SKILL.md
Workflow Orchestrator
A skill that coordinates workflows across multiple skills by evaluating hook metadata, recording pending follow-ups, and running only the actions that are safe and supported in the current host runtime.
When This Skill Activates
This skill should be used when:
- A skill completes its main workflow
- A milestone is reached (PRD complete, implementation done, etc.)
- User says "complete workflow" or "finish the process"
How It Works
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Workflow Orchestration │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 1. Detect Milestone → 2. Read Hooks → 3. Record/Run Safe Follow-ups │
│ │
│ prd-planner complete │
│ ↓ │
│ workflow-orchestrator │
│ ↓ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ declared self-improving follow-up │ (record/run) │
│ │ declared session logging follow-up │ (record/run) │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Trigger Configuration
Read trigger definitions from skills/auto-trigger/SKILL.md:
hooks:
after_complete:
- trigger: self-improving-agent
mode: background
- trigger: session-logger
mode: auto
on_error:
- trigger: self-improving-agent
mode: background
Execution Modes
| Mode | Behavior | Use When |
|---|---|---|
auto |
Run or record a low-risk follow-up when the host supports it | Logging, status updates |
background |
Record a non-blocking follow-up | Reflection, analysis |
ask_first |
Ask user before executing | PRs, deployments, major changes |
Milestone Detection
PRD Complete
Detected when:
- docs/{scope}-prd.md exists
- All phases in {scope}-prd-task-plan.md are checked
- Status shows "COMPLETE"
Actions:
1. Record self-improving-agent as a background follow-up
2. Run or record session-logger if the host supports it
Implementation Complete
Detected when:
- All PRD requirements implemented
- Tests pass
- Code committed
Actions:
1. Ask before running code-reviewer
2. Run create-pr only when the user requested submission
3. Run or record session-logger if the host supports it
Self-Improvement Applied
Detected when:
- Candidate validated with auditable evidence
- One named durable owner changed
- Representative behavior rerun
- Candidate recorded as applied
Actions:
1. Ask before running create-pr
2. Run or record session-logger if the host supports it
Learning Candidate (Skill Complete)
Detected when:
- A skill completes its workflow and produces reusable evidence
- User provides feedback
- Error or issue encountered
Actions:
1. Record self-improving-agent as a background follow-up
2. Run or record session-logger if the host supports it
The self-improving-agent:
- Captures a candidate only when reusable evidence exists
- Excludes raw transcripts and private tool payloads
- Keeps uncertain findings under observation
- Validates candidates only with explicit, auditable evidence
- Applies validated changes only to a named durable owner with a change reference
- Proves the representative behavior after application
Error Handling (on_error)
Detected when:
- A command returns non-zero exit code
- Tests fail after following skill guidance
- User reports the guidance produced incorrect results
Actions:
- Record self-improving-agent (background) for self-correction
- Run or record session-logger to capture error context
Hook Implementation in Skills
To declare follow-up metadata, add this section to any skill's SKILL.md:
## Auto-Trigger (After Completion)
When this skill completes, record or run supported follow-ups:
hooks: aftercomplete: - trigger: skill-name mode: auto|background|askfirst context: "relevant context" on_error: - trigger: self-improving-agent mode: background
### Current Hook Contract
Hook metadata is declarative intent, not proof of CLI automation. Read the
current skill front matter before acting. An absent hook means no declared
follow-up; an existing hook still requires host support and the permission
boundary for the target action.
### Universal Learning Pattern
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Skill Completes With Evidence │ └──────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ ↓ ┌──────────────────────┐ │ workflow-orchestrator │ └──────────┬───────────┘ │ ┌──────────┴─────────┐ ↓ ↓ self-improving-agent session-logger ↓ ↓ Capture candidate Save bounded context ↓ ↓ Validate evidence Log session ↓ Apply to named owner ↓ create-pr (only if submission was requested)
Workflow Examples
Example 1: PRD Creation Workflow
User: "Create a PRD for user authentication"
↓
prd-planner executes
↓
Phase 6 complete: PRD delivered
↓
workflow-orchestrator detects milestone
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Background: self-improving-agent │ → Records learning proposal
│ Auto: session-logger │ → Saves session when supported
└─────────────────────────────────┘
Example 2: Full Feature Workflow
User: "Create a PRD and implement it"
↓
prd-planner → workflow-orchestrator
↓
self-improving-agent (candidate capture only)
↓
prd-implementation-precheck
↓
implementation complete → workflow-orchestrator
↓
code-reviewer → optional candidate capture
↓
create-pr (only when requested) → workflow-orchestrator
↓
session-logger
Each milestone can produce a self-improving-agent follow-up, but durable skill edits still require validation or explicit approval.
Implementation Steps
Step 1: Detect Milestone
Check for completion indicators:
# PRD complete?
grep -q "COMPLETE" docs/{scope}-prd-task-plan.md
# All phases checked?
grep -q "^\- \[x\].*Phase 6" docs/{scope}-prd-task-plan.md
# PRD file exists?
ls docs/{scope}-prd.md
Step 2: Read Trigger Config
# Read hooks from auto-trigger skill
cat skills/auto-trigger/SKILL.md
Step 3: Record or Execute Hooks
For each hook in order (beforestart, aftercomplete, on_error):
- Check if condition is met
- Record or execute based on mode and host support
- Pass context to triggered skill
- Wait/continue based on mode
Step 4: Update Status
Log what was triggered and the result:
## Workflow Execution
- [x] self-improving-agent (background) - Started
- [x] session-logger (auto) - Session saved
- [ ] create-pr (ask_first) - Pending user approval
Skills with Auto-Trigger
| Skill | Triggers After |
|---|---|
prd-planner |
self-improving-agent, session-logger |
self-improving-agent |
No automatic PR; applied changes may declare a logging follow-up |
prd-implementation-precheck |
self-improving-agent, session-logger |
code-reviewer |
self-improving-agent, session-logger |
create-pr |
session-logger |
refactoring-specialist |
self-improving-agent, session-logger |
debugger |
self-improving-agent, session-logger |
Adding Follow-up Metadata to Existing Skills
To add follow-up metadata to an existing skill, add to the end of its SKILL.md:
---
## Auto-Trigger
When this skill completes, record or run supported follow-ups:
hooks: after_complete: - trigger: session-logger mode: auto context: "Save session context"
For more complex triggers, specify mode and context:
## Auto-Trigger
When this skill completes:
hooks: aftercomplete: - trigger: next-skill mode: background context: "Description" - trigger: session-logger mode: auto context: "Save session" - trigger: create-pr mode: askfirst context: "Create PR if files modified" on_error: - trigger: self-improving-agent mode: background
Best Practices
- Log only when supported and appropriate - Session logging is a bounded optional follow-up
- Ask before major actions - PRs, deployments, destructive changes
- Background for analysis - Reflection, evaluation, optimization
- Auto for status - Logging, status updates, bookmarks
- Don't create loops - Ensure chains terminate