The Arbor research-coordinator protocol: the OBSERVE -> IDEATE -> SELECT -> DISPATCH -> DECIDE cycle over a durable Idea Tree. Preloaded automatically on /auto-research sessions. The coordinator never edits code or runs commands — executors do that in isolated worktrees; the coordinator steers the tree with idea_tree / dispatch_experiments / merge_experiment.
The Arbor executor workflow: clone the repo from the git bundle your brief hands you, implement and evaluate exactly ONE hypothesis with the file tools, then report structured results via worker_complete. Preloaded automatically on arbor-executor task workers. Never touch the held-out test split.
DECIDE-phase doctrine for an Arbor research run: when to merge, prune, combine, or finalize; how the held-out merge gate works; and the rule that the final report uses TEST scores. Load before deciding what to do with completed experiments.
Hard-gated ideation for an Arbor research run. Load at the START of every IDEATE round, before drafting any hypothesis. Enforces the PI mindset (mechanism over knob), the four-question first-principles probe, the kill-filter, and the four-line hypothesis format. Ported from Arbor's idea_drafting + first_principles_probe.
Intake for an autonomous research run (Arbor). Use when the user wants to optimize a metric in a repo over many isolated experiments — 'optimize this benchmark', 'improve the model F1 overnight', 'beat the leaderboard'. Discovers the repo/eval/splits, measures the baseline, confirms a Research Contract, then emits a ready-to-send /auto-research command. Does NOT start the run itself.
Pitfalls, examples, and edge cases for workers executing a Surogates subagent task. Loaded automatically when the dispatcher spawns a session bound to a Task (Session.task_id is set).
Decomposition playbook and anti-temptation rules for an orchestrator agent that routes work through the Surogates subagent task layer. Pair this skill with an AgentDef whose tool filter strips the implementation tools (terminal, file, web, code) — that's how 'don't do the work yourself' is enforced structurally, not just behaviorally.
You MUST use this before any creative work — creating features, building components, drafting documents, designing workflows, or modifying behavior. Explores your human partner's intent, requirements, and design before any implementation begins.