sticky

# Sticky

Set per-project auto-routing mode. Three states:

| State | Default? | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| `auto` | yes (when `.sticky` absent) | **Intent-detection routing** — messages containing chain-starter verbs (`audit`, `debug`, `fix`, `brainstorm`, `scope`, `deploy`, `review`, …) auto-route. Pure conversation passes through. |
| `on` | — | **Full sticky** — every task-shaped message routes, even without explicit intent verbs |
| `off` | — | **All auto-routing disabled** — only explicit `/hyperflow:*` slash commands trigger chains |

Intent-detection is the floor — the user gets it without any opt-in (the orchestrator scans every user message for chain-starter verbs and routes when matched). Sticky `on` raises the ceiling; sticky `off` lowers the floor.

Full doctrine: [DOCTRINE.md](../hyperflow/DOCTRINE.md) Layer 1 auto-routing clause (intent verb taxonomy + routing contract + bypass patterns).

## Subcommands

| Subcommand | Description |
|---|---|
| `on` | Set state: on — full sticky routing on every task-shaped message |
| `auto` | Set state: auto — intent-verb routing only (the default) |
| `off` | Set state: off — disable ALL auto-routing including intent detection |
| `status` | Show current state (on / auto / off / when toggled) |

Default subcommand when none provided: `status`.

## State persistence

Sticky state is stored at `.hyperflow/.sticky` (project-scoped, gitignored). File format:

```
state: on
since: 2026-05-17T14:30:00Z
trigger: user-mention   # or: explicit-toggle | session-default
```

The session-start hook reads this file and prints a one-line advisory when sticky is on (`Sticky mode: ON since 2026-05-17 14:30 — task-shaped messages auto-route through hyperflow`). Sticky persists across sessions until explicitly toggled off.

## Subcommand Details

### `on`

Write `.hyperflow/.sticky` with `state: on` + ISO-8601 timestamp + `trigger: explicit-toggle`. Print:

```
Sticky mode: ON (full routing)
Every task-shaped message now routes through hyperflow, even without intent verbs.
Disable with /hyperflow:sticky off · or relax to verb-only routing with /hyperflow:sticky auto.
```

### `auto`

Write `.hyperflow/.sticky` with `state: auto` + timestamp. This is the default state when no file exists; explicitly setting it is useful after `off` to re-enable intent-detection without going to full sticky. Print:

```
Sticky mode: AUTO (intent-detection routing, default)
Messages containing chain-starter verbs (audit, debug, fix, brainstorm, scope, deploy, review, …) auto-route.
Pure conversation passes through. Expand to full routing with /hyperflow:sticky on.
```

### `off`

Replace `.hyperflow/.sticky` contents with `state: off` + timestamp. (Keep the file rather than delete so the session-start hook can show recent history.) Print:

```
Sticky mode: OFF
All auto-routing disabled — even intent verbs (audit, debug, fix, brainstorm, …) will no longer route.
Use explicit /hyperflow:* invocations. Re-enable with /hyperflow:sticky auto or /hyperflow:sticky on.
```

### `status`

Read `.hyperflow/.sticky`. Print one line:

```
Sticky mode: ON since 2026-05-17 14:30 (trigger: user-mention)
```

or:

```
Sticky mode: AUTO since 2026-05-17 14:30 (trigger: default · intent-detection routing)
```

or:

```
Sticky mode: OFF (last changed: 2026-05-16 09:12)
```

or, if file absent:

```
Sticky mode: AUTO (default · file not yet written · intent-detection routing active)
```

## Behavioural contract

When sticky is ON, the orchestrator MUST follow this routing on every new user message:

1. **Chat-shaped messages** (questions about prior output, "yes" / "no" answers to a pending gate, acknowledgments like "ok"/"thanks", short clarifications) — pass through normally, no chain routing.
2. **Task-shaped messages** (any verb-led request for new work: "add X", "fix Y", "refactor Z", "build", "implement", "create", "design", "scope out", "decompose", "ship") — auto-route:
   - **Ambiguous design** (the user asks *what* or *should we*) → invoke `/hyperflow:spec` with the user's message as `ARGUMENTS`.
   - **Clear spec** (the user describes *how* or names concrete files / functions) → invoke `/hyperflow:scope` with the user's message as `ARGUMENTS`.
   - **Existing task file referenced** (e.g. "resume the auth task") → invoke `/hyperflow:dispatch` with the matching slug.
3. **Bug reports** ("X is broken", "Y test fails", "Z throws…") → invoke `/hyperflow:trace`.
4. **Review requests** ("review this", "audit the diff", "any issues?") → invoke `/hyperflow:audit`.
5. **Ship intent** ("ship it", "push", "release", "deploy") → invoke `/hyperflow:deploy`.

The routing decision is made silently — print one short line (`Routing to /hyperflow:spec (sticky mode) …`) and invoke. Don't ask the user to confirm the routing (that would be an invented gate per DOCTRINE rule 8). The Step 0 chain-mode question still fires inside the routed skill.

**Override:** if the user message starts with `/` (any slash command) OR contains "without hyperflow" / "skip hyperflow" / "don't route" → bypass routing for that message; respond directly.

## Activation triggers

Intent-detection routing (`state: auto`) is the **default** — active for every project without any user action. The orchestrator scans every user message for chain-starter verbs (per the DOCTRINE intent verb taxonomy) and routes when matched. No file write needed.

Upgrades and downgrades:

1. **Upgrade to full sticky (`on`):**
   - Explicit: user runs `/hyperflow:sticky on`.
   - Implicit: user mentions the word "hyperflow" in a non-slash-command message AND `.hyperflow/.sticky` does not exist OR is `auto`. Orchestrator writes `state: on · trigger: user-mention · since: <ISO-8601>` and prints `Sticky mode: ON (upgraded from auto, activated by mention). Disable with /hyperflow:sticky off.`
2. **Downgrade to intent-only (`auto`):** user runs `/hyperflow:sticky auto`.
3. **Disable entirely (`off`):** user runs `/hyperflow:sticky off`. Disables intent d