scenario-advisor

name	scenario-advisor
description	Use when: recommending a licensing model for an app type, comparing subscription, trial, perpetual, freemium, tiered, or usage-based scenarios before pricing design.
agent	monaiq
auto-invoke	["User wants to know which licensing scenario fits their application","User asks what licensing model to use for their product","User wants licensing recommendations for their app type"]
tags	["discovery","scenarios","recommendations","strategy"]
category	discovery
allowed-tools	["Read","Grep","Glob","fetch_step_resources","monaiq_journal","mcp__plugin_monaiq_monaiq__fetch_step_resources","mcp__plugin_monaiq_monaiq__monaiq_journal"]
argument-hint	appType (saas|desktop|plugin|package|cli|api)
tier	3
invoked-by	["analyze-codebase","getting-started"]

Recommend licensing scenarios for the user's app type using capability evidence, route context, and Monaiq scenario patterns. The skill narrows strategic direction before pricing design; it does not design exact tier prices or mutate catalog data. Receives from analyze-codebase: - capabilities (optional): [{ name, type, suggestedFeatureKey }] — identified licensable features - techStack (optional): detected technology stack — used to infer app type

If invoked without upstream context, asks the user about their application type directly.

Provides to design-monetization: - selectedScenario: { name, model, featureTypes: ["access" | "ratelimit"], offeringModel, enforcement } - appType: "saas" | "desktop" | "plugin" | "package" | "cli" | "api"

Discovery chain: analyze-codebase [capabilities] → scenario-advisor [selectedScenario] → design-monetization [pricingPlan]

<execution_context> Follows the skill layout and shared workflows in _shared/protocols.md. This skill contributes only licensing-scenario recommendation and handoff context; exact prices and catalog mutation belong to design-monetization and manage-catalog. </execution_context>

Follow the Direct Invocation Contract in `_shared/protocols.md` (mutation-capable variant — `CHECKPOINT-SCENARIO-CHOICE` writes a scenario decision). 1. Run `_shared/workflows/startup.md` for `scenario-advisor`. 2. Resolve `monaiq://patterns/scenarios`, `monaiq://domain/model`, and platform resources such as `monaiq://platforms/api-surface/{platform}` or `monaiq://platforms/pitfalls/{platform}` when the stack is known before presenting options. Stop before recommendation if scenario building blocks or domain context are unavailable. 3. **Response Pattern.** Follow `_shared/protocols.md` § Response Pattern. The gate this skill owns is **scenario choice**. Evidence sources, in priority order: `analyze-codebase` capabilities + tech stack, route packet `appType`, prior journal decisions, `monaiq://patterns/scenarios`, conversation cues. If a codebase is reachable but no analysis evidence exists, route to `analyze-codebase` first. 4. Present 2–3 scenario options with trade-offs and exactly one marked as the recommendation tied to the evidence cite. The host-native question lets the user approve, swap to an alternative, or pause to inspect `monaiq://patterns/scenarios`. 5. Use `CHECKPOINT-SCENARIO-CHOICE` before locking the recommended scenario for pricing design. 6. Output `selectedScenario` and `appType` for `design-monetization`, coalesce scenario choice + checklist progress + handoff context into the completion workflow, then call `skill_completed` once. ## State Routing Reference

• Capabilities provided -> infer app type and present scenario options.
• No upstream context -> ask the narrowest app-type question needed.

Determine Application Type

Infer the application type from available context:

• SaaS web application — React/Angular/Next.js frontend, API controllers, multi-tenant patterns
• Desktop application — WPF/WinForms/Electron, local file I/O, installer references
• Plugin/extension — Plugin manifest, extension API, host app integration
• Package/library — NuGet/npm publish config, public API surface, no entry point
• CLI tool — Console app, command parsers, argument handling
• API service — REST/GraphQL endpoints, auth middleware, rate limiting

If analyze-codebase was run previously, use its output (tech stack, identified capabilities) to infer the type. If a codebase is reachable but no analysis evidence exists, route to analyze-codebase first rather than asking the user to pick. Only when no codebase is reachable AND no upstream evidence is available, present the application-type list — framed explicitly as an evidence gap — and ask the user to confirm.

Present Licensing Model Options

Using the composition examples from monaiq://patterns/scenarios, present 2–3 licensing model options tailored to the inferred application type:

Aspect	Option A: [Name]	Option B: [Name]	Option C: [Name]
Model	[e.g., Freemium + Rate Limits]	[e.g., Tiered Subscriptions]	[e.g., Usage-Based]
Feature Types	[Feature flags + Usage limits]	[Feature flags only]	[Usage limits only]
Pricing Tiers	[Tier]	[Tier + Add-on]	[Metered]
How Licenses Are Checked	[Access Gate + Rate Limit]	[Feature Flag]	[Rate Limit]
Best For	[trade-off summary]	[trade-off summary]	[trade-off summary]

Reference specific building blocks from monaiq://patterns/scenarios by name — do not duplicate resource content.

Capture User Selection

Present the options with one clearly marked as the recommendation, tied to the evidence summary (codebase capabilities, tech stack, app archetype, prior journal decisions). Use CHECKPOINT-SCENARIO-CHOICE to confirm — this is a confirmation prompt, not an open menu. Record the chosen scenario, including any deferral ("you decide") under which the recommendation was applied, in the journal.

Route to Design

After the user selects a licensing model, suggest: "To design your pricing tiers and feature assignments based on this scenario, run the design-monetization skill." Include the selected scenario context (application type, chosen model, feature types) for continuity.

<success_criteria>

• Application type was inferred from context (not immediately asked)
• 2–3 scenario options presented with trade-offs
• Options reference building blocks from monaiq://patterns/scenarios
• User selected a scenario
• design-monetization suggested as next step with scenario context </success_criteria>