ask-maestro

name	ask-maestro
version	1.0.5
description	Router for choosing the next Maestro skill or lifecycle recipe.
disable-model-invocation	true

Ask Maestro

You do not remember every Maestro route, so ask.

This skill is a router. It chooses the next Maestro skill or lifecycle recipe; it does not replace the chosen skill. After routing, follow that skill and the repo harness.

Quick Start

Run maestro status before routing. If implementation might overlap another session, run maestro active and respect any conflict-handoff hard stop.

If the next move is still unclear, run maestro loop next. It is read-only and routes from local artifacts. Read the selected recipe with maestro loop show <recipe>.

Rule: loop next recommends; outcome/proof/memory verbs write. Use maestro loop next --chain to explain current chain position without writing, maestro loop outcome to record structured attempt outcomes and transition receipts after native work, maestro loop trace <card> to audit card-scoped receipts, and maestro loop improve for read-only improvement proposals. Do not use hidden stores, hidden schedulers, silent recipe mutation, or proof/QA bypass.

The Main Flow: Idea To Ship

Most Maestro work moves through this path:

1. maestro-design - use for unsettled behavior, brainstorm, workflow design, specs, PRD synthesis, domain modeling, grilling, UX shape, or skill/harness design. Stay here until material forks are locked and the feature handoff is finalized. "lock all", "all rec", and all-recommendations batches must be a DecisionSet or separate child decisions, not one compressed summary lock.
2. maestro-card - use after design approval or for already-scoped executable work: implement, bugfix, verify, QA, close, release, archive, or continue active work. Behavior-changing implementation defaults to test-first work unless the task is explicitly docs/config/mechanical/light/spike.
3. maestro-card ship path - use maestro loop show ship for close, release, local install, archive, and proof-backed handoff boundaries.

Do not route approved build work back into design just because more discussion is possible. Do route back to design when the requested outcome depends on an unsettled product, lifecycle, schema, command, or UX decision.

On-Ramps

• Setup, sync, install, hooks, global skills, doctor, or harness initialization: use maestro-setup.
• Repo-wide improvement, architecture review, code review, harness backlog, or read-only deepening proposals: use maestro-audit.
• Raw incoming bug report with an obvious reproduction target: use maestro-card and the bugfix loop: reproduce, root cause, smallest correct fix, regression coverage, verification, scoped commit.
• Raw incoming feature request with open questions: use maestro-design.
• External PRD or plan that is already approved enough to execute: use maestro-card intake.
• Small same-session work: use the Progress task surface through maestro task setup or maestro task add/start/done; proof is still required on completion.

Cross-Session Continuation

Use Maestro artifacts instead of chat memory:

• Design continuation: maestro feature reconcile <id> writes or refreshes the pre-finalize receipt, then maestro feature finalize <id> writes the handoff; the next session starts from that handoff.
• Active work continuation: maestro status, maestro task show <id>, and maestro card show <id> reveal the current task, locked acceptance, and proof state.
• Shared-store coordination: use maestro active, links, messages, and the conflict-handoff recipe when sessions may overlap.

Quick Router

• "What should I use?" -> this skill, then the closest row below.
• "Set up Maestro here" -> maestro-setup.
• "Brainstorm/design/grill/spec/PRD/domain model this" -> maestro-design.
• "Go build/implement/fix/verify/close/archive/release" -> maestro-card.
• "Review/audit/find improvements/propose backlog" -> maestro-audit.
• "Work while away/asleep/keep looping" -> maestro-card, then maestro loop show unattended.
• "Record a reusable lesson" -> maestro-card, then maestro loop show learning.
• "There are active sessions or possible overlap" -> maestro loop show conflict-handoff.

Completion criterion: one route is chosen with the exact next skill, recipe, or command; if no route fits, the missing fact is explicit before fallback.

Stop

If no route fits, say what is missing and use maestro loop next before inventing a custom flow. Custom flows still use Maestro verbs, proof, QA, authority gates, hard stops, and the loop grammar: perceive -> choose -> act -> observe -> learn -> continue.