@dzhechkov/keysarium 1.0.0

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  1. package/README.md +289 -0
  2. package/bin/cli.js +5 -0
  3. package/package.json +43 -0
  4. package/src/cli.js +157 -0
  5. package/src/commands/doctor.js +469 -0
  6. package/src/commands/init.js +171 -0
  7. package/src/commands/list.js +147 -0
  8. package/src/commands/remove.js +197 -0
  9. package/src/commands/update.js +191 -0
  10. package/src/utils.js +274 -0
  11. package/templates/.claude/agents/cjm-variant-worker.md +60 -0
  12. package/templates/.claude/agents/discovery-worker.md +45 -0
  13. package/templates/.claude/agents/parallel-research-orchestrator.md +70 -0
  14. package/templates/.claude/agents/presentation-worker.md +55 -0
  15. package/templates/.claude/agents/research-worker.md +43 -0
  16. package/templates/.claude/commands/architecture-phase.md +37 -0
  17. package/templates/.claude/commands/casarium.md +163 -0
  18. package/templates/.claude/commands/cjm-prototype.md +42 -0
  19. package/templates/.claude/commands/discovery.md +34 -0
  20. package/templates/.claude/commands/explore-case.md +22 -0
  21. package/templates/.claude/commands/harvest.md +67 -0
  22. package/templates/.claude/commands/new-research.md +69 -0
  23. package/templates/.claude/commands/parallel-research.md +45 -0
  24. package/templates/.claude/commands/presentation.md +49 -0
  25. package/templates/.claude/commands/research.md +32 -0
  26. package/templates/.claude/commands/solve.md +36 -0
  27. package/templates/.claude/rules/agent-swarm.md +31 -0
  28. package/templates/.claude/rules/anti-patterns.md +19 -0
  29. package/templates/.claude/rules/checkpoint-protocol.md +23 -0
  30. package/templates/.claude/rules/domain-specific.md +32 -0
  31. package/templates/.claude/rules/file-conventions.md +38 -0
  32. package/templates/.claude/rules/modular-reuse.md +35 -0
  33. package/templates/.claude/rules/research-quality.md +20 -0
  34. package/templates/.claude/settings.json +37 -0
  35. package/templates/.claude/skills/explore/SKILL.md +215 -0
  36. package/templates/.claude/skills/explore/references/questioning-techniques.md +151 -0
  37. package/templates/.claude/skills/explore/references/task-brief-templates.md +355 -0
  38. package/templates/.claude/skills/frontend-design/LICENSE.txt +177 -0
  39. package/templates/.claude/skills/frontend-design/SKILL.md +42 -0
  40. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/SKILL.md +415 -0
  41. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/references/ed25519-verification.md +658 -0
  42. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/references/research-actions.md +544 -0
  43. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/references/source-evaluation.md +560 -0
  44. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/scripts/ed25519_verifier.py +662 -0
  45. package/templates/.claude/skills/goap-research-ed25519/scripts/goap_planner.py +720 -0
  46. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/SKILL.md +371 -0
  47. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/references/example-presentation.md +273 -0
  48. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/references/slide-types.md +426 -0
  49. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/references/sources-index-template.md +213 -0
  50. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/references/speaker-script-patterns.md +324 -0
  51. package/templates/.claude/skills/presentation-storyteller/references/storytelling-frameworks.md +270 -0
  52. package/templates/.claude/skills/problem-solver-enhanced/SKILL.md +562 -0
  53. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/SKILL.md +194 -0
  54. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/examples/noom-cjm-example.md +100 -0
  55. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/examples/noom-module1-example.md +88 -0
  56. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/01-intelligence.md +328 -0
  57. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/02-product-customers.md +221 -0
  58. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/025-cjm-prototype.md +206 -0
  59. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/03-market-competition.md +402 -0
  60. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/04-business-finance.md +287 -0
  61. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/05-growth-engine.md +290 -0
  62. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/modules/06-playbook-synthesis.md +286 -0
  63. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/references/blue-ocean-canvas.md +39 -0
  64. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/references/industry-benchmarks.md +67 -0
  65. package/templates/.claude/skills/reverse-engineering-unicorn/references/jtbd-canvas.md +48 -0
  66. package/templates/CLAUDE.md +185 -0
  67. package/templates/TOOLKIT_HARVEST.md +29 -0
  68. package/templates/docs/keysarium/01-deployment-guide.md +768 -0
  69. package/templates/docs/keysarium/02-admin-guide.md +1170 -0
  70. package/templates/docs/keysarium/03-user-guide.md +884 -0
  71. package/templates/docs/keysarium/04-infrastructure-requirements.md +967 -0
  72. package/templates/docs/keysarium/05-architecture.md +706 -0
  73. package/templates/docs/keysarium/06-user-flows.md +925 -0
  74. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/01-deployment-guide.md +828 -0
  75. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/02-admin-guide.md +1052 -0
  76. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/03-user-guide.md +960 -0
  77. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/04-infrastructure-requirements.md +610 -0
  78. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/05-architecture.md +1112 -0
  79. package/templates/docs/skills-bto/06-user-flows.md +977 -0
  80. package/templates/lib/agent-patterns.md +115 -0
  81. package/templates/lib/domain-templates.md +172 -0
  82. package/templates/lib/phase-utils.md +107 -0
  83. package/templates/lib/skill-loader.md +78 -0
  84. package/templates/researches/.gitkeep +0 -0
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+ # Domain-Specific Rules
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+
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+ ## Banking / FinTech
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+ - ALWAYS recommend on-premise LLM deployment (GigaChat, YandexGPT, open-source)
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+ - ALWAYS reference: ФЗ-152, ЦБ requirements, ФСТЭК
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+ - HITL (Human-in-the-Loop) is MANDATORY for any decision-making
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+ - Data NEVER leaves the security perimeter
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+ - Palette: Blue/Navy/Silver
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+ - Tone: strict, reliable, conservative
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+
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+ ## Retail / E-commerce
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+ - Latency budget: < 200ms for real-time recommendations
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+ - A/B testing as primary validation method
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+ - Balance personalization vs. privacy (GDPR/ФЗ-152)
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+ - Address seasonality and cold-start problems
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+ - Palette: Amber/Orange
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+
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+ ## Enterprise / B2B
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+ - Address Change Management (people resist AI)
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+ - Plan for Legacy system integration
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+ - Define SLA and fault tolerance
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+ - Express ROI in FTE/hours saved, not abstract percentages
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+ - Palette: Teal/Indigo
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+
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+ ## Healthcare
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+ - HITL mandatory for ALL clinical decisions
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+ - Reference: ФЗ-323, medical device regulations
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+ - Explainability requirements for AI decisions
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+ - Patient data isolation (ФЗ-152 + medical specifics)
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+
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+ ## Detection
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+ Detect domain from case description keywords and apply rules automatically.
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+ # File Conventions
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+
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+ ## Research Artifacts
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+ All research artifacts MUST be created inside `researches/<case-slug>/` directory.
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+ NEVER create research files in the project root.
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+
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+ ## Naming
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+ - Case slugs: snake_case, Latin characters only (e.g., `bank_kc_automation`)
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+ - Phase artifacts: numbered prefix (00_, 01_, 02_, etc.)
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+ - Diagrams: descriptive kebab-case (e.g., `architecture-c4.mermaid`)
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+ - Prototypes: in `prototype/` subdirectory
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+
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+ ## File Creation Timing
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+ Artifacts are created AT THE END of their phase, NOT deferred to Phase 6.
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+ Each phase checkpoint verifies the file exists.
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+
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+ ## Directory Structure per Research
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+ ```
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+ researches/<slug>/
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+ ├── 00_product_discovery.md
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+ ├── 01_case_brief.md
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+ ├── 02_research_findings.md
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+ ├── 02.5_trend_brief.md
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+ ├── 03_solution_strategy.md
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+ ├── 04_architecture.md
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+ ├── 05_presentation_content.md
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+ ├── 06_speaker_script.md
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+ ├── 07_qa_preparation.md
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+ ├── 08_executive_summary.md
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+ ├── prototype/
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+ │ └── cjm-prototype.jsx
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+ ├── diagrams/
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+ │ ├── architecture-c4.mermaid
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+ │ ├── sequence-main-flow.mermaid
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+ │ ├── process-as-is.mermaid
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+ │ └── process-to-be.mermaid
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+ └── README.md
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+ ```
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+ # Modular Reuse Rules
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+
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+ ## Skills are Domain-Agnostic
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+ Skills in .claude/skills/ are designed to work across ANY domain:
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+ - explore: works for any task clarification
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+ - goap-research-ed25519: works for any research topic
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+ - problem-solver-enhanced: works for any complex problem
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+ - frontend-design: works for any UI task
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+ - presentation-storyteller: works for any presentation
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+ - reverse-engineering-unicorn: works for any company analysis
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+
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+ ## Commands are Pipeline-Specific
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+ Commands in .claude/commands/ implement the Casarium pipeline.
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+ They can be adapted for other pipelines by:
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+ 1. Copying the command file
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+ 2. Modifying phase-specific content
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+ 3. Keeping the skill loading pattern intact
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+
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+ ## Agent Templates are Reusable
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+ Agent templates in .claude/agents/ define reusable agent configurations.
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+ They can be composed for different workflows.
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+
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+ ## Library Functions
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+ Shared logic lives in lib/ directory:
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+ - lib/phase-utils.md: Common phase utilities
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+ - lib/agent-patterns.md: Agent spawning patterns
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+ - lib/checkpoint-template.md: Checkpoint formatting
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+
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+ ## Extending the System
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+ To add a new phase:
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+ 1. Create .claude/commands/new-phase.md
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+ 2. Create or reuse a skill in .claude/skills/
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+ 3. Add agent template in .claude/agents/ if parallelizable
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+ 4. Update CLAUDE.md pipeline table
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+ 5. Update docs/
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+ # Research Quality Rules
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+
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+ ## PARANOID Mode (Default for all research)
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+ - Every factual claim MUST have a verifiable source
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+ - Zero tolerance for hallucinated citations
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+ - Confidence threshold: 0.99 minimum
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+ - If source cannot be verified → mark as [UNVERIFIED] and flag
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+
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+ ## Citation Requirements
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+ - Format: `[Claim] — Source: [URL or publication], [Date]`
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+ - No bare claims without attribution in research documents
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+ - Self-generated analysis must be explicitly marked as `[ANALYSIS]`
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+
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+ ## Verification Checklist
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+ Before completing any research phase:
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+ - [ ] All claims have sources
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+ - [ ] No unverified statistics or percentages
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+ - [ ] Competitor names verified to exist
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+ - [ ] Technology recommendations are for real, available products
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+ - [ ] Regulatory references cite actual laws/standards
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+ {
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+ "hooks": {
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+ "PreToolUse": [
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+ {
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+ "matcher": "Write|Edit",
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+ "hooks": [
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+ {
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+ "type": "command",
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+ "command": "bash -c 'if echo \"$CLAUDE_TOOL_INPUT\" | grep -q '\"researches/\"' && ! echo \"$CLAUDE_TOOL_INPUT\" | grep -qE '\"researches/[a-z0-9_]+/\"'; then echo \"⚠️ BLOCKED: Research files must be inside researches/<case-slug>/ directory\" && exit 1; fi; exit 0'"
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+ }
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+ ]
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+ }
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+ ],
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+ "PostToolUse": [
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+ {
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+ "matcher": "Write",
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+ "hooks": [
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+ {
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+ "type": "command",
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+ "command": "bash -c 'if echo \"$CLAUDE_TOOL_INPUT\" | grep -qE \"0[0-8]_.*\\.md\"; then echo \"📋 Artifact created. Remember to update the tracker in README.md\"; fi; exit 0'"
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+ }
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+ ]
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+ }
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+ ],
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+ "Notification": [
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+ {
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+ "matcher": "",
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+ "hooks": [
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+ {
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+ "type": "command",
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+ "command": "echo '🔔 Task completed'"
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+ }
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+ ]
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+ }
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+ ]
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+ }
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+ }
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+ ---
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+ name: explore
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+ description: >
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+ Adaptive task exploration and clarification skill for transforming vague
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+ requests into actionable specifications. Use when a user presents any task,
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+ problem, or goal that requires clarification before execution. Triggers on
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+ ambiguous requests, complex multi-part tasks, "I want to...", "help me with...",
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+ strategic decisions, product ideas, creative briefs, and any situation where
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+ understanding the real need is essential before proposing solutions. Does NOT
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+ provide solutions until task is fully explored.
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+ ---
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+
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+ # Explore: Adaptive Task Clarification
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+
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+ Transform vague requests into crystal-clear, actionable task specifications through systematic Socratic questioning.
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+
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+ ## Core Philosophy
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+
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+ **Never solve before you understand.** Most failed solutions solve the wrong problem. This skill ensures the real problem is understood before any solution is proposed.
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+
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+ Key principles:
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+ - Questions unlock understanding; answers often hide assumptions
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+ - The stated goal is rarely the real goal
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+ - Constraints reveal opportunities
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+ - Success criteria prevent scope creep
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+
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+ ## Task Classification
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+
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+ Before asking questions, classify the task type to select appropriate exploration dimensions:
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+
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+ | Task Type | Indicators | Primary Dimensions |
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+ |-----------|------------|-------------------|
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+ | **Product/Feature** | "build", "create app", "develop" | Outcome, Users, Constraints, Success |
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+ | **Problem Solving** | "fix", "solve", "issue with" | Root Cause, Constraints, Attempted Solutions |
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+ | **Decision Making** | "should I", "choose between", "evaluate" | Criteria, Tradeoffs, Timeline, Reversibility |
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+ | **Creative** | "write", "design", "make content" | Audience, Tone, Format, Examples |
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+ | **Research** | "find out", "analyze", "understand" | Scope, Depth, Sources, Deliverable |
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+ | **Process/Workflow** | "how to", "improve process" | Current State, Desired State, Blockers |
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+
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+ ## Exploration Dimensions
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+
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+ Select 3-5 dimensions based on task type. Each dimension has multiple question variants—choose the most natural for context.
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+
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+ ### 1. The Real Objective
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+ Uncover what success truly looks like, beyond the stated request.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "If this worked perfectly, what would be different in your [work/life/business]?"
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+ - "What outcome would make you say 'this was absolutely worth it'?"
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+ - "Is this goal a means to something else, or the end itself?"
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+ - "If you could wave a magic wand and have any result, what would you choose?"
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+
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+ **Red flags to probe:** Generic goals ("make it better"), proxy metrics, solutions presented as requirements.
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+
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+ ### 2. Constraints & Boundaries
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+ Identify hard limits that shape the solution space.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "What's absolutely off the table—budget, time, technology, or approach-wise?"
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+ - "What existing systems, processes, or decisions must this work with?"
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+ - "Who needs to approve this, and what are their non-negotiables?"
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+ - "What would disqualify a solution, even if it technically works?"
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+
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+ **Red flags to probe:** No constraints mentioned (usually means hidden ones), unrealistic expectations.
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+
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+ ### 3. Available Resources
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+ Understand leverage points and existing assets.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "What do you already have that we could build on—data, tools, people, prior work?"
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+ - "Who else is involved, and what can they contribute?"
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+ - "What similar problems have you solved before, and what worked?"
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+ - "What's your actual capacity to implement this?"
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+
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+ **Red flags to probe:** Overestimated capabilities, unacknowledged dependencies.
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+
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+ ### 4. Timeline & Urgency
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+ Distinguish real deadlines from arbitrary ones.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "What happens if this takes 2x longer than expected?"
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+ - "Is there a hard deadline, and what's driving it?"
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+ - "Would you prefer a quick 80% solution or a slower 100% solution?"
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+ - "What's the cost of delay vs. the cost of getting it wrong?"
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+
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+ **Red flags to probe:** Artificial urgency, no clear driver for deadline.
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+
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+ ### 5. Success Criteria
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+ Define what "done" actually means.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "How will you know this is successful? What will you measure?"
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+ - "Who decides if this is good enough, and what will they look for?"
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+ - "What's the minimum viable outcome that would still be valuable?"
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+ - "In 6 months, what would make you regret the approach we took?"
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+
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+ **Red flags to probe:** Vague criteria ("stakeholders will be happy"), moving targets.
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+
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+ ### 6. Attempted Solutions (for problems)
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+ Learn from what hasn't worked.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "What have you already tried, and why didn't it work?"
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+ - "What solutions have you considered but rejected?"
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+ - "What would the obvious solution be, and why isn't that good enough?"
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+
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+ ### 7. Audience & Stakeholders (for products/content)
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+ Understand who this serves.
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+
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+ **Questions:**
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+ - "Who specifically will use this, and what's their context when they do?"
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+ - "What does your audience already know or believe about this?"
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+ - "Who might be negatively affected, and does that matter?"
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+
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+ ## Execution Protocol
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+
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+ ### Phase 1: Initial Assessment (1 turn)
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+
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+ 1. Parse the user's request
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+ 2. Identify what's already clear from context
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+ 3. Classify task type
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+ 4. Select 3-5 most critical dimensions
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+ 5. Note any immediate red flags or assumptions
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+
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+ ### Phase 2: Adaptive Questioning (3-7 turns)
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+
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+ **Rules:**
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+ - Ask ONE question at a time
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+ - Make questions specific and decision-shaping, not generic
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+ - Challenge vague answers: "Can you be more specific about...?"
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+ - Acknowledge answers before next question
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+ - Skip dimensions already clarified
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+ - Stop when you have enough to create a clear brief
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+
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+ **Question Sequencing:**
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+ 1. Start with Real Objective (reveals the most)
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+ 2. Follow with Constraints (narrows solution space)
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+ 3. Then Success Criteria (defines done)
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+ 4. Fill gaps with other dimensions as needed
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+
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+ **Adaptive behavior:**
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+ - If user gives detailed answer → compress follow-ups
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+ - If user seems frustrated → summarize and ask if they want to continue
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+ - If contradiction detected → gently probe: "Earlier you mentioned X, but now Y—help me understand?"
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+
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+ ### Phase 3: Task Brief Synthesis (1 turn)
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+
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+ After sufficient exploration, synthesize into a **Task Brief**:
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+
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+ ```
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+ ## Task Brief
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+
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+ **Objective:** [Clear statement of what we're actually solving]
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+
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+ **Context:** [Relevant background and constraints]
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+
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+ **Success Criteria:**
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+ - [Measurable criterion 1]
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+ - [Measurable criterion 2]
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+
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+ **Constraints:**
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+ - [Hard constraint 1]
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+ - [Hard constraint 2]
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+
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+ **Resources Available:** [What we can leverage]
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+
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+ **Timeline:** [Deadline and urgency level]
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+
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+ **Key Assumptions:** [Things we're assuming that could change the approach]
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+
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+ **Out of Scope:** [Explicitly excluded items]
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+ ```
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+
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+ Ask user: "Does this capture what you need? Anything to add or correct?"
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+
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+ ### Phase 4: Handoff
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+
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+ Once validated, either:
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+ - Proceed to solution (if user wants immediate help)
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+ - Export brief for later use
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+ - Suggest appropriate next steps/skills
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+
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+ ## Anti-Patterns to Avoid
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+
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+ ❌ **Interrogation mode:** Don't fire questions robotically
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+ ❌ **Assuming context:** Don't skip clarification because you "think" you understand
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+ ❌ **Premature solutions:** Don't hint at solutions before exploration is complete
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+ ❌ **Over-questioning:** Stop when you have enough clarity
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+ ❌ **Generic questions:** Each question should be tailored to this specific task
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+ ❌ **Ignoring signals:** If user provides info proactively, don't re-ask
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+
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+ ## Example Flow
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+
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+ **User:** "I want to create a dashboard for my team"
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+
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+ **Claude (Phase 1 assessment):**
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+ - Task type: Product/Feature
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+ - Unclear: Who uses it, what data, what decisions it enables, timeline
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+ - Dimensions needed: Real Objective, Audience, Constraints, Success Criteria
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+
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+ **Claude:** "Before we dive in—what decisions will your team make differently once they have this dashboard? What's the main insight they're missing today?"
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+
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+ *[User answers about tracking project delays]*
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+
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+ **Claude:** "Got it—so the core need is visibility into project health to catch delays early. How do you know a project is delayed today? What's the current process for catching these issues?"
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+
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+ *[Continues adaptively based on answers...]*
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+
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+ ## Integration Notes
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+
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+ After exploration, this skill can hand off to:
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+ - problem-solver-enhanced (for complex problems)
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+ - goap-research (for research tasks)
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+ - frontend-design (for UI/product tasks)
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+ - Any implementation skill with the structured Task Brief
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+ # Advanced Questioning Techniques
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+
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+ Reference for sophisticated question patterns when standard approaches don't yield clarity.
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+
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+ ## Socratic Techniques
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+
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+ ### Clarifying Questions
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+ When answers are vague or use undefined terms:
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+ - "What do you mean by [term]?"
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+ - "Can you give me a specific example of [concept]?"
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+ - "How would you explain this to someone unfamiliar with your context?"
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+
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+ ### Assumption Probing
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+ When hidden assumptions might be distorting the problem:
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+ - "What would have to be true for this approach to work?"
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+ - "What are you taking for granted here that might not be true?"
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+ - "If you were wrong about [assumption], how would that change things?"
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+
19
+ ### Consequence Exploration
20
+ When second-order effects matter:
21
+ - "If this succeeds, what problems might it create?"
22
+ - "Who might be affected that we haven't considered?"
23
+ - "What's the worst realistic outcome if this goes wrong?"
24
+
25
+ ### Perspective Shifting
26
+ When stuck in one frame:
27
+ - "How would [competitor/user/skeptic] view this?"
28
+ - "If you had to argue against this approach, what would you say?"
29
+ - "What would you advise someone else in this situation?"
30
+
31
+ ## Techniques for Specific Blockers
32
+
33
+ ### When user presents solution as requirement
34
+ "I need a mobile app for X"
35
+
36
+ **Approach:** Trace back to underlying need
37
+ - "What problem would the mobile app solve?"
38
+ - "How do users handle this today without the app?"
39
+ - "If a mobile app wasn't an option, how else might you solve this?"
40
+
41
+ ### When user can't articulate success
42
+ "I'll know it when I see it"
43
+
44
+ **Approach:** Use concrete scenarios
45
+ - "Imagine it's 6 months from now and this was a huge success—describe what's happening"
46
+ - "If you had to bet money on one metric improving, what would it be?"
47
+ - "What would your boss/customer/user say that would prove this worked?"
48
+
49
+ ### When constraints seem impossible
50
+ "We need enterprise features but have startup budget"
51
+
52
+ **Approach:** Separate hard from soft constraints
53
+ - "If you had to prioritize: which constraint is truly immovable?"
54
+ - "What's the minimum viable version that would still be valuable?"
55
+ - "What could you trade off to make this feasible?"
56
+
57
+ ### When user is emotionally invested
58
+ User seems attached to a specific solution
59
+
60
+ **Approach:** Validate, then explore
61
+ - "It sounds like you've thought about this a lot. What led you to this approach?"
62
+ - "What would make you reconsider this direction?"
63
+ - "What's the strongest argument against this that you've heard?"
64
+
65
+ ### When multiple stakeholders with conflicting needs
66
+ "My boss wants X but users want Y"
67
+
68
+ **Approach:** Map the conflict explicitly
69
+ - "Let's map out who wants what. What does your boss's ideal outcome look like?"
70
+ - "Where exactly do these needs conflict?"
71
+ - "Is there a version that gives each party their most important thing?"
72
+
73
+ ## Question Formulation Patterns
74
+
75
+ ### The Magic Wand
76
+ Removes artificial constraints to reveal true desires:
77
+ "If you could wave a magic wand and have any outcome, what would you choose?"
78
+
79
+ ### The Premortem
80
+ Surfaces hidden risks:
81
+ "Imagine this failed spectacularly—what went wrong?"
82
+
83
+ ### The Constraint Inversion
84
+ Challenges assumptions about limitations:
85
+ "What if [constraint] wasn't a factor—would you approach this differently?"
86
+
87
+ ### The Minimum Viable Success
88
+ Defines the essential core:
89
+ "What's the smallest version of this that would still be valuable?"
90
+
91
+ ### The Regret Test
92
+ Clarifies priorities over time:
93
+ "In a year, what would you regret not having done?"
94
+
95
+ ### The Opportunity Cost
96
+ Reveals trade-offs:
97
+ "What else could you do with the time/money/effort this would require?"
98
+
99
+ ### The Outsider View
100
+ Escapes insider bias:
101
+ "How would you explain this problem to someone completely outside your industry?"
102
+
103
+ ## Red Flags and Responses
104
+
105
+ | Red Flag | What It Might Mean | How to Probe |
106
+ |----------|-------------------|--------------|
107
+ | "Everyone knows..." | Unexamined assumption | "Help me understand—what's the evidence for this?" |
108
+ | "We've always done it this way" | Inertia, not strategy | "What originally drove this approach? Is that still true?" |
109
+ | "It's obvious that..." | Blind spot | "Walk me through why this is obvious—I want to make sure I understand" |
110
+ | "We just need to..." | Oversimplification | "What could go wrong with this approach?" |
111
+ | "ASAP" | Artificial urgency | "What specifically happens if this takes longer?" |
112
+ | No constraints mentioned | Hidden constraints | "What would disqualify a solution even if it technically works?" |
113
+ | Very specific solution stated | Solution fixation | "What problem does this solve? Are there other ways to solve it?" |
114
+
115
+ ## Calibrating Question Depth
116
+
117
+ ### Light Touch (1-2 questions per dimension)
118
+ Use when:
119
+ - User is experienced and already has clarity
120
+ - Task is straightforward
121
+ - Time is genuinely constrained
122
+ - User shows frustration
123
+
124
+ ### Deep Exploration (3-5 questions per dimension)
125
+ Use when:
126
+ - High stakes decision
127
+ - Multiple stakeholders
128
+ - Technical complexity
129
+ - User seems uncertain
130
+ - Contradictions in answers
131
+
132
+ ### Signs to Stop Questioning
133
+ - User is repeating themselves
134
+ - Answers are becoming terse
135
+ - You have enough for a clear brief
136
+ - User explicitly says "that's enough"
137
+ - Remaining questions are nice-to-know, not need-to-know
138
+
139
+ ## Cultural Considerations
140
+
141
+ Some users may:
142
+ - View detailed questions as distrust
143
+ - Expect to define solutions themselves
144
+ - Be uncomfortable with "why" questions
145
+ - Prefer to give context incrementally
146
+
147
+ **Adaptive responses:**
148
+ - Frame questions as "helping me help you better"
149
+ - Acknowledge their expertise: "You know this space—help me understand..."
150
+ - Use "what" instead of "why" when appropriate
151
+ - Offer to explain why you're asking