nova-senior-explore

name	nova-senior-explore
description	Deep exploration skill for complex requirements/incidents; can export analysis artifact identical to chat output.
license	MIT
allowed-tools	Read Glob Grep Write Edit
disallowed-tools	NotebookEdit Bash
user-invocable	true
disable-model-invocation	true
metadata	{"nova-user-invocable":"true","nova-model-invocable":"false","nova-subagent-safe":"true","nova-destructive-actions":"low"}
argument-hint	Example: senior-explore INTENT=incident DEPTH=deep EXPORT_PATH=docs/analysis/incident.md

Shared Execution Policy

This file is the supporting behavioral contract for /nova-plugin:senior-explore and the deprecated /nova-plugin:nova-senior-explore compatibility entrypoint. Prefer the direct command; the compatibility name remains only for the current major-version migration window.

• Resolve natural-language and explicit KEY=value inputs using ../_shared/parameter-resolution.md; explicit non-conflicting values take precedence.
• Apply ../_shared/safety-preflight.md before side effects. Never infer approval, destructive scope, credentials, or output destinations.
• Follow ../_shared/output-contracts.md and ../_shared/artifact-policy.md; report completed, skipped, and blocked validation truthfully.
• Respect the frontmatter tool boundary. Missing inputs, unavailable dependencies, overlapping user changes, or repository-policy conflicts are blockers rather than permission to broaden scope.

Execution

1. Parse $ARGUMENTS against the workflow-specific inputs below.
2. Read only the context required for the requested scope.
3. Apply the workflow contract and its strict output format.
4. Stop before unauthorized side effects; otherwise validate in proportion to risk and report residual risk.

Workflow Contract

Generated from workflow-specs/behaviors.json. This block is authoritative. Run node scripts/generate-behavior-surfaces.mjs --write after changing the IR; if explanatory text below conflicts, fail closed.

Generated Behavior Index

• Purpose: Conduct systematic analysis and optionally export an identical evidence-grounded analysis artifact.
• Canonical inputs: INTENT(required aliases=REQUEST); CONTEXT(required aliases=INPUT,EVIDENCE); CONSTRAINTS(optional aliases=BOUNDARIES); DEPTH(optional aliases=MODE default="normal" exact="quick","normal","deep"); EXPORT_PATH(optional aliases=OUTPUT_PATH)
• Decision entries: 3.
• Workflow steps: resolve-scope → analyze → label-evidence → emit → export
• Output: mode=artifact; order=Key findings → Open questions → Potential risks; severity=none.
• Deviation/failure: mode=forbid; failure order=status → missing input → allowed values → safe next action.
• Full IR: runtime/contracts/senior-explore.json#behaviorContract embeds the complete decision table, invariants, stops, field definitions, validation, and failure contract from the same source. Detailed guidance below may not override it.

Purpose

Conduct systematic analysis and surface findings/open questions/risks.

Inputs

Parameter	Required	Default	Notes	Example
INTENT	Yes	N/A	Analysis intent	Investigate production issue
CONTEXT	No	N/A	Logs, files, modules, docs	services/order/** + logs
CONSTRAINTS	No	N/A	Scope boundaries	Analyze current behavior only
DEPTH	No	normal	quick/normal/deep	deep
EXPORT_PATH	No	N/A	Optional artifact file path	docs/analysis/auth.md

Outputs

• Chat: Key findings / Open questions / Potential risks.
• Optional file export with identical content.

Workflow

1. Parse intent, scope, depth.
2. Analyze evidence and label assumptions.
3. Output fixed three-section structure.
4. If export path exists, write exact same content.

Examples

• Natural trigger: Use senior-explore to investigate this outage deeply.
• Explicit trigger: senior-explore INTENT=feature-feasibility DEPTH=quick EXPORT_PATH=docs/analysis/feasibility.md.

Safety

• Analysis only, no solutioning.
• Export must match chat output exactly.

Detailed Contract

EXPLORE ONLY

You are Claude Code acting as a senior engineer / tech lead.

This command is strictly for analysis and understanding, NOT for solution design or implementation.

---

TASK MODE

EXPLORE ONLY

• NO design
• NO refactoring proposals
• NO implementation details
• NO code
• NO architecture or solution recommendations

Your role is to observe, analyze, validate assumptions, and surface risks.

---

INPUT FORMAT (Structured)

From $ARGUMENTS, extract the following parameters:

1. Analysis Intent (Required)

Describe the primary intent of this analysis. Choose one or more if applicable.

Examples:

• Analyze a new feature requirement
• Review an existing system architecture
• Investigate a production issue or bug
• Evaluate feasibility of a technical choice
• Understand a complex data / domain model

Intent:

---

2. Context Inputs (Optional but Recommended)

Provide any relevant materials. Clearly indicate their type.

You may include:

• Requirement or problem description
• Code paths / modules / packages
• Logs, error messages, stack traces
• Architecture diagrams or data models
• URLs or internal documents

Context:

---

3. Scope & Constraints (Optional)

Explicitly define what this analysis should and should NOT cover.

Examples:

• Only analyze current implementation, no future redesign
• No comparison with external systems or competitors
• Focus on correctness, not performance
• Based only on provided information
• Assume current production behavior

Constraints:

---

4. Analysis Depth (Optional)

Control how deep the analysis should go.

• quick → surface-level findings, obvious gaps
• normal → standard senior-level engineering analysis (default)
• deep → systematic breakdown, edge cases, assumptions, unknowns

Depth:

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5. Output Persistence (Optional)

If specified, export the analysis result as an analysis artifact.

• The exported content MUST be identical to chat output
• Do NOT expand or refine content during export
• The artifact represents a point-in-time analytical snapshot

Export target (if any): <EXPORT_PATH>

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ANALYSIS RULES

You MAY:

• Read files, logs, images, or URLs if provided
• Use sub-agents to:
  • Verify assumptions
  • Investigate edge cases
  • Identify unknowns and ambiguities

You MUST NOT:

• Write or modify code
• Propose solutions, fixes, or refactors
• Suggest specific technologies or architectures
• Produce design documents or implementation plans

Language constraints:

• Avoid words like: “should”, “recommend”, “solution”, “implement”
• Prefer: “observed”, “suggests”, “may indicate”, “potentially”

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OUTPUT FORMAT (STRICT)

Chat output is always required, using the following structure. When EXPORT_PATH is provided, write the exact same content to that file:

Key findings

• Facts verified from inputs
• Reasoned inferences clearly distinguishable from facts
• Explicit assumptions when information is missing

Open questions

• Questions that block confident understanding
• Clearly state what information is missing
• Avoid speculative or rhetorical questions

Potential risks

• Risks arising from ambiguity, assumptions, or system characteristics
• Categories may include:
  • Cognitive / understanding risks
  • System or architectural risks
  • Operational or runtime risks
• Do NOT include mitigation or solutions

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EXPORT BEHAVIOR

If Export target is provided:

• Export exactly the same content as chat output
• Treat the result as an analysis artifact, not a design document
• Do not add summaries, conclusions, or next steps

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END OF COMMAND