technique-selector

name	technique-selector
description	Use this skill when Codex needs to choose the best black-box test design technique for a requirement, user story, rule set, workflow, or state model before generating tests.
metadata	{"author":"jovd83","version":"v2.0.0","dispatcher-output-artifacts":"technique_selection, routing_decision, rationale","dispatcher-risk":"low","dispatcher-writes-files":false,"dispatcher-input-artifacts":"requirements, analysis_context, risk_notes, design_constraints","dispatcher-capabilities":"test-technique-selection, black-box-analysis, design-routing","dispatcher-stack-tags":"testing, design, orchestration","dispatcher-accepted-intents":"select_test_design_technique, route_test_design_request","dispatcher-category":"testing"}

Technique Selector

Select the best-fit technique. Do not generate the final test cases here.

Read First

• ./references/technique-selection-matrix.md
• ./references/test-design-shared-conventions.md

Decision Process

1. Identify the dominant problem shape:
   • ordered ranges or limits
   • equivalence classes
   • discrete rules and outcomes
   • interacting parameters
   • states and transitions
   • actor-system flows
   • acceptance criteria at behavior level
2. Check whether the user already mandated a technique.
3. If the scenario is too vague to distinguish between two plausible techniques, ask a focused clarification question instead of guessing.
4. Prefer the technique that best matches the main defect risk, not the technique that produces the largest number of tests.

Required Output

Return a compact recommendation with exactly these sections:

• Primary technique
• Why it fits
• Secondary option
• Why not the others
• Missing information, only if the analysis is blocked or materially uncertain

Guardrails

• Recommend one primary technique.
• Name a secondary option only when it is genuinely plausible.
• If the artifact mixes several shapes, choose the one that should drive the first pass and mention any residual gap briefly.
• Do not produce tables, test steps, or detailed scenarios in this skill.