praxstack · praxstack · Aug 29, 2026
diff --git a/.agents/skills/README.md b/.agents/skills/README.md
@@ -39,15 +39,51 @@ discover → interrogate/spec → plan → implement → review → security →
 
 Also installed: **Anthropic dev subset** (MCP builder, frontend-design, webapp-testing, etc.) and **awesome-copilot** (417-skill toolbox).
 
+## Install tiers
+
+The install script supports three tiers via `BERD_SKILLS_TIER`:
+
+| Tier | Env value | What installs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| **CORE** (default) | `core` | Layered pipeline packs (~740 skills) |
+| **EXTENDED** | `extended` | CORE + selective S-tier additions below |
+| **ALL** | `all` | EXTENDED + optional hooks (no bulk verticals) |
+
+```bash
+./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh                    # CORE (default)
+BERD_SKILLS_TIER=extended ./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh
+```
+
+The script pins `npx skills` to the version in `skills-lock.json` (`skillsCli` field). Override with `SKILLS_CLI_VERSION=latest` if needed.
+
+## Extended tier additions
+
+| Skill | Source | Role |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| **hallmark** | [nutlope/hallmark](https://github.com/nutlope/hallmark) | UI taste gate — anti-AI-slop design for greenfield pages and redesigns |
+| **deep-research** | [24601/agent-deep-research](https://github.com/24601/agent-deep-research) | Async deep research (one skill, not four parallel systems) |
+| **last30days** | [mvanhorn/last30days-skill](https://github.com/mvanhorn/last30days-skill) | Recency radar — what people say about a topic in the last 30 days |
+
+## Conflict warnings
+
+Do **not** run multiple full methodologies on the same task — pick one primary workflow:
+
+| Task type | Pick one | Avoid stacking |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Planning | pstack `/poteto-mode` **or** superpowers `/writing-plans` **or** gstack `/plan-ceo-review` | All three in one session |
+| Code review | Berd `code-review` **or** compound `ce-code-review` **or** mattpocock `/code-review` | Redundant review passes |
+| UI design | hallmark **or** shadcn `/improve` design sections | Duplicate design audits |
+| Research | `deep-research` **or** `last30days` **or** compound research agents | Four parallel research systems |
+
 ## Install or refresh
 
 ```bash
 ./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh
 ```
 
-The script uses [`npx skills@latest`](https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills) with `-a cursor -y --copy` (Cursor only, project-local). It restores Berd-owned skills after upstream packs are copied and removes junk agent directories.
+The script uses [`npx skills`](https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills) (pinned via `skills-lock.json`) with `-a cursor -y --copy` (Cursor only, project-local). It restores Berd-owned skills after upstream packs are copied and removes junk agent directories.
 
-Run twice to verify idempotence. Expect ~740 skills after a full install.
+Run twice to verify idempotence. Expect ~740 skills after CORE; ~743 after EXTENDED.
 
 ## One-time repo setup
 
@@ -156,13 +192,40 @@ Install manually when relevant:
 npx skills@latest add supabase/agent-skills --skill '*' -a cursor -y --copy
 npx skills@latest add cloudflare/skills --skill '*' -a cursor -y --copy
 npx skills@latest add aws/agent-toolkit-for-aws/skills --skill '*' -a cursor -y --copy
+# Remotion vertical (12 skills — install one, not all):
+npx skills@latest add remotion-dev/skills --skill remotion-best-practices -a cursor -y --copy
+# NVIDIA (343 skills — pick individual skills only):
+npx skills@latest add nvidia/skills --list
+npx skills@latest add nvidia/skills --skill <name> -a cursor -y --copy
 ```
 
+## MCP servers
+
+Project MCP config: `.cursor/mcp.json`
+
+| Server | Command | Purpose |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| **Context7** | `npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp` | Up-to-date library documentation lookup |
+
+## Optional runtime tools (manual)
+
+These are **not** run by the install script. Install when needed:
+
+| Tool | Install | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| **OpenSpec** | `npm install -g @fission-ai/openspec@latest` then `openspec init` | Creates `openspec/` structure for spec-driven workflows |
+| **Graphify** | `uv tool install graphifyy` then `graphify cursor install --project` | Requires `uv` on PATH; visualizes codebase graphs |
+| **Impeccable** | `npx impeccable skills install` (project) then `/impeccable init` in Agent chat | Design-system skill; installs to `.cursor/` and `.agents/` |
+| **agent-browser CLI** | `npm install -g agent-browser` | Required for browser QA layer (see above) |
+
 ## Searchable armory (do NOT bulk-install)
 
 | Pack | Source | Notes |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | **Microsoft skills** | [microsoft/skills](https://github.com/microsoft/skills) | Large repo — context rot risk. Use `npx skills add microsoft/skills --list` and install individual skills only. |
+| **wshobson/agents** | [wshobson/agents](https://github.com/wshobson/agents) | 94 plugins — do NOT bulk install |
+| **NVIDIA skills** | [nvidia/skills](https://github.com/nvidia/skills) | 343 GPU/AI-Q skills — install individual skills only |
+| **everything-claude-code** | various | Redundant with gstack + superpowers + pstack + compound — skip |
 | Vercel skills CLI | [vercel-labs/skills](https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills) | Package manager for all skills |
 | Anthropic skills | [anthropics/skills](https://github.com/anthropics/skills) | Dev subset installed; browse for more |
 | Supabase | [supabase/agent-skills](https://github.com/supabase/agent-skills) | Postgres/Supabase workflows |

diff --git a/.cursor/mcp.json b/.cursor/mcp.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "context7": {
+      "command": "npx",
+      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
@@ -126,7 +126,18 @@ local override.
 
 ## Agent skills
 
-Project skills live in `.agents/skills/`. Install or refresh with `./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh`. **gstack** (`/plan-ceo-review`, `/ship`, `/qa`, …) also needs its runtime: `./scripts/install-gstack-runtime.sh` (runs automatically at the end of the skill install script). See `.agents/skills/README.md`.
+Project skills live in `.agents/skills/`. Install or refresh:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh                      # CORE tier (default)
+BERD_SKILLS_TIER=extended ./scripts/install-agent-skills.sh   # + hallmark, deep-research, last30days
+```
+
+**gstack** (`/plan-ceo-review`, `/ship`, `/qa`, …) also needs its runtime: `./scripts/install-gstack-runtime.sh` (runs automatically at the end of the skill install script).
+
+- Stack tiers, conflict warnings, and optional tools: `.agents/skills/README.md`
+- MCP servers (Context7): `.cursor/mcp.json`
+- Skills CLI version pin: `skills-lock.json` → `skillsCli`
 
 ### Issue tracker
 

diff --git a/scripts/install-agent-skills.sh b/scripts/install-agent-skills.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,28 @@ set -euo pipefail
 repo_root="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 cd "$repo_root"
 
+# Tier: core (default) | extended | all
+#   core     — layered pipeline packs (default Berd stack)
+#   extended — core + selective S-tier additions (hallmark, deep-research, last30days)
+#   all      — extended + optional verticals (none bulk-installed by default)
+readonly BERD_SKILLS_TIER="${BERD_SKILLS_TIER:-core}"
+
+# Pin skills CLI when skills-lock.json records a version (falls back to latest).
+skills_cli_version() {
+  if [[ -f "$repo_root/skills-lock.json" ]] && command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    local pinned
+    pinned="$(jq -r '.skillsCli // empty' "$repo_root/skills-lock.json" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+    if [[ -n "$pinned" ]]; then
+      echo "$pinned"
+      return
+    fi
+  fi
+  echo "latest"
+}
+
+readonly SKILLS_CLI="$(skills_cli_version)"
+readonly SKILLS_NPX=(npx --yes "skills@${SKILLS_CLI}")
+
 # Berd-owned skills that must not be overwritten by upstream packs.
 readonly -a PROTECTED_SKILLS=(
   assistive-ux
@@ -48,14 +70,82 @@ remove_gstack_fixtures() {
 install_pack() {
   local spec="$1"
   shift
-  npx --yes skills@latest add "$spec" --skill '*' -a cursor -y --copy "$@"
+  "${SKILLS_NPX[@]}" add "$spec" --skill '*' -a cursor -y --copy "$@"
 }
 
 # Install one or more named skills from a pack.
 install_skills() {
   local spec="$1"
   shift
-  npx --yes skills@latest add "$spec" -a cursor -y --copy "$@"
+  "${SKILLS_NPX[@]}" add "$spec" -a cursor -y --copy "$@"
+}
+
+tier_at_least() {
+  local want="$1"
+  case "$BERD_SKILLS_TIER" in
+    core) [[ "$want" == "core" ]] ;;
+    extended) [[ "$want" == "core" || "$want" == "extended" ]] ;;
+    all) true ;;
+    *)
+      echo "error: unknown BERD_SKILLS_TIER=$BERD_SKILLS_TIER (use core|extended|all)" >&2
+      exit 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+# ── CORE tier ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Layer: discover → interrogate/spec → plan → implement → review → security → browser QA → ship → learn
+install_core_tier() {
+  echo "Installing CORE tier (skills@${SKILLS_CLI}) …"
+
+  install_pack shadcn/improve
+  install_pack obra/superpowers
+  install_pack mattpocock/skills --full-depth
+  install_pack garrytan/gstack
+  install_pack cursor/plugins --full-depth
+  install_pack vercel-labs/agent-skills
+
+  install_pack trailofbits/skills
+
+  install_skills vercel-labs/skills --skill find-skills
+  install_skills vercel-labs/agent-browser --skill agent-browser
+
+  install_skills anthropics/skills \
+    --skill claude-api \
+    --skill doc-coauthoring \
+    --skill frontend-design \
+    --skill mcp-builder \
+    --skill skill-creator \
+    --skill web-artifacts-builder \
+    --skill webapp-testing
+
+  install_pack github/awesome-copilot
+
+  if ! install_pack EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin 2>/dev/null; then
+    echo "Note: EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin install failed; use /add-plugin compound-engineering in Cursor."
+  fi
+}
+
+# ── EXTENDED tier ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Selective S-tier additions — one skill per pack, project-local only.
+install_extended_tier() {
+  echo "Installing EXTENDED tier …"
+
+  install_skills nutlope/hallmark --skill hallmark
+  install_skills 24601/agent-deep-research --skill deep-research
+  install_skills mvanhorn/last30days-skill --skill last30days
+}
+
+# ── OPTIONAL tier ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Documented verticals — install individually, never bulk (context rot).
+# Uncomment or run manually when relevant:
+#
+#   install_skills remotion-dev/skills --skill remotion-best-practices
+#   install_skills nvidia/skills --skill <name>   # 343 skills — pick one
+#   npx skills add microsoft/skills --list        # armory only
+#   npx skills add wshobson/agents --list         # 94 plugins — do NOT bulk install
+install_optional_tier() {
+  echo "OPTIONAL tier: no bulk installs (see .agents/skills/README.md)."
 }
 
 # Optional packs — install manually when relevant (not part of default stack):
@@ -66,43 +156,18 @@ install_skills() {
 #   npx skills@latest add microsoft/skills --list
 #   npx skills@latest add microsoft/skills --skill <name> -a cursor -y --copy
 
-echo "Installing agent skill packs into .agents/skills/ …"
+echo "BERD_SKILLS_TIER=$BERD_SKILLS_TIER"
 
-# Layer: discover → interrogate/spec → plan → implement → review → security → browser QA → ship → learn
+if tier_at_least core; then
+  install_core_tier
+fi
+
+if tier_at_least extended; then
+  install_extended_tier
+fi
 
-# Core workflow packs
-install_pack shadcn/improve
-install_pack obra/superpowers
-install_pack mattpocock/skills --full-depth
-install_pack garrytan/gstack
-install_pack cursor/plugins --full-depth
-install_pack vercel-labs/agent-skills
-
-# Security layer
-install_pack trailofbits/skills
-
-# Discovery
-install_skills vercel-labs/skills --skill find-skills
-
-# Browser QA
-install_skills vercel-labs/agent-browser --skill agent-browser
-
-# Anthropic dev/engineering subset (skip pure creative/doc examples)
-install_skills anthropics/skills \
-  --skill claude-api \
-  --skill doc-coauthoring \
-  --skill frontend-design \
-  --skill mcp-builder \
-  --skill skill-creator \
-  --skill web-artifacts-builder \
-  --skill webapp-testing
-
-# Toolbox
-install_pack github/awesome-copilot
-
-# Compound engineering (learn layer) — plugin install fallback documented in README
-if ! install_pack EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin 2>/dev/null; then
-  echo "Note: EveryInc/compound-engineering-plugin install failed; use /add-plugin compound-engineering in Cursor."
+if tier_at_least all; then
+  install_optional_tier
 fi
 
 restore_protected_skills

diff --git a/skills-lock.json b/skills-lock.json
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 {
   "version": 1,
+  "skillsCli": "1.5.23",
   "skills": {
     "Make Bot UI": {
       "source": "cursor/plugins",