capability-request

name	capability-request
description	Use this skill when a specialist role needs a tool or capability it does not currently have. Hands back to the orchestrator with a structured request so the orchestrator can register and assign the skill, then return the role to continue its work.
catalog	{"skill_name":"capability.request","implied_tools":["skill.list","handoff.back"],"validation_state":"validated","skill_markers":["governed"],"field_sources":{"repo_skill_path":"skills/capability-request/SKILL.md","workflow":"skill.list → handoff.back with structured request → orchestrator registers + assigns → handoff.to_role returns"}}

Capability Request

Use this skill when you are in a specialist role and need a capability that is not currently in your toolset.

Workflow

1. Call skill.list to confirm the capability does not already exist in the catalog
2. Draft a structured capability request (see format below)
3. Call handoff.back with the structured request as the summary
4. The orchestrator will register the skill, assign it to your role, and return you here via handoff.to_role

Request format

Your summary in handoff.back must follow this structure:

CAPABILITY REQUEST: I need [capability name] to [reason].

Suggested skill:
- skill_name: [lowercase-kebab-name]
- description: [what it does, 1-2 sentences]
- subagent_kind: philote-worker
- goal: [the goal template to inject into the subagent]
- allowed_tools: [optional list]
- allowed_classes: [optional list]

Please register and assign to my role '[your current role_name]', then return me to this session.

The more complete your suggested skill definition, the faster the orchestrator can act. If you don't know what tool the subagent needs, describe the task — the orchestrator will decide the tool surface.

Example

CAPABILITY REQUEST: I need iMessage read access to check for forwarded alerts from an automated sender.

Suggested skill:
- skill_name: imessage-read
- description: Query the local iMessage database for recent messages from a specified sender handle.
- subagent_kind: philote-worker
- goal: Check ~/Library/Messages/chat.db for messages from sender {{handle}} in the last {{hours}} hours using bash.exec. Return all found messages with timestamps.
- allowed_classes: shell

Please register and assign to my role 'hermes-comm-specialist', then return me to this session.

Guardrails

• Always check skill.list first — don't request something that already exists
• Be specific about what you need and why — vague requests slow the orchestrator down
• If the capability requires shell access (bash.exec), say so explicitly in the request
• Trust the orchestrator to scope the tool surface appropriately — you don't have to get it perfect