| name | des-wise |
| description | Use when the user needs help choosing the right DES skill, understanding the DES workflow, finding the next step, or routing between lifecycle, support, and learning skills. |
des-wise
Purpose
Use this support skill as the DES-SKILL wise router and advisor.
des-wise helps the user understand where they are in the DES workflow, which skill to use next, and why that skill is appropriate.
This skill acts like a help, routing, and guidance layer across:
- 22 DES main lifecycle skills;
- DES support skills;
- DES learning skills;
- workflow status;
- learning status;
- available artifacts.
The goal is to reduce confusion and help users move through DES-SKILL intentionally.
When To Use
Use this skill when the user asks:
- “tôi nên dùng skill nào?”;
- “bắt đầu từ đâu?”;
- “next step là gì?”;
- “DES-SKILL có những skill nào?”;
- “tôi đang ở phase nào?”;
- “tôi muốn học từ artifact thì dùng gì?”;
- “tôi muốn chuyển artifact thành story thì dùng gì?”;
- “tôi muốn review code thì dùng gì?”;
- “tôi bị kẹt ở phase này thì làm gì?”;
- “giống bmad-help thì DES dùng gì?”;
- “hãy hướng dẫn tôi dùng DES-SKILL”.
Use this skill before selecting another skill when the user intent is ambiguous.
Use this skill after status updates when the user needs a next route.
Required Inputs
The agent should inspect where available:
SOUL.md
DES-WORKFLOW.md
ARTIFACTS.md
README.md
knowledge/FUNDAMENTALS-MAP.md
_des-output/implementation-artifacts/des-workflow-status.md
_des-output/learning-artifacts/des-learning-status.md
_des-output/planning-artifacts/
_des-output/learning-artifacts/
If status files are missing, des-wise may still provide generic guidance.
Output
This skill usually responds directly to the user.
Optionally create:
_des-output/implementation-artifacts/des-wise-recommendation.md
Create the output file when:
- the user asks for a saved recommendation;
- the routing decision affects workflow;
- the recommendation should be tracked;
- the user is planning a new project.
Output Must Include
The response should include:
- interpreted user intent;
- current workflow context if available;
- recommended skill;
- why this skill is recommended;
- required inputs for that skill;
- expected output;
- alternative skills if relevant;
- next prompt the user can copy;
- whether workflow status or learning status should be updated.
Skill Families
des-wise must understand three DES skill families.
1. Main Lifecycle Skills
Use when the user is designing a Data Engineering project artifact.
Examples:
des-business-discovery
des-business-question
des-requirements-kpi
des-data-product
des-source-assessment
des-domain-modeling
des-architecture-design
des-ingestion-design
des-bronze-layer-design
des-silver-layer-design
des-gold-layer-design
des-data-contract
des-transformation-design
des-data-quality
des-orchestration-observability
des-semantic-model
des-serving-layer
des-lineage-metadata
des-governance-security
des-cost-performance
des-cicd-testing
des-project-evaluation
2. Support Skills
Use when the user is turning design into delivery work.
Examples:
des-create-epic
des-create-story
des-sprint-planning
des-story-readiness-check
des-dev-task-breakdown
des-implementation-plan
des-code-review
des-release-readiness-review
des-retrospective
des-correct-course
des-workflow-status-update
des-wise
3. Learning Skills
Use when the user wants to learn from artifacts.
Examples:
des-explain-artifact
des-artifact-quiz
des-learning-path
des-gap-teacher
des-socratic-coach
des-learning-status-update
des-learning-review
Intent Routing Rules
New Project
If the user wants to start a new Data Engineering project, recommend:
des-business-discovery
Then explain that DES starts with business problem and consumers before architecture or tools.
Existing Project, Unknown Status
If the user has an existing DES project but status is unknown, recommend:
des-workflow-status-update
If Learning Mode is involved, also recommend:
des-learning-status-update
User Wants to Learn
If the user wants to learn from an artifact, recommend:
des-explain-artifact
If the user already has learning notes, recommend:
des-artifact-quiz
If the user has quiz answers or confusion, recommend:
des-gap-teacher
If the user wants guided questioning, recommend:
des-socratic-coach
User Wants a Study Roadmap
Recommend:
des-learning-path
If learning progress already exists, recommend:
des-learning-review
User Wants to Convert Design to Work
If the user has completed enough lifecycle artifacts and wants implementation planning, recommend:
des-create-epic
Then:
des-create-story
des-sprint-planning
des-story-readiness-check
des-dev-task-breakdown
des-implementation-plan
User Wants to Review Code
Recommend:
des-code-review
Required inputs should include:
- story;
- implementation plan;
- changed files;
- relevant DES artifacts;
- tests or evidence.
User Wants to Release
Recommend:
des-release-readiness-review
Only recommend release if code review and required evidence exist.
User Is Blocked or Direction Changed
Recommend:
des-correct-course
Then update status:
des-workflow-status-update
User Asks “What Skill Next?”
Use evidence from workflow status, learning status, and artifacts.
If evidence is missing, recommend status update before guessing.
Response Style
Respond like a senior Data Engineering mentor.
The response should be:
- direct;
- practical;
- not overly long;
- clear about the next skill;
- clear about why;
- clear about required inputs;
- clear about expected output.
When useful, provide a copy-paste prompt.
On Activation
- Read this
SKILL.md completely.
- Read
customize.toml.
- Read
DES-WORKFLOW.md if available.
- Read
SOUL.md if Learning Mode or explanation is involved.
- Inspect workflow status if available.
- Inspect learning status if available.
- Load only
steps/step-01-understand-user-intent.md.
- Do not load step-02 or step-03 until instructed.
- Stop at every
HALT point.
- Do not route to implementation or release without evidence.
- Do not pretend status files exist if missing.
Process Overview
This skill will:
- Understand the user's intent.
- Determine the relevant DES skill family.
- Inspect workflow and learning status when available.
- Recommend the next skill.
- Explain why.
- Provide the exact next prompt.
- Recommend status update when needed.
Do not execute this overview directly. Follow the step files.
Guardrails
The agent must not:
- invent workflow status;
- invent artifact completion;
- route to implementation without design evidence;
- route to release without review evidence;
- recommend learning readiness without learning evidence;
- overwhelm the user with all 40+ skills when one route is enough;
- choose a skill only by keyword without considering workflow context.
HALT Policy
Stop when:
- the user asks to proceed but required artifact/status evidence is missing;
- multiple routes are possible and choosing one would be unsafe;
- the user asks to mark work complete without evidence;
- status files conflict and routing depends on them.
When stopping, ask for the minimum missing input or recommend a status update skill.
Quality Checklist
Handoff To The Next Skill
Always end with one clear next skill.
Examples:
Next recommended skill: des-business-discovery
Next recommended skill: des-explain-artifact
Next recommended skill: des-workflow-status-update
Next recommended skill: des-code-review
