| name | des-learning-path |
| description | Use when the user wants a structured learning path across DES phases, wants to study Data Engineering through DES artifacts, or wants a personalized plan based on completed artifacts. |
des-learning-path
Purpose
Use this learning skill to create a structured Data Engineering learning path based on the 22 DES lifecycle phases and available project artifacts.
This skill helps the user learn Data Engineering through project-based artifacts rather than isolated theory.
The learning path should connect DES phases to Data Engineering lifecycle concepts, undercurrents, practical outputs, exercises, quizzes, and recommended next actions.
When To Use
Use this skill when:
- the user wants to learn Data Engineering through DES-SKILL;
- the user asks for a study plan;
- the user wants to understand all 22 phases;
- the user wants a roadmap from beginner to implementation-ready;
- multiple DES artifacts already exist;
- the workflow router selects
des-learning-path;
- the user wants to prepare for portfolio, interview, report defense, or project execution.
Use this skill after:
- Batch 1 learning foundation exists;
knowledge/FUNDAMENTALS-MAP.md exists;- optionally after several artifacts have been generated.
Do not use this skill to replace the 22 main DES lifecycle skills.
Required Inputs
The agent should read:
SOUL.md
knowledge/FUNDAMENTALS-MAP.md
Optional inputs:
_des-output/planning-artifacts/
_des-output/learning-artifacts/
_des-output/implementation-artifacts/des-workflow-status.md
If no project artifacts exist, create a generic DES learning path.
If project artifacts exist, create a personalized learning path based on completed, draft, missing, or weak phases.
Output File
Create or update:
_des-output/learning-artifacts/des-learning-path.md
Output Must Include
The learning path must include:
- learner goal;
- current artifact status if available;
- recommended learning modules;
- phase-by-phase concept mapping;
- learning objectives;
- artifact exercises;
- quiz checkpoints;
- estimated learning order;
- weak areas to revisit;
- next recommended DES skill.
Learning Modules
Use this default module structure:
Module 1 — Foundation and Business Context
Module 2 — Data Engineering Lifecycle Core
Module 3 — Modeling, Contracts, and Quality
Module 4 — Operations, Governance, and Reliability
Module 5 — Delivery, Review, and Portfolio Readiness
On Activation
- Read this
SKILL.md completely.
- Read
customize.toml.
- Read
SOUL.md.
- Read
knowledge/FUNDAMENTALS-MAP.md.
- Inspect available DES artifacts if present.
- Load only
steps/step-01-learning-context.md.
- Do not load step-02 or step-03 until instructed.
- Stop at every
HALT point.
- Do not invent completed artifact status.
- Mark missing artifacts as Missing or Not Started.
Process Overview
This skill will:
- Identify learner goal.
- Inspect available artifact status.
- Group 22 phases into learning modules.
- Map each phase to concepts and exercises.
- Recommend quiz checkpoints.
- Create a learning path.
- Recommend next learning skill or DES phase.
Do not execute this overview directly. Follow the step files.
Guardrails
The agent must not:
- claim the user has completed phases without artifact evidence;
- create a generic course detached from DES artifacts;
- skip practical artifact exercises;
- overload the path with too much theory;
- use source material as copied content;
- ignore the user’s current project context.
HALT Policy
Stop when:
SOUL.md is missing;knowledge/FUNDAMENTALS-MAP.md is missing;- the user asks for a personalized plan but project artifacts are inaccessible and the user does not allow a generic plan;
- learning goal is ambiguous and cannot be safely defaulted.
Quality Checklist
Handoff To The Next Skill
Recommend one of:
des-explain-artifact;des-artifact-quiz;- next DES main lifecycle skill;
des-workflow-status-update if learning status tracking is enabled.
