problem-framing

id	SKL-problem-PROBLEMFRAMING
name	Problem Framing
description	Problem framing is the critical first step before any implementation, teaching agents to detect vague or incomplete requirements, pause execution, and ask clarifying questions. This skill reduces hall
version	1.0.0
status	active
owner	@cerebra-team
last_updated	2026-02-22
category	Backend
tags	["api","backend","server","database"]
stack	["Python","Node.js","REST API","GraphQL"]
difficulty	Intermediate

Problem Framing

Skill Profile

(Select at least one profile to enable specific modules)

• DevOps
• Backend
• Frontend
• AI-RAG
• Security Critical

Overview

Problem framing is the critical first step before any implementation, teaching agents to detect vague or incomplete requirements, pause execution, and ask clarifying questions. This skill reduces hallucinations, prevents wasted effort, and improves first-shot success rate by ensuring the agent understands the problem before attempting to solve it. It provides systematic methods for ambiguity detection, question formulation, and problem restatement to establish clear understanding between humans and AI agents.

Why This Matters

• Increases First-shot Success: Prevents wasted time on incorrect implementations by clarifying requirements upfront
• Reduces Re-work: Saves significant time by avoiding work on misunderstood requirements
• Improves User Satisfaction: Delivers outputs that match actual needs rather than assumptions
• Enhances Communication: Reduces back-and-forth by establishing clear understanding early
• Supports AI-Human Collaboration: Enables more effective collaboration between AI agents and human users

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Core Concepts & Rules

1. Core Principles

• Follow established patterns and conventions
• Maintain consistency across codebase
• Document decisions and trade-offs

2. Implementation Guidelines

• Start with the simplest viable solution
• Iterate based on feedback and requirements
• Test thoroughly before deployment

Inputs / Outputs / Contracts

• Inputs:
  • User task or request
  • Available context (code, files, error messages)
  • Previous clarifications or discussions
• Entry Conditions:
  • Task received from user
  • Initial context available