formulate-discovery-problem

name	formulate-discovery-problem
description	Formulates problems for execution with ado by creating discoveryspace and operation YAML files. Guides through experiment selection, space creation, validation, operation configuration, and parameterization. Use when the user wants to create discoveryspace or operation YAML files, configure experiments, set up entity spaces, or formulate research, benchmarking or search problems.

Formulating Problems for ado Execution

Create validated discoveryspace and operation YAML for systematic work over an entity space: sampling and measuring entities, searching for entities that meet objectives, or benchmarking configurations (including research and benchmarking studies). Execution and analysis of results happen after resources are created — see conduct-empirical-study for the full workflow.

Tips

• Unless directed otherwise place all YAML and .md files created in a subdirectory of examples/ dedicated to the given problem.
• If you want to change the default value of an optional property use experiment parameterization, rather than setting a single valued property in the entity space
• Before creating a space or actuator configuration, check if one already exists — see resource-yaml-creation
• Learn ado CLI command-line construction and testing
• For metadata conventions, dynamic references (--use-latest, --with, --set), and resource-specific guidance, see resource-yaml-creation

Workflow Overview

The process has two main phases:

1. Create DiscoverySpace YAML - Define experiments and entity space
2. Create Operation YAML - Configure how to explore/analyze the space

Each phase follows a pattern: choose tool for task (experiment/operator) → create YAML for task → validate YAML → iterate.

Phase 1: Create DiscoverySpace YAML

Step 1a: Choose Experiments

List available experiments:

uv run ado get experiments --details

Describe a specific experiment:

uv run ado describe experiment $EXPERIMENT_ID

Key information to gather:

• Required constitutive properties (must be in entity space)
• Optional properties (can use defaults or add to entity space)
• Target properties (what the experiment measures)

What to do if no experiment matching task available

1. Learn how to extend ado: plugin-development.mdc
2. Propose a custom experiment or actuator to user that would provide missing functionality
3. Wait for user input

Step 1b: Create DiscoverySpace YAML

Generate initial template from experiment:

uv run ado template space --from-experiment $EXPERIMENT_ID --output-file space.yaml

Manual structure:

See skill-manual-structure.yaml.

Step 1c: Validate DiscoverySpace YAML

uv run ado create space -f space.yaml --dry-run

Step 1d: Iterate Until Valid

Fix validation errors and repeat validation until successful.

Phase 2: Create Operation YAML

Step 2a: Choose Operator

List available operators:

uv run ado get operators

Get operator template:

uv run ado template operation --operator-name $OPERATOR_NAME --output-file operation.yaml

Step 2b: Decide Parameters

Review the template and configure parameters based on:

• User's query/goals
• Operator documentation
• Example operations in examples/

Step 2c: Create Operation YAML

Structure:

See skill-operation-structure.yaml for an example structure.

Step 2d: Validate Operation YAML

uv run ado create operation -f operation.yaml --dry-run

Step 2e: Iterate Until Valid

Fix validation errors and repeat validation until successful.

Critical Rules

Experiment Selection Rules

1. Choose experiments first - Before defining entity space
2. All required inputs must be in entity space - Every requiredProperties (constitutive) from experiments must have a corresponding property in entitySpace
3. Optional properties - Only add to entity space if necessary to answer user's query. Explain why.
4. Default values - Only change default values of optional properties if necessary. Explain why.

Entity Space Refinement Rules

1. Refine domains to reduce size - Narrow property domains based on user's query. Explain the refinement.
2. No redundant dimensions - All entity space properties should be required by at least one experiment (validation will catch this)
3. Domain compatibility - Entity space property domains must be compatible with experiment requirements (subdomain or equal)

Property Domain Guidelines

Discrete (categorical):

See skill-property-domain-discrete-categorical.yaml.

Discrete (numeric):

See skill-property-domain-discrete-numeric.yaml.

Continuous:

See skill-property-domain-continuous.yaml.

Validation Checklist

Before finalizing, verify:

• All required experiment properties are in entity space
• Entity space domains are compatible with experiment requirements
• No redundant entity space dimensions
• Optional properties only added if necessary (with explanation)
• Default values only changed if necessary (with explanation)
• Domain refinements explained
• DiscoverySpace YAML validates (--dry-run)
• Operation YAML validates (--dry-run)
• All ado CLI commands and options are valid (uv run ado [COMMAND] --help)

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Validation error "required property not in entity space"

• Solution: Add the missing property to entitySpace with appropriate domain

Issue: Validation error "domain incompatible"

• Solution: Ensure entity space domain is a subdomain of experiment's required domain

Issue: Validation error "redundant dimension"

• Solution: Remove properties from entity space that aren't required by any experiment

Issue: Operation validation fails

• Solution: Check operator parameters match schema. Use --include-schema flag with template command.

Additional Resources

• For detailed schema information, see reference.md
• For example workflows, see examples.md
• For Pydantic model details, examine:
  • ado/schema/experiment.py
  • ado/schema/measurementspace.py
  • ado/schema/entityspace.py
  • ado/core/discoveryspace/config.py
  • ado/core/operation/operation.py

References

When modifying or creating code while using this skill, follow:

• AGENTS.md
• plugin-development.mdc (if working with plugins)