method-design

name	method-design
description	Use this skill whenever the user wants to formalize a network architecture and derive theoretical components from a research idea. Triggers include: 'method design', 'design method', 'network architecture', 'formula derivation', 'method-design', 'theoretical framework', 'derive equations', or any request to transform IDEA.md into a detailed METHOD.md. This skill is the **mandatory interface-layer method formalizer** in NeuroClaw: it reads IDEA.md, designs concrete network structures (layers, modules, connections), performs mathematical derivations (equations, loss functions, proofs), and always outputs a structured METHOD.md.
license	MIT License (NeuroClaw custom skill – freely modifiable within the project)
layer	interface
skill_type	workflow
dependencies	[]

Method Design

Overview

This skill implements the Framework Formalization & Theoretical Derivation process for the NeuroClaw method-design phase.

It acts as the Method Architect within the multi-agent framework:

• Reads the latest IDEA.md from the workspace.
• Designs the specific neural network structure (e.g., CNN backbone, attention modules, MRI-specific layers) tailored to the neuroscience task.
• Derives all necessary formulas (loss functions, gradients, convergence proofs, etc.) using symbolic or step-by-step reasoning.
• Produces a clean, publication-ready METHOD.md with sections: Architecture Diagram (text description), Detailed Layers, Mathematical Formulation, Implementation Notes, and Pseudocode.

If any part is ambiguous, it asks the user for clarification before proceeding.
Research use only — the output is a mathematically rigorous METHOD.md ready for experiment-controller and paper-writing.

Quick Reference (Method Flow)

Step	Description	Output File
1. Read & Parse	Load and analyze IDEA.md	01_idea_summary.md
2. Architecture Design	Define network layers & modules	02_architecture.md
3. Formula Derivation	Derive equations & proofs	03_formulas.md
4. Pseudocode & Notes	Generate implementation details	04_pseudocode.md
5. Finalize	Compile and polish	METHOD.md

Installation

# Place files in: skills/method-design/

Important Notes & Limitations

• Always starts from the latest IDEA.md; stops and prompts if missing.
• Every step saved as numbered .md files for transparency and resumption.
• Uses symbolic derivation (no hallucinated math); can call claw-shell or code tools internally for verification.
• Final output always saved as METHOD.md in workspace root.
• Diagrams are described in text (PlantUML/Mermaid ready); no image generation here.

When to Call This Skill

• Immediately after research-idea skill completes IDEA.md
• When the user wants to specify network details or mathematical foundation
• Before experiment-controller or paper-writing

Complementary / Related Skills

• research-idea → provides IDEA.md (input)
• experiment-controller → consumes METHOD.md
• paper-writing → consumes METHOD.md

Reference

NeuroClaw architecture (section 1.5 method-design skill).
Flow: IDEA.md parsing → architecture design → equation derivation → pseudocode → METHOD.md

Created At: 2026-03-24 00:00 HKT Last Updated At: 2026-03-26 00:14 HKT
Author: chengwang96