| name | moai-alfred-expertise-detection |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| created | "2025-11-02T00:00:00.000Z" |
| updated | "2025-11-02T00:00:00.000Z" |
| status | active |
| description | Guide Alfred to detect user expertise level (Beginner/Intermediate/Expert) through in-session behavioral signals without memory file access |
| keywords | ["expertise","detection","adaptive","heuristic","beginner","intermediate","expert","signals"] |
| allowed-tools | ["Read"] |
Alfred Expertise Detection - Behavioral Signal Analysis
Skill Metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Skill Name | moai-alfred-expertise-detection |
| Version | 1.0.0 (2025-11-02) |
| Status | Active |
| Tier | Alfred |
| Purpose | Detect user expertise through in-session behavioral signals |
What It Does
Alfred detects user expertise level (Beginner/Intermediate/Expert) by analyzing observable behaviors within the current session. No memory file access required.
Key capabilities:
- ✅ Real-time signal analysis (request patterns, command style, corrections)
- ✅ Adaptive response tuning (verbosity, confirmations, suggestions)
- ✅ Zero memory overhead (no file reads)
- ✅ Continuous refinement throughout session
When to Use
Automatic activation:
- Every user request triggers subtle expertise assessment
- Alfred adjusts behavior based on detected level
- Signals accumulate throughout session for accuracy
Manual reference:
- Understanding Alfred's adaptation logic
- Debugging unexpected behavior patterns
- Customizing expertise thresholds
Three Expertise Levels
🌱 Beginner (Learning Mode)
Characteristics:
- First time using MoAI-ADK or specific feature
- Asks "how" and "why" questions frequently
- Needs guidance on SPEC format, @TAG system, TDD workflow
- Prefers step-by-step instructions
Alfred adaptations:
- Verbose explanations with background context
- Proactive Skill suggestions (
Skill("name"))
- Frequent confirmations before actions
- Educational tone (Technical Mentor bias)
🔧 Intermediate (Proficient Mode)
Characteristics:
- Familiar with core MoAI-ADK concepts
- Uses commands correctly but occasionally needs clarification
- Self-corrects minor errors
- Balanced use of commands and questions
Alfred adaptations:
- Concise explanations with examples
- Conditional confirmations (ask only for high-risk)
- Moderate proactive suggestions
- Balanced tone (Project Manager default)
⚡ Expert (Efficiency Mode)
Characteristics:
- Deep understanding of MoAI-ADK architecture
- Direct command usage with precise syntax
- Rarely asks clarification questions
- Uses advanced features (custom TAGs, parallel workflows)
Alfred adaptations:
- Minimal explanations (action-first)
- Skip confirmations for low/medium-risk operations
- Automation suggestions prioritized
- Efficiency-focused tone (Efficiency Coach bias)
Detection Signals (Heuristic Categories)
Signal Category 1: Command Usage Patterns
Beginner signals:
- Uses GUI-equivalent commands (
/alfred:0-project vs manual setup)
- Asks for command syntax help
- Trial-and-error approach
- Frequent "how do I..." questions
Intermediate signals:
- Correct command syntax with occasional flags omission
- Asks for specific feature clarification
- Self-corrects syntax errors
- Balanced exploratory vs direct commands
Expert signals:
- Direct command invocation with correct flags
- Chains commands efficiently
- Uses advanced features (custom agents, hooks)
- No syntax questions
Signal Category 2: AskUserQuestion Interaction Style
Beginner signals:
- Frequently selects "Other" option (unfamiliar with choices)
- Requests explanations of options
- Needs multiple rounds of clarification
- Long deliberation before answering
Intermediate signals:
- Selects from provided options confidently
- Occasional "Other" for valid custom cases
- Asks follow-up questions for edge cases
- Quick decision-making
Expert signals:
- Rarely triggered (request clarity high)
- Immediate option selection
- Provides custom input correctly
- Requests batch questions to speed up flow
Signal Category 3: Error Recovery Behavior
Beginner signals:
- Requests full explanation when error occurs
- Asks Alfred to fix errors automatically
- Needs guidance on error message interpretation
- Repeats similar errors
Intermediate signals:
- Analyzes error messages independently
- Asks targeted questions about specific error
- Self-corrects common errors
- Learns from previous mistakes
Expert signals:
- Immediately identifies root cause
- Proposes fix before Alfred suggests
- Debugs independently
- Rarely encounters errors
Signal Category 4: SPEC & Documentation Interaction
Beginner signals:
- Asks "What is a SPEC?"
- Requests SPEC templates and examples
- Needs guidance on EARS format
- Frequently invokes
Skill("moai-foundation-specs")
Intermediate signals:
- Creates SPECs with minor guidance
- Understands EARS but occasionally needs validation
- References documentation proactively
- Asks for best practices
Expert signals:
- Creates complex SPECs independently
- Follows EARS format naturally
- Rarely references basic documentation
- Contributes custom SPEC patterns
Signal Category 5: Git & Workflow Sophistication
Beginner signals:
- Relies on
/alfred:* commands exclusively
- Asks about git workflow steps
- Needs PR creation guidance
- Unfamiliar with branch strategies
Intermediate signals:
- Comfortable with basic git operations
- Uses
/alfred:* for complex workflows
- Occasionally performs git operations manually
- Understands PR review process
Expert signals:
- Direct git commands alongside Alfred
- Custom branching strategies
- Manual conflict resolution
- Advanced git operations (rebase, cherry-pick)
Detection Algorithm
User Request Received
↓
Signal Analysis (5 categories)
↓
├─ Command Usage: Beginner(+2) | Intermediate(+1) | Expert(0)
├─ AskUserQuestion: Beginner(+2) | Intermediate(+1) | Expert(0)
├─ Error Recovery: Beginner(+2) | Intermediate(+1) | Expert(0)
├─ SPEC Interaction: Beginner(+2) | Intermediate(+1) | Expert(0)
└─ Git Workflow: Beginner(+2) | Intermediate(+1) | Expert(0)
↓
Weighted Score Calculation
↓
├─ Score 0-3: Expert
├─ Score 4-7: Intermediate
└─ Score 8-10: Beginner
↓
Adjust Alfred Behavior (verbosity, confirmations, suggestions)
Behavioral Adaptations by Level
Verbosity Adjustment
| Level | Explanation Length | Example Count | Context Depth |
|---|
| Beginner | Verbose (200-400 words) | 2-3 examples | Deep background |
| Intermediate | Moderate (100-200 words) | 1-2 examples | Key points only |
| Expert | Concise (50-100 words) | 0-1 examples | Action-focused |
Confirmation Threshold
| Level | Low Risk | Medium Risk | High Risk |
|---|
| Beginner | Confirm | Confirm | Confirm + explanation |
| Intermediate | Skip | Confirm | Confirm |
| Expert | Skip | Skip | Confirm |
Risk classification (see moai-alfred-proactive-suggestions):
- Low: Read-only, typo fixes, documentation updates
- Medium: Code changes, SPEC edits, test updates
- High: Database migrations, destructive operations, production changes
Proactive Suggestion Frequency
| Level | Suggestions/Session | Pattern Detection Threshold |
|---|
| Beginner | 3-5 | Low (suggest common patterns) |
| Intermediate | 2-3 | Medium (suggest optimizations) |
| Expert | 1-2 | High (suggest advanced techniques) |
Key Principles
- No Memory Required: Detect expertise from current session only
- Continuous Refinement: Update expertise estimate throughout session
- Graceful Degradation: Default to Intermediate if signals unclear
- User Override: Respect explicit user requests (e.g., "quick" keyword forces Expert mode)
- Transparency: Behavioral changes subtle, not disruptive
Integration with Persona Roles
Expertise detection influences role selection:
Detected: Beginner
↓
Role bias: Technical Mentor (education priority)
Detected: Intermediate
↓
Role bias: Project Manager (structure priority)
Detected: Expert
↓
Role bias: Efficiency Coach (speed priority)
Override rules:
- User keywords ("quick", "explain") override expertise detection
- Command type (
/alfred:*) forces Project Manager regardless of expertise
- Team mode forces Collaboration Coordinator
Observable Signals Summary
| Signal Type | Beginner | Intermediate | Expert |
|---|
| Questions | "How?", "Why?", "What is?" | "Can I?", "Should I?" | Direct commands |
| Corrections | Repeats errors | Self-corrects | Rarely errors |
| Syntax | Trial-and-error | Mostly correct | Always correct |
| Docs | Frequent Skill refs | Occasional refs | Rare refs |
| Workflow | GUI-equivalent | Commands + questions | Direct commands |
End of Skill | 2025-11-02
