extract-pattern

name	extract-pattern
description	Use when the user wants to create templates, extract reusable patterns, document solutions, or build a pattern library from working workflows.
argument-hint	[source workflow or area]
category	utility
version	2.0.0
user-invocable	true

MANDATORY PREPARATION

Invoke /agent-workflow — it contains workflow principles, anti-patterns, and the Context Gathering Protocol. Follow the protocol before proceeding — if no workflow context exists yet, you MUST run /teach-maestro first.

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Turn working solutions into reusable patterns. Every successful workflow contains patterns that are applicable beyond their original context.

Step 1: Identify What Worked

Review the workflow and identify components that:

• Solved a common problem in a particularly effective way
• Would be useful in other workflows or projects
• Required significant iteration to get right
• Represent a non-obvious solution

Step 2: Generalize the Pattern

Transform the specific solution into a reusable template:

From specific → To general pattern:

## Pattern: [Name]
**Problem**: What recurring problem does this solve?
**When to use**: When is this pattern appropriate?
**When NOT to use**: When is this pattern inappropriate?
**Template**: Copy-pastable starting point with customization markers.
**Variants**: Common variations for different contexts.
**Pitfalls**: What went wrong during development and how it was fixed.
**Examples**: 1-2 concrete examples.

Step 3: Test Reusability

• Apply the template to a different but analogous problem
• Confirm the customization points are sufficient
• Verify the documentation is clear enough for someone unfamiliar with the original

Workflow Element	Extract As
Effective prompt structure	Prompt template with customization points
Tool chain that works well	Pipeline pattern with data flow diagram
Error handling strategy	Resilience pattern with implementation guide
Evaluation approach	Quality assurance pattern with scoring rubric
Context management technique	Context pattern with budget guidance
Agent coordination protocol	Orchestration pattern with handoff templates

Recommended Next Step

After extracting patterns, run /calibrate to ensure the new patterns are consistent with existing project conventions.

NEVER:

• Extract patterns from workflows that don't work reliably
• Over-generalize (if it only applies to one case, document it as a solution, not a pattern)
• Skip the "when NOT to use" section
• Extract without testing reusability