Prompts, skills, packs, gates and agents without the headache.
This is the practical guide to the whole Hack The Sim system. Learn what each AI building block is for, when to use it, and how to combine them into reliable workflows.
The AI building blocks
These are the core formats inside the hub. Each one solves a different problem. Use the smallest thing that gets the job done, then level up when the work needs more structure.
Prompt
A one-off instruction for a specific task. Best for writing, thinking, summarising, coding, planning or exploring.
What is a prompt?Skill
A reusable behaviour with trigger, inputs, rules, output format, guardrails and tests.
What is a skill?Agent
A role-based AI setup with a purpose, boundaries, operating rules and sometimes tools or connectors.
Browse agentsAI Team
Multiple AI roles working together, such as researcher, critic, planner, editor and risk reviewer.
View AI teamsWorkflow Pack
A collection of prompts, skills and checks designed around a complete outcome.
View packsContext File
Reusable background, rules, style, data or reference material the AI needs before it can work properly.
Open context hubQuality Gate
A review checkpoint that tests output before you trust, publish, automate or hand it to a human.
View gatesAutomation-ready
A prompt or skill designed to run inside Make, n8n, Zapier, MCP, webhooks or internal tools.
Explore automationWhat do I need?
Use this quick decision guide. Most people overbuild too early. Start small, then add structure when the task repeats or the risk increases.
Use when you need a single answer, draft, plan, summary, explanation or transformation.
Browse prompts →Use when you repeat the same task and need consistent behaviour, output and checks.
Browse skills →Use when the outcome has multiple steps, reusable assets or a start-to-finish process.
View packs →Use when output must be checked for accuracy, safety, evidence, tone, risk or completeness.
View gates →Use when one AI role is not enough and you need critique, review, planning or specialist perspectives.
View teams →Use when the workflow should run from a trigger, form, event, webhook or scheduled task.
Start automation →The reliable workflow path
A good AI workflow usually moves from simple instruction to repeatable process. You do not need every step every time.
Examples by outcome
Start with the job. The right format becomes obvious once you know the outcome.
Write a LinkedIn post
- Prompt: create the draft.
- Skill: repeat your voice and structure.
- Quality gate: check claims, tone and fluff.
Review a risky decision
- Context file: decision background and constraints.
- AI team: analyst, critic and risk reviewer.
- Quality gate: evidence and assumption check.
Process support requests
- Skill: classify and summarise the request.
- Automation-ready: trigger from form or ticket.
- Human approval: required before sending.
Quality before cleverness
The trick is not making AI sound impressive. The trick is making it useful, testable and safe enough for the job.
Every serious workflow needs
- A clear outcome.
- Enough context to avoid guessing.
- Rules and guardrails.
- Output format.
- A test or review step.
- A human approval point when stakes are high.
Simple quality gate template
Check this output against the brief. Review: - Does it answer the actual task? - Are any claims unsupported? - Is anything invented or assumed? - Is the structure usable? - What needs human review? - What would make this safer or clearer? Return: Pass / Needs work / Fail Reasons Fixes
Next steps
Pick a lane and start building. Tiny useful workflow beats giant clever mess every day of the week.
Browse the Hub
Search prompts, skills, agents, AI teams, workflow packs, context files and quality gates.
Open Prompt HubUse Case Finder
Not sure where to start? Choose the outcome and get routed to the right format.
Find my use caseLearn Skills
Understand reusable AI behaviours and how to install them into your tools.
What is a Skill?Need help choosing the right format?
Describe what you are trying to do and get routed toward the right thing: prompt, skill, workflow pack, AI team, quality gate or automation-ready workflow.