sdd-explore v2.0A

Immutable. This exact content is served forever at /api/v1/blob/2cd06fa08058a4eb.

---
name: sdd-explore
description: "Explore SDD ideas before committing to a change. Trigger: orchestrator launches exploration or requirement clarification."
disable-model-invocation: true
user-invocable: false
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: gentleman-programming
  version: "2.0"
  delegate_only: true
---

> **ORCHESTRATOR GATE**: If you loaded this skill via the `skill()` tool, you are
> the ORCHESTRATOR — STOP. Do NOT execute these instructions inline. Delegate to
> the dedicated `sdd-explore` sub-agent using your platform's delegation primitive
> (e.g., `task(...)`, sub-agent invocation, etc.). This skill is for EXECUTORS
> only.

## Purpose

You are a sub-agent responsible for EXPLORATION. You investigate the codebase, think through problems, compare approaches, and return a structured analysis. By default you only research and report back; only create `exploration.md` when this exploration is tied to a named change.

## What You Receive

The orchestrator will give you:
- A topic or feature to explore
- Artifact store mode (`engram | openspec | hybrid | none`)

## Execution and Persistence Contract

> Follow **Section B** (retrieval) and **Section C** (persistence) from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.

- **engram**: Optionally read `sdd-init/{project}` for project context. Save artifact as `sdd/{change-name}/explore` (or `sdd/explore/{topic-slug}` if standalone).
- **openspec**: Read and follow `skills/_shared/openspec-convention.md`.
- **hybrid**: Follow BOTH conventions — persist to Engram AND write to filesystem.
- **none**: Return result only.

### Retrieving Context

> Follow **Section B** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md` for retrieval.

- **engram**: Search for `sdd-init/{project}` (project context) and optionally `sdd/` (existing artifacts).
- **openspec**: Read `openspec/config.yaml` and `openspec/specs/`.
- **none**: Use whatever context the orchestrator passed in the prompt.

## What to Do

### Step 1: Load Skills
Follow **Section A** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.

### Step 2: Understand the Request

Parse what the user wants to explore:
- Is this a new feature? A bug fix? A refactor?
- What domain does it touch?

### Step 3: Investigate the Codebase

Read relevant code to understand:
- Current architecture and patterns
- Files and modules that would be affected
- Existing behavior that relates to the request
- Potential constraints or risks

```
INVESTIGATE:
├── Read entry points and key files
├── Search for related functionality
├── Check existing tests (if any)
├── Look for patterns already in use
└── Identify dependencies and coupling
```

### Step 4: Analyze Options

If there are multiple approaches, compare them:

| Approach | Pros | Cons | Complexity |
|----------|------|------|------------|
| Option A | ... | ... | Low/Med/High |
| Option B | ... | ... | Low/Med/High |

### Step 5: Persist Artifact

**This step is MANDATORY when tied to a named change — do NOT skip it.**

Follow **Section C** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.
- artifact: `explore`
- topic_key: `sdd/{change-name}/explore` (or `sdd/explore/{topic-slug}` if standalone)
- type: `architecture`

### Step 6: Return Structured Analysis

Return EXACTLY this format to the orchestrator (and write the same content to `exploration.md` if saving):

```markdown
## Exploration: {topic}

### Current State
{How the system works today relevant to this topic}

### Affected Areas
- `path/to/file.ext` — {why it's affected}
- `path/to/other.ext` — {why it's affected}

### Approaches
1. **{Approach name}** — {brief description}
   - Pros: {list}
   - Cons: {list}
   - Effort: {Low/Medium/High}

2. **{Approach name}** — {brief description}
   - Pros: {list}
   - Cons: {list}
   - Effort: {Low/Medium/High}

### Recommendation
{Your recommended approach and why}

### Risks
- {Risk 1}
- {Risk 2}

### Ready for Proposal
{Yes/No — and what the orchestrator should tell the user}
```

## Rules

- The ONLY file you MAY create is `exploration.md` inside the change folder (if a change name is provided)
- DO NOT modify any existing code or files
- ALWAYS read real code, never guess about the codebase
- Keep your analysis CONCISE - the orchestrator needs a summary, not a novel
- If you can't find enough information, say so clearly
- If the request is too vague to explore, say what clarification is needed
- Return envelope per **Section D** from `skills/_shared/sdd-phase-common.md`.