router-first-architecture

name	router-first-architecture
description	Enforces routing through domain routers before invoking individual tools, abstracting tool selection into deterministic intent-to-command mappings. Use when: 'set up domain router', 'router-first pattern', 'route before calling tool', 'co-activate with router', 'deterministic skill routing'.
user-invocable	false

Router-First Architecture

Route through domain routers before using individual tools. Routers abstract tool selection.

Pattern

Domain routers (like math-router) provide deterministic mapping from user intent to exact CLI commands. Always use the router first; only bypass for edge cases.

DO

• Call math-router route "<intent>" before any math operation
• Let domain skills co-activate with their router (via coActivate in skill-rules.json)
• Trust the router's confidence score; only fall back if command: null
• Keep trigger keywords/patterns in skill-rules.json broader than routing patterns

DON'T

• Call individual scripts directly when a router exists
• Duplicate routing logic in individual skills
• Let domain skills bypass their router

Co-Activation Pattern

Domain skills should co-activate with their router:

{
  "math/abstract-algebra/groups": {
    "coActivate": ["math-router"],
    "coActivateMode": "always"
  }
}

This ensures the router is always available when domain knowledge is activated.

Two-Layer Architecture

1. Skill-rules trigger layer: Nudges Claude to use the router (keywords, intent patterns)
2. Router routing layer: Deterministic mapping to scripts via regex patterns

Keep the trigger layer broader than routing - the router should handle "not found" gracefully.

Source Sessions

• 2bbc8d6e: "Trigger layer was narrower than routing layer" - expanded triggers
• This session: Wired 8 domain math skills to co-activate with math-router