| name | using-expert-mode |
| description | Use when starting substantive work to choose the right workflow skill without adding unnecessary ceremony to trivial interactions |
| compatibility | opencode |
| license | MIT |
Using Expert Mode
Purpose
Choose the smallest correct workflow for the user's request. Use skills to structure substantive work, not to add ceremony to trivial interactions.
Core Rule
Before substantive work, follow this flow:
- Identify whether the request starts a workflow
- Load the most relevant skill
- Follow that skill until you reach a natural handoff or completion point
For trivial interactions, respond directly.
What Counts as Substantive Work
Load a skill before:
- planning or design work
- implementing a feature or refactor
- debugging a bug or failing test
- reviewing completed work
- using external libraries, frameworks, or APIs where current docs matter
Usually respond directly for:
- short acknowledgements
- one-off clarification questions
- simple factual answers that do not begin a workflow
Skill Selection
brainstorming: explore a design before implementation
writing-plans: turn approved requirements into an implementation plan
executing-plans: carry out an existing plan task by task
systematic-debugging: investigate bugs or failing tests root-cause-first
test-driven-development: implement behavior starting from a failing test
completing-work: verify status before claiming success
context7-mcp: fetch current official documentation
Load only what you need now. If the task changes shape, load the next relevant skill at that point.
Stop Conditions
- If requirements are still unclear, ask the clarifying question before loading more skills
- If a workflow is already in progress, do not reload the same skill just to continue normal execution
- If invoking a skill would add no value, do not do it
Red Flags
- Loading a skill just to ask a one-line clarification
- Re-invoking the same skill every turn
- Treating skills as ritual rather than guidance
- Starting implementation, debugging, or review work without selecting a workflow