# Sideways

> Use this tool when you need to overcome mental blocks and stimulate creative thinking in AI conversations and coding sessions. Sideways generates unexpected questions and strategies to challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives, with six approaches to reframing problems and finding new solutions. It is ideal for use when stuck or seeking innovative ideas, with a privacy-focused design that keeps your code and conversations secure on your device.

Canonical page: https://skillsregistry.net/skills/sideways-1  
JSON: https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/sideways-1

## Description

Sideways delivers unexpected questions and creative thinking strategies to help break through mental blocks during AI conversations and coding sessions. Drawing inspiration from Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies, it automatically selects from six strategic approaches (Reframe, Reduce, Expand, Disrupt, Embody, Pause) to challenge assumptions and widen thinking when you're stuck. Privacy-focused architecture ensures your code and conversations never leave your device.

## Trust

- **Trust score (0–1):** 0.50
- **Verification tier:** unverified

## Facts

- **Version:** 1.0.0
- **Skill type:** atomic
- **Execution layer:** mcp-remote
- **Runtime environment:** api
- **Category:** other
- **Updated:** 2026-04-25

## Source

- **Source listing:** [PulseMCP](https://www.pulsemcp.com/servers/sideways-1)

## Use it

Resolve this record through the SkillsRegistry MCP server (no auth, read-only):

```
claude mcp add --transport http --scope user skillsregistry https://api.skillsregistry.net/mcp
```

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "get_skill",
    "arguments": {
      "slug": "sideways-1"
    }
  }
}
```

REST: `GET https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/sideways-1` · pull for local use: `GET https://api.skillsregistry.net/v1/skills/sideways-1/pull`

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SkillsRegistry indexes agent skills from public registries and GitHub. Skills we have analysed are scanned with Circle-IR and scored on six dimensions; each listing states its scan coverage. More: https://skillsregistry.net/llms.txt