explaingit

devdacian/touchstone

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

13ShellAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A step by step process that uses multiple AI models to draft, review, and improve the custom skill instructions you give AI coding assistants.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((touchstone))
    What it does
      Improves AI skill files
      Automates review cycles
      Cross model checking
    Tech stack
      Shell scripts
      Claude Code
      Codex
    Use cases
      Fix bug reports
      Refine skill docs
      Plan review
    Audience
      AI assisted developers
      Teams using coding agents

Code map

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Turn a rough bug report into a reviewed, implemented fix using automated multi-step AI review.

USE CASE 2

Improve a custom AI skill file by running it through repeated cross-model critique.

USE CASE 3

Get a second AI model's independent review of a plan before code is written.

What is it built with?

ShellClaude CodeCodex

How does it compare?

devdacian/touchstoneadukecoins/codewatchfrichxi/zanai-writing-skill
Stars131313
LanguageShellShellShell
Setup difficultyeasymoderateeasy
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Just copy one folder into your repo and add a short pointer to your project instructions file.

MIT license: use, copy, modify, and share freely, including commercially, as long as the copyright notice stays attached.

In plain English

Touchstone is a process, not a running app, that helps you improve the instructions (called skills) you give to AI coding assistants like Claude Code or Codex. You give it an idea, a new feature request, or a bug report, and it automates a full cycle: gathering context, drafting an initial approach, getting a second opinion from a fresh AI session, writing a plan to a file, running review rounds on that plan, implementing the change, then running review rounds on the implementation too. The review step is the core idea. Each round hands a reviewer a prompt naming specific things to look for, like stale references or sequencing bugs, rather than a vague request for feedback. Every issue the reviewer raises is treated as a claim that needs checking, such as looking at the actual line of code or running the script in question, before the plan owner decides to accept, reject, change, or set it aside. When a second AI model from a different company is available, it reviews the same plan and code in parallel, since a different model tends to catch different kinds of problems. Installing it means copying one folder into your project and adding a short pointer to your own project instructions file. It does not overwrite your existing setup, and by default your project keeps the Touchstone methodology files while ignoring files it generates while running. There is no server to run and no extra software required beyond the AI coding tools you already use. If the second AI model is not reachable due to an authentication or quota problem, the process still finishes using only the first model, with a clear note that this happened. The project is aimed at teams and individuals already using AI coding assistants who want their custom skill instructions to improve in a structured, repeatable way instead of by trial and error. It is released under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Set up Touchstone in my repo and point my project instructions file at it.
Prompt 2
Use the Touchstone process to plan and implement this feature request, with a review loop before you start coding.
Prompt 3
Run Touchstone's cross-model review on the plan I just wrote and list every disagreement.
Prompt 4
Explain how Touchstone's plan review differs from just asking an AI to check its own work.

Frequently asked questions

What is touchstone?

A step by step process that uses multiple AI models to draft, review, and improve the custom skill instructions you give AI coding assistants.

What language is touchstone written in?

Mainly Shell. The stack also includes Shell, Claude Code, Codex.

What license does touchstone use?

MIT license: use, copy, modify, and share freely, including commercially, as long as the copyright notice stays attached.

How hard is touchstone to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is touchstone for?

Mainly developer.

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