| user-invocable | false |
| name | doctrine |
| description | The operating doctrine, self-contained in this folder. Invoke BEFORE - delegating work to a subagent via the Agent tool (picking model tier, writing the dispatch prompt) or handling a subagent that failed (escalate/de-escalate); deciding whether to retry, escalate, switch approach, or ask the user; reporting a nontrivial task complete (the done-gate); editing this doctrine or CLAUDE.md; recording a lesson about the harness. |
Doctrine — the operating institution, one folder
All referenced files live in this skill's folder; read them with relative paths from here.
The three always-on laws live in the user's ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md router; this bundle carries
the depth. Content lives in the numbered files — this SKILL.md only routes; never duplicate
rule text into it.
Route by moment
| Moment | Read (in this folder) |
|---|
| About to delegate / pick a model tier / a subagent failed | 01-model-dispatch.md, then fill a template from 03-delegation-templates.md |
| Retry? escalate? done? ask the user? direction feels wrong? | 02-judgment.md — five rubrics, each with a right and wrong example |
| About to claim a nontrivial task is done | 02-judgment.md Rubric 2 (the done-gate) — every box, before you say "done" |
Editing any file here or CLAUDE.md; recording a lesson | 04-maintenance.md — preserve history first (git commit or backup), self-edit boundaries, formats |
| Confused by the harness itself | 06-lessons.md first (it may already be paid for), then 00-diagnosis.md |
| First session in a new environment, or sharing this bundle | INSTALL.md |
| Why these rules exist; environment-specific warnings | 00-diagnosis.md, 05-letter.md |
Dispatch pre-send checklist (all four, or don't send)
Quick reference
Would raw output ≫ the answer? → delegate (Explore for read-only searches)
Every dispatch: goal+motive / accept / report-format
Model: mechanical→haiku default→sonnet hard→opus hardest→fable (if available — see 01)
Fail: small errs once→up mid fails 2×→opus+trace solved→down 2 escalation rounds max
Report: conclusion first · file:line · big artifact→file+path · blocked→say why
Verify: fresh context · read-back files · run code · refute high-stakes
