| name | skill-detection |
| description | Detect, load, and apply skills before ANY code-related response |
Skill Detection Protocol
Skills are codified best practices. USE them - never assume you know better.
The Rule
Before ANY response involving code, architecture, or technical decisions:
- Scan
skills/SKILL-INDEX.md for relevant skills
- Match user request against skill names, triggers, categories
- Load the specific skill file (
Read skills/{name}/SKILL.md)
- Announce "Using [skill-name] for [purpose]"
- Apply the skill's rules and patterns
- Never skip because "it's simple"
Red Flags
| Thought | Reality |
|---|
| "This is just a simple question" | Simple questions have best practices too |
| "I already know this" | Skills evolve. Read current version. |
| "Let me explore the code first" | Skills tell you HOW to explore |
| "This doesn't need a formal skill" | If a skill exists, use it |
| "The skill is overkill" | Discipline prevents mistakes |
Priority Order
- Process skills first (debugging, planning, tdd) - HOW to approach
- Domain skills second (react, python, stripe) - WHAT patterns to use
- Integration skills last (firebase, supabase) - HOW to connect
Stack → Skills Mapping
| Stack Signal | Skills to Load |
|---|
react, .tsx | react-patterns, react-ui-patterns |
next, next.js | nextjs-best-practices, vercel-deployment |
python, .py | python-patterns |
prisma | prisma-expert, database-design |
tailwind | tailwind-patterns |
typescript | typescript-expert |
docker | docker-expert |
test, jest | testing-patterns, tdd-workflow |
Caching in CONTEXT.md
After discovering skills:
## Active Skills
| Skill | Purpose | Last Used |
|-------|---------|-----------|
| react-patterns | Component patterns | 2026-01-30 |
| nextjs-best-practices | App Router, Server Components | 2026-01-30 |
| systematic-debugging | Root cause analysis | ALWAYS |
Token Budget
| Action | Tokens | Frequency |
|---|
| Read CONTEXT.md | ~200 | Every session |
| Load cached skills | ~1000-3000 | Every session |
| Grep SKILL-INDEX.md | ~500 | New project only |
| Full index scan | ~2000 | Rarely |
Golden Rule
Scan once, cache forever, update incrementally.
Never scan 249 skills when 8 will do.