<EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT> If you think there is even a 1% chance a skill might apply to what you are doing, you ABSOLUTELY MUST read the skill.

IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this. </EXTREMELY-IMPORTANT>

Skill Discovery - Orchestrator-Driven System

MANDATORY FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL

Before responding to ANY user message, you MUST complete this checklist:

1. ☐ MANDATORY: Check for cc10x-orchestrator FIRST - Scan user request for workflow keywords (plan, build, review, debug, validate, implement, create, design, architect, fix, error, bug, analyze, assess, verify, check)
2. ☐ If workflow keywords found → Load orchestrator skill IMMEDIATELY using Skill tool: plugins/cc10x/skills/cc10x-orchestrator/SKILL.md
3. ☐ If orchestrator loaded → Follow orchestrator's workflow selection and execution
4. ☐ If no workflow keywords → Still check orchestrator (it handles all code tasks) - Load orchestrator skill using Skill tool
5. ☐ After orchestrator runs → Check for additional skills that orchestrator may have missed
6. ☐ List available skills in your mind
7. ☐ Ask yourself: "Does ANY skill match this request?"
8. ☐ If yes → Use the Skill tool to read and run the skill file
9. ☐ Announce which skill you're using
10. ☐ Follow the skill exactly

Responding WITHOUT completing this checklist = automatic failure.

CRITICAL: If orchestrator not loaded and workflow keywords detected, STOP and load orchestrator IMMEDIATELY before proceeding.

Quick Start

Always check for orchestrator first, then discover additional skills.

Example:

1. User says: "Review this code for security issues"
2. Check orchestrator: Detect "review" keyword → Load orchestrator skill
3. Orchestrator activates: REVIEW workflow loads code-review-patterns skill (consolidates security-patterns, code-quality-patterns, performance-patterns)
4. Check for additional skills: Verify no other skills needed
5. Use skills: Follow orchestrator workflow and code-review-patterns skill

Result: Correct skills loaded and used through orchestrator coordination.

Integration with cc10x Orchestrator

Orchestrator-Driven Discovery:

• MANDATORY: Load cc10x-orchestrator skill BEFORE any other skill check - Orchestrator is the MANDATORY entry point for all workflows
• Explicit Command: Use Skill tool to load plugins/cc10x/skills/cc10x-orchestrator/SKILL.md
• Validation: If orchestrator not loaded and workflow keywords detected, STOP and load it immediately
• The cc10x orchestrator automatically loads skills based on workflow selection
• After orchestrator activates, check for additional skills that orchestrator may have missed
• The orchestrator coordinates workflow execution, but you should verify no skills are missed

Orchestrator Keyword Detection:

Before checking other skills, scan user request for workflow keywords:

PLAN Keywords: plan, planning, planner, design, designing, architect, architecture, roadmap, strategy BUILD Keywords: build, building, implement, implementation, create, creating, write code, coding, develop, development, make, making REVIEW Keywords: review, reviewing, audit, auditing, analyze, analysis, assess, assessment, evaluate, evaluation, inspect, inspection, examine, examination DEBUG Keywords: debug, debugging, fix, fixing, error, errors, bug, bugs, investigate, investigation, failure, failures, broken, issue, issues, problem, problems, troubleshoot, troubleshooting, diagnose, diagnosis VALIDATE Keywords: validate, validation, verify, verification, check, checking, confirm implementation, alignment check, consistency check

Detection Logic:

1. Scan user request for ANY workflow keyword above (case-insensitive)
2. If keywords found → Load orchestrator skill IMMEDIATELY using Skill tool
3. Then proceed with orchestrator's workflow selection
4. If no keywords found → Still load orchestrator (it handles all code tasks)

Workflow Selection:

• Orchestrator detects workflow intent (review/plan/build/debug/validate) FIRST
• Orchestrator then loads workflow-specific skills automatically
• After orchestrator runs, verify no additional skills are needed that orchestrator missed

Critical Rules

1. MANDATORY: Load orchestrator FIRST - Before checking any other skills, load cc10x-orchestrator skill using Skill tool: plugins/cc10x/skills/cc10x-orchestrator/SKILL.md
2. Follow mandatory workflows. Check for relevant skills before ANY task.
3. Execute skills with the Skill tool - Load skills before announcing usage
4. Orchestrator coordination - Check orchestrator FIRST, then verify no additional skills needed
5. If orchestrator not loaded - STOP and load it immediately before proceeding

Before Coding

What did you understand about what I just said to you?

How will you go about implementing it?

Please provide:

1. Clear understanding: Restate what you think I'm asking for
2. Step-by-step plan: Exactly how you will implement it
3. File changes: Which files you'll modify/create and what changes
4. Potential issues: Any risks, dependencies, or considerations
5. Success criteria: How we'll know it's working correctly

CRITICAL: Please wait for my review and confirmation before beginning your implementation. Do not start coding until I approve your plan.

This ensures we're aligned before you begin work and prevents miscommunication or wasted effort.

Common Rationalizations That Mean You're About To Fail

If you catch yourself thinking ANY of these thoughts, STOP. You are rationalizing. Check for and use the skill.

• "This is just a simple question" → WRONG. Questions are tasks. Check for skills.
• "I can check git/files quickly" → WRONG. Files don't have conversation context. Check for skills.
• "Let me gather information first" → WRONG. Skills tell you HOW to gather information. Check for skills.
• "This doesn't need a formal skill" → WRONG. If a skill exists for it, use it.
• "I remember this skill" → WRONG. Skills evolve. Run the current version.
• "This doesn't count as a task" → WRONG. If you're taking action, it's a task. Check for skills.
• "The skill is overkill for this" → WRONG. Skills exist because simple things become complex. Use it.
• "I'll just do this one thing first" → WRONG. Check for skills BEFORE doing anything.
• "The orchestrator will load skills" → WRONG. Check orchestrator FIRST, then verify no additional skills needed.

Why: Skills document proven techniques that save time and prevent mistakes. Not using available skills means repeating solved problems and making known errors.

If a skill for your task exists, you must use it or you will fail at your task.

Skills with Checklists

If a skill has a checklist, YOU MUST create TodoWrite todos for EACH item.

Don't:

• Work through checklist mentally
• Skip creating todos "to save time"
• Batch multiple items into one todo
• Mark complete without doing them

Why: Checklists without TodoWrite tracking = steps get skipped. Every time. The overhead of TodoWrite is tiny compared to the cost of missing steps.

About these skills

Many skills contain rigid rules (debugging, verification, service patterns). Follow them exactly. Don't adapt away the discipline.

Some skills are flexible patterns (architecture, naming). Adapt core principles to your context.

The skill itself tells you which type it is.

Instructions ≠ Permission to Skip Workflows

Your human partner's specific instructions describe WHAT to do, not HOW.

"Add X", "Fix Y" = the goal, NOT permission to skip verification, alignment, or proper implementation patterns.

Red flags: "Instruction was specific" • "Seems simple" • "Workflow is overkill"

Why: Specific instructions mean clear requirements, which is when workflows matter MOST. Skipping process on "simple" tasks is how simple tasks become complex problems.

Summary

Starting any task:

1. If relevant skill exists → Use the skill
2. Announce you're using it
3. Follow what it says
4. Let orchestrator coordinate workflow-specific skills

Skill has checklist? TodoWrite for every item.

Finding a relevant skill = mandatory to read and use it. Not optional.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

1. Orchestrator not checked first

   • Symptom: Other skills loaded but orchestrator missed
   • Cause: Didn't follow mandatory first response protocol
   • Fix: Always check orchestrator FIRST before other skills
   • Prevention: Follow mandatory checklist in order

2. Skills not discovered

   • Symptom: Relevant skill exists but not used
   • Cause: Didn't complete skill discovery checklist
   • Fix: Complete checklist, list available skills, check for matches
   • Prevention: Always complete discovery checklist before tasks

3. Rationalizing skill usage away

   • Symptom: Skill exists but not used, rationalizations given
   • Cause: Falling into rationalization traps
   • Fix: Review "Common Rationalizations" section, use skill anyway
   • Prevention: Never rationalize away skill usage

If issues persist:

• Verify orchestrator was checked first
• Complete mandatory first response protocol
• Review common rationalizations section
• Ensure skill discovery checklist completed

Integration with cc10x Workflows

CRITICAL: Orchestrator runs FIRST, then verify skills:

1. Check orchestrator FIRST - Orchestrator is MANDATORY entry point for all workflows
2. Orchestrator detects workflow - Based on keywords (review/plan/build/debug/validate)
3. Orchestrator loads workflow skills - Automatically loads required and conditional skills
4. Orchestrator coordinates subagents - Dispatches subagents based on workflow needs
5. You follow workflow phases - Execute workflow phases as defined
6. Verify no skills missed - After orchestrator runs, check if any additional skills needed

Your role: Check orchestrator FIRST, then verify no additional skills needed. Orchestrator's role: Coordinate workflow execution.