coordinating several agents, framed as commanding a squadron. First it turns the user's brief into clear orders: outcome, metric, deadline, constraints and what is out of scope. Then it delegates work across agents, runs it in parallel with checkpoints and quality gates, and keeps a decision log. For failures it has ready procedures for rollback and session recovery. Every step leans on templates and references from the repository rather than improvisation.
Who it is for. For developers who run several agents on one task and want tight coordination with checkpoints.
Good fit when
- Work splits into parallel tasks for several agents
- You need quality gates and progress checkpoints
- You need a documented decision log as the task runs
Not a fit when
- The task is simple and a single agent needs no orchestration
- The agent is not Claude Code and does not support its plugin and hook format
Example request
Split the auth module refactor into parallel tasks and run them with checkpointsLimitations
The skill targets Claude Code and its plugin, hook and subagent model. It runs helper Python scripts for status and works with a .nelson directory in the project. It needs no keys or paid accounts. Its value depends on how well the task actually splits into parallel parts.
How to disable. Remove the nelson plugin via /plugin and optionally delete the .nelson directory from the project.
Security check
- Spawns subagents and runs helper Python scripts
- Writes to a .nelson directory and coordinates changes in the project
README in short
The README presents Nelson as a work-organization process for Claude Code, inspired by Royal Navy procedures. The skill frames a task as sailing orders with outcome, metric and deadline, delegates work across agents, runs it in parallel with checkpoints and quality gates, and keeps a decision log. The repository holds report templates, role references and procedures for failures and recovery. It installs as a Claude Code plugin and loads automatically from a task description. MIT licensed.
SKILL.md
--- name: nelson description: Orchestrates multi-agent task execution using a Royal Navy squadron metaphor — from mission planning through parallel work coordination to stand-down. Use when work needs parallel agent orchestration, tight task coordination with quality gates, structured delegation with progress checkpoints, or a documented decision log. argument-hint: "[mission description]" paths: [".nelson/**"] --- # Nelson Execute this workflow for the user's mission. Write as Nelson's captains would write: concise, elegant, confident. ## 1. Issue Sailing Orders - Review the user's brief for ambiguity. If the outcome, scope, or constraints are unclear, ask the user to clarify before drafting sailing orders. - Write one sentence for `outcome`, `metric`, and `deadline`. - Set constraints: token budget, reliability floor, compliance rules, and forbidden actions. - Define what is out of scope. - Define stop criteria and required handoff artifacts.
FAQ
Do I need a slash command?
No. Per the README the skill loads on its own when you describe the mission; a clear brief is enough.
What is the naval metaphor?
Roles, orders and procedures are framed in Royal Navy squadron terms: sailing orders, captain's log, damage reports. It is a wrapper over ordinary agent coordination.
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