moai

name	moai
description	MoAI unified orchestrator for autonomous development. Routes natural language or subcommands (plan, run, sync, design, db, project, fix, loop, mx, feedback, review, clean, codemaps, coverage, e2e) to specialized agents.
allowed-tools	Agent, AskUserQuestion, Skill, TaskCreate, TaskUpdate, TaskList, TaskGet, Bash, Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep
argument-hint	[subcommand] [args] | "natural language task"

Pre-execution Context

!git status --porcelain 2>/dev/null || true !git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || true

Essential Files

.moai/config/config.yaml

---

Authority References

Rules and constraints governing all workflows are always loaded from these sources. Do NOT duplicate their content here:

• Core identity, orchestration principles, agent catalog: CLAUDE.md
• Quality gates, security boundaries: .claude/rules/moai/core/moai-constitution.md
• SPEC workflow phases, token budgets: .claude/rules/moai/workflow/spec-workflow.md
• Development methodologies (DDD/TDD): .claude/rules/moai/workflow/workflow-modes.md
• Agent definitions: See CLAUDE.md Section 4. For agent creation, use builder-agent subagent.
• @MX tag rules and protocol: .claude/rules/moai/workflow/mx-tag-protocol.md

---

Intent Router

Raw User Input

$ARGUMENTS

Routing Instructions

[HARD] Route the Raw User Input above using the strict priority order below. Extract the FIRST WORD of the input for subcommand matching. All text after the subcommand keyword is CONTEXT to be passed to the matched workflow — it is NOT a routing signal and MUST NOT influence which workflow is selected.

Execution Mode Flags (mutually exclusive)

• --team: Force Agent Teams mode for parallel execution
• --solo: Force sub-agent mode (single agent per phase)
• No flag: System auto-selects based on complexity thresholds (domains >= 3, files >= 10, or complexity score >= 7)

When no flag is provided, the system evaluates task complexity and automatically selects between team mode (for complex, multi-domain tasks) and sub-agent mode (for focused, single-domain tasks).

Priority 1: Explicit Subcommand Matching

[HARD] Extract the FIRST WORD from the Raw User Input section above. If it matches any subcommand below (or its alias), route to that workflow IMMEDIATELY. Do NOT analyze the remaining text for routing — it is context for the matched workflow:

• plan (aliases: spec): SPEC document creation workflow
• run (aliases: impl): DDD/TDD implementation workflow (per quality.yaml development_mode)
• sync (aliases: docs, pr): Documentation synchronization and PR creation
• design (aliases: brief, brand): Hybrid design workflow (Claude Design import path A or code-based skill path B)
• db (aliases: database, schema): Database metadata management (init/refresh/verify/list for .moai/project/db/)
• project (aliases: init): Project documentation generation
• feedback (aliases: fb, bug, issue): GitHub issue creation
• fix: Auto-fix errors in a single pass
• loop: Iterative auto-fix until completion marker detected
• mx: MX tag scan and annotation for codebase
• review (aliases: code-review): Code review with security and MX tag compliance
• clean (aliases: dead-code): Identify and safely remove dead code
• codemaps: Generate architecture documentation in .moai/project/codemaps/
• coverage (aliases: cov): Analyze test coverage and generate missing tests
• e2e (aliases: e2e-test): Create and run E2E tests
• context (aliases: ctx, memory): Extract and display git-based context memory
• gate (aliases: check, pre-commit): Lightweight pre-commit quality gate (lint+format+type-check+test)
• security (aliases: audit, sec): Dedicated OWASP security audit with dependency scanning

Priority 2: SPEC-ID Detection

Only if Priority 1 did not match: Check if the Raw User Input contains a pattern matching SPEC-XXX (such as SPEC-AUTH-001). If found, route to the run workflow automatically. The SPEC-ID becomes the target for DDD/TDD implementation.

Priority 3: Natural Language Classification

Only if BOTH Priority 1 AND Priority 2 did not match: Classify the intent of the ENTIRE Raw User Input as natural language. This priority is NEVER reached when the first word matches a known subcommand.

• Planning and design language (design, architect, plan, spec, requirements, feature request) routes to plan
• Quality gate language (lint, format, check, pre-commit, quality gate) routes to gate
• Security language (security, audit, owasp, vulnerability, injection, xss, csrf) routes to security
• Error and fix language (fix, error, bug, broken, failing, lint) routes to fix
• Iterative and repeat language (keep fixing, until done, repeat, iterate, all errors) routes to loop
• Documentation language (document, sync, docs, readme, changelog, PR) routes to sync or project
• Feedback and bug report language (report, feedback, suggestion, issue) routes to feedback
• MX tag language (mx tag, annotation, code context, legacy annotate) routes to mx
• Implementation language (implement, build, create, add, develop) with clear scope routes to moai (default autonomous)

Priority 4: Default Behavior

If the intent remains ambiguous after all priority checks, use AskUserQuestion to present the top 2-3 matching workflows and let the user choose.

If the intent is clearly a development task with no specific routing signal, default to the moai workflow (plan -> run -> sync pipeline) for full autonomous execution.

---

Workflow Quick Reference

plan - SPEC Document Creation

Purpose: Create comprehensive specification documents using EARS format with Research-Plan-Annotate cycle. Phases: Deep Research (research.md) -> SPEC Planning -> Annotation Cycle (1-6 iterations) -> SPEC Creation Agents: manager-spec (primary), Explore (research), manager-git (conditional) Flags: --worktree, --branch, --resume SPEC-XXX, --team, --no-issue For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/plan.md (team mode: ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/team/plan.md)

run - DDD/TDD Implementation

Purpose: Implement SPEC requirements through configured development methodology. Agents: manager-strategy, manager-ddd or manager-tdd (per quality.yaml), manager-quality, manager-git Flags: --resume SPEC-XXX, --team For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/run.md (team mode: ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/team/run.md)

sync - Documentation Sync and PR

Purpose: Synchronize documentation with code changes and prepare pull requests. Agents: manager-docs (primary), manager-quality, manager-git Modes: auto, force, status, project. Flags: --merge, --skip-mx For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/sync.md (team mode: ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/team/sync.md)

gate - Pre-Commit Quality Gate

Purpose: Lightweight pre-commit quality check running lint, format, type-check, and tests in parallel. Also integrated into run (Phase 2.75) and sync (Phase 0) workflows as automatic pre-checks. Agents: Direct execution (no agent delegation) Flags: --fix, --staged, --file PATH Integration: Automatically invoked by run workflow (Phase 2.75) and sync workflow (Phase 0.0.1) with --fix behavior. For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/gate.md

security - OWASP Security Audit

Purpose: Dedicated security audit with OWASP Top 10 analysis, dependency scanning, secrets detection, and data isolation checks. Agents: expert-security (primary) Flags: --full, --deps, --secrets, --file PATH, --branch BRANCH For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/security.md

fix - Auto-Fix Errors

Purpose: Autonomously detect and fix LSP errors, linting issues, and type errors. Agents: expert-debug (diagnosis), expert-backend/expert-frontend (fixes) Flags: --dry, --sequential, --level N, --resume, --team For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/fix.md

loop - Iterative Auto-Fix

Purpose: Repeatedly fix issues until completion marker detected or max iterations reached. Agents: expert-debug, expert-backend, expert-frontend, expert-testing Flags: --max N, --auto-fix, --seq For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/loop.md

mx - MX Tag Scan and Annotation

Purpose: Scan codebase and add @MX code-level annotations for AI agent context. Agents: Explore (scan), expert-backend (annotation) Flags: --all, --dry, --priority P1-P4, --force, --team For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/mx.md

review - Code Review

Purpose: Multi-perspective code review with security, performance, quality, and UX analysis. Agents: manager-quality (primary), expert-security Flags: --staged, --branch, --security, --team For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/review.md (team mode: ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/team/review.md)

clean - Dead Code Removal

Purpose: Identify and safely remove unused code with test verification. Agents: expert-refactoring, expert-testing Flags: --dry, --safe-only, --file PATH For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/clean.md

codemaps - Architecture Documentation

Purpose: Scan codebase and generate architecture documentation. Agents: Explore, manager-docs Flags: --force, --area AREA For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/codemaps.md

coverage - Test Coverage Analysis

Purpose: Analyze test coverage gaps and generate missing tests. Agents: expert-testing Flags: --target N, --file PATH, --report For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/coverage.md

e2e - End-to-End Testing

Purpose: Create and run E2E tests using Chrome, Playwright, or Agent Browser. Agents: expert-testing, expert-frontend Flags: --record, --url URL, --journey NAME For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/e2e.md

design - Hybrid Design Workflow

Purpose: Produce web/brand design artifacts via Claude Design import (path A) or code-based skill pipeline (path B). Integrates brand context from .moai/project/brand/ and design briefs from .moai/design/. Agents: manager-spec (BRIEF), expert-frontend (implementation), evaluator-active (GAN loop scoring) Skills: moai-domain-copywriting, moai-domain-brand-design, moai-workflow-design-import, moai-workflow-gan-loop, moai-workflow-design-context, moai-workflow-pencil-integration Flags: --path A|B, --harness thorough|standard, --brief BRIEF-XXX For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/design.md

db - Database Metadata Management

Purpose: Manage project database documentation in .moai/project/db/ (schema.md, erd.mmd, migrations.md, rls-policies.md, queries.md, seed-data.md). Subcommands synchronize schema from migration files, verify drift, and list state. Agents: moai-domain-db-docs (parser + sync), Explore (migration discovery) Subcommands: init | refresh | verify | list Flags: --dry, --force, --engine postgres|mongodb|mysql|oracle|sqlite|supabase For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/db.md

(default) - MoAI Autonomous Workflow

Purpose: Full autonomous research -> plan -> annotate -> run -> sync pipeline. Phases: Parallel Exploration (research.md) -> SPEC Generation -> Annotation Cycle -> Implementation -> Sync Agents: Explore, manager-spec, manager-ddd/tdd, manager-quality, manager-docs, manager-git Flags: --loop, --max N, --branch, --pr, --resume SPEC-XXX, --team, --solo, --no-issue For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/moai.md

project - Project Documentation

Purpose: Generate project documentation by analyzing the existing codebase. Agents: Explore, manager-docs, expert-devops (optional) Output: product.md, structure.md, tech.md in .moai/project/ For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/project.md

context - Git-Based Context Memory

Purpose: Extract AI-developer interaction context from git commit history for session continuity. Agents: manager-git (primary) Flags: --spec SPEC-XXX, --days N, --category CAT, --summary, --inject For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/context.md

feedback - GitHub Issue Creation

Purpose: Collect user feedback and create GitHub issues. Agents: manager-quality For detailed orchestration: Read ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/workflows/feedback.md

---

Execution Directive

When this skill is activated, execute the following steps in order:

Step 1 - Parse Arguments: Extract subcommand keywords and flags from the Raw User Input. Recognized global flags: --resume [ID], --seq, --deepthink, --team, --solo. Also detect ultrathink keyword in the input text.

CRITICAL: Two distinct deep analysis modes:

• --deepthink flag detected → Invoke Sequential Thinking MCP (mcp__sequential-thinking__sequentialthinking) for structured step-by-step analysis. This is an MCP tool call.
• ultrathink keyword detected → Activate Claude's native extended reasoning (high effort mode). Do NOT invoke Sequential Thinking MCP. This is native Claude behavior with no MCP dependency.
• Both can coexist: ultrathink --deepthink activates BOTH independently.

Step 2 - Route to Workflow: Apply the Intent Router (Priority 1 through Priority 4) to determine the target workflow. If ambiguous, use AskUserQuestion to clarify with the user.

Step 2.5 - Project Documentation Check: Before executing plan, run, sync, fix, loop, or default workflows, verify project documentation exists by checking for .moai/project/product.md. If product.md does NOT exist, use AskUserQuestion to ask the user (in their conversation_language):

Question: Project documentation not found. Would you like to create it first? Options:

• Create project documentation (Recommended): Generates product.md, structure.md, tech.md through a guided interview. This helps MoAI understand your project context for better results in all subsequent workflows.
• Skip and continue: Proceed without project documentation. MoAI will have less context about your project.

This check does NOT apply to: project, feedback subcommands.

[HARD] Beginner-Friendly Option Design: All AskUserQuestion calls throughout MoAI workflows MUST follow these rules:

• The first option MUST always be the recommended choice, clearly marked with "(Recommended)" suffix
• Every option MUST include a detailed description explaining what it does and its implications

Step 3 - Load Workflow Details: If --team flag was parsed AND ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/team/<name>.md exists for the target subcommand, read the team workflow file instead of the solo workflow. Otherwise read workflows/<name>.md. The Quick Reference section above shows both paths for each subcommand that supports team mode.

Step 4 - Read Configuration: Load relevant configuration from .moai/config/config.yaml and section files as needed.

Step 5 - Initialize Task Tracking: Use TaskCreate to register discovered work items with pending status.

Step 6 - Execute Workflow Phases: Follow the workflow-specific phase instructions. Delegate all implementation to appropriate agents via Agent(). Collect user approvals at designated checkpoints via AskUserQuestion.

Step 7 - Track Progress: Update task status using TaskUpdate as work progresses (pending to in_progress to completed).

Step 8 - Present Results: Display results to the user in their conversation_language using Markdown format.

Step 9 - Add Completion Marker: When all workflow phases complete successfully, add the appropriate completion marker (<moai>DONE</moai> or <moai>COMPLETE</moai>).

Step 10 - Guide Next Steps: Use AskUserQuestion to present the user with logical next actions based on the completed workflow.

---

Version: 2.6.0 Last Updated: 2026-02-25

Common Rationalizations

Rationalization	Reality
"I will just implement this directly, delegation is overhead"	MoAI is an orchestrator. Direct implementation bypasses the quality gates agents enforce.
"The user's intent is obvious, no need for a Socratic interview"	Ambiguous verbs (clean, fix, improve) almost always produce wrong scope. Rule 5 exists because obvious is often wrong.
"This is a small change, Approach-First is unnecessary"	Small changes still touch files the user cares about. One sentence of approach costs nothing and prevents rework.
"I can run /moai run without a SPEC, it is just a tweak"	Without a SPEC, there is no acceptance criterion to check. Every run without a SPEC silently degrades quality tracking.
"Parallel agents will just race, sequential is safer"	Independent tool calls are explicitly required to run in parallel. Sequentializing them wastes user time.
"I will respond in English since it is technical"	Conversation language is a HARD rule. User-facing output must match the configured language, always.

Red Flags

• MoAI writes code directly instead of delegating to a specialized agent
• Response in English when conversation_language is not English
• Multiple independent tool calls executed sequentially in separate messages
• AskUserQuestion with more than 4 options or containing emoji
• Agent invocation prompt contains absolute paths to the main project when isolation is worktree
• /moai run executed without a corresponding SPEC-XXX document

Verification

• User-facing response language matches conversation_language from language.yaml
• Every independent tool call was launched in parallel (one message, multiple tool blocks)
• Agent selection trace documents why this agent, not another, was chosen
• No XML tags visible in user-facing output
• For non-trivial tasks, approach was explained and approved before code changes
• SPEC-ID is referenced when /moai run, /moai sync, or /moai fix is invoked
• TodoList used to decompose multi-file changes (3+ files)