Project Hail Mary

Use this skill when the user wants a rescue button for crunch mode, deep focus, or a deadline save.

Default product shape: a lightweight macOS launcher that opens the user's music and work surfaces fast, keeps the countdown visible, and leaves a clear next-step checklist instead of vague motivation.

Quick Start

1. Choose the lane: menu-bar-app, shortcut-pack, one-shot-script, dashboard, or support-only.
2. Run python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "<user request>" --anthem "Sign of the Times" to normalize the request.
3. If the user wants something runnable right away, use python3 scripts/hail_mary_launch.py --anthem "Sign of the Times" --service spotify --app "Visual Studio Code" --url "https://github.com".
4. Default Hail Mary sequence:
   • open a hype track or playlist in a real music surface
   • open the repo, docs, notes, call, or dashboard tabs the user actually needs
   • start a visible countdown or show the finish time
   • copy a heads-down status update into the clipboard instead of auto-sending it
   • make the next action obvious
5. Be explicit about capability boundaries:
   • do not promise silent playback control of paid music services unless the local app or browser flow supports it
   • keep sign-in inside Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, GitHub, Slack, Notion, or the user's browser
   • prefer launchers, timers, and copied communication drafts over hidden background control
6. If a real app scaffold is requested, prefer a SwiftUI menu bar app first and add richer flows only if the user asks.

Workflow

Choose The Lane

• menu-bar-app: build a persistent Mac rescue button with an anthem, checklist, countdown, and links into work surfaces.
• shortcut-pack: use Shortcuts, shell scripts, AppleScript, or browser launchers when the user wants something quick without a full app.
• one-shot-script: fire off the anthem, open the right tools, copy the status line, and print a finish time in one local command.
• dashboard: build a single-window launch board with sections like music, comms, critical links, and blockers.
• support-only: explain the fastest realistic path without building anything.

Build The Brief

Run the brief script first. Useful commands:

python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "make a panic-mode Mac menu bar app that opens my repo, Linear, and docs"
python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "play Sign of the Times and open everything I need for a launch push" --anthem "Sign of the Times"
python3 scripts/hail_mary_brief.py --goal "give me a one-shot rescue script for a 45 minute deadline" --lane one-shot-script --focus shipping

The brief should capture:

• anthem or soundtrack preference
• launch lane and shell
• core work surfaces: repo, ticket board, docs, notes, call, dashboard
• timebox length or target finish time
• whether the user wants a copied status update or a visible checklist
• fallback path if direct service control is not realistic

Music Kickoff Guidance

• Default to real user-owned music surfaces:
  • Apple Music search or playlist handoff
  • Spotify search or playlist handoff
  • YouTube search or video handoff
• If the user explicitly wants a track like Sign of the Times, open the search or canonical result page unless the exact deep link is already available.
• Do not bundle copyrighted audio into the repo.
• If direct playback requires a signed-in app or browser session, say so and optimize time-to-music instead of pretending playback is guaranteed.
• If the user wants a custom ritual sound, let them swap the anthem with a local file, playlist URL, or app deeplink.

Countdown And Focus Guidance

• For quick flows, a printed finish time or in-app timer is often enough.
• If the user wants a system notification, use a local notification or reminder, not a fake background scheduler.
• Treat Focus or Do Not Disturb changes as opt-in. Do not silently promise system-wide mode changes unless the chosen path actually supports them on that Mac.

Communication Guidance

• Copy a short status line to the clipboard rather than auto-posting into chat by default.
• Good copied messages:
  • Heads down for 45 minutes. Shipping the last blocker now.
  • Running a Hail Mary pass. I will post status by 6:30 PM.
• If the user wants Slack, Telegram, or another chat action, open the surface or prefill text only when that path is clearly supported.

Security And Privacy

• Keep logins and tokens in the user's own apps or signed-in browser profile.
• Never frame messaging or music-service automation as acceptable on accounts the user does not control.
• Prefer visible user-owned surfaces over hidden automation when secrets or account state are involved.

Implementation Preferences

• Start with the smallest reliable flow that gets the ritual live.
• Prefer:
  • browser or app handoff
  • local launch script
  • menu bar wrapper
  • deeper automation last
• If a browser flow matters, pair this skill with $playwright.
• If the user wants spoken prompts or countdown audio, pair this skill with $speech.

Required Deliverables

• A short implementation brief with the chosen lane.
• Clear statement of what is directly automatable versus what hands off into the user's signed-in tools.
• A concrete Mac surface:
  • menu bar app
  • one-shot script
  • shortcut pack
  • dashboard
  • support steps
• The fastest path to a real Hail Mary ritual the user can trigger again.

Resources

• scripts/hail_mary_brief.py: normalizes the user's request into a build brief.
• scripts/hail_mary_launch.py: small local launcher for music, work surfaces, countdown text, clipboard status, and a notification.
• references/supported-surfaces.md: guardrails for music handoff, timers, and communication flows on macOS.