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skill-context-detection

The skill-context-detection skill automatically identifies whether a user is engaged in development work or knowledge work by analyzing prompt content for task-specific keywords, examining project structure for code artifacts, and respecting any explicit mode overrides. Use this skill when workflows need to adapt their responses and behavior to match whether the current task involves coding activities versus research, strategy, or business deliverables.

Install in Claude Code
Copy
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus /tmp/skill-context-detection && cp -r /tmp/skill-context-detection/.claude/skills/skill-context-detection ~/.claude/skills/skill-context-detection
Then start a new Claude Code session; the skill loads automatically.

SKILL.md

# Context Detection - Internal Skill

## Purpose

This skill provides **automatic context detection** to determine whether the user is working in a **Development context** (code-focused) or **Knowledge context** (research/strategy-focused). This replaces the manual `/octo:km` toggle with intelligent auto-detection.

## Detection Algorithm

When a workflow skill activates, detect context using these signals:

### Step 1: Check for Explicit Override

If user has explicitly set mode via `/octo:km on` or `/octo:km off`, respect that setting.

```bash
# Check if knowledge mode is explicitly set
if [[ -f ~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode ]]; then
  EXPLICIT_MODE=$(cat ~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode)
  if [[ "$EXPLICIT_MODE" == "on" ]]; then
    echo "knowledge"
    exit 0
  elif [[ "$EXPLICIT_MODE" == "off" ]]; then
    echo "dev"
    exit 0
  fi
fi
# If "auto" or not set, proceed with auto-detection
```

### Step 2: Analyze Prompt Content (Strongest Signal)

**Knowledge Context Indicators** (check prompt for these terms):
- Business/strategy: "market", "ROI", "stakeholders", "strategy", "business case", "competitive"
- Research: "literature", "synthesis", "academic", "papers", "research question"
- UX: "personas", "user research", "journey map", "pain points", "interviews"
- Deliverables: "presentation", "report", "PRD", "proposal", "executive summary"

**Dev Context Indicators** (check prompt for these terms):
- Technical: "API", "endpoint", "database", "function", "class", "module"
- Actions: "implement", "debug", "refactor", "test", "deploy", "build"
- Artifacts: "code", "tests", "migration", "schema", "controller"

**Scoring:**
- Count knowledge indicators in prompt
- Count dev indicators in prompt
- Higher count wins
- If tied, check project context (Step 3)

### Step 3: Analyze Project Context (Secondary Signal)

**Dev Project Indicators:**
- Has `package.json`, `Cargo.toml`, `go.mod`, `pyproject.toml`, `pom.xml`
- Has `src/`, `lib/`, `app/` directories with code files
- Recent files are `.ts`, `.js`, `.py`, `.go`, `.rs`, `.java`

**Knowledge Project Indicators:**
- Has `docs/`, `research/`, `strategy/`, `reports/` directories
- Majority of files are `.md`, `.docx`, `.pdf`, `.pptx`
- No code package managers detected

### Step 4: Default Fallback

If signals are ambiguous or equal:
- In a git repo with code files → Default to **Dev Context**
- No code files detected → Default to **Knowledge Context**

---

## Context Output Format

Return detected context as a structured object for use by workflow skills:

```json
{
  "context": "dev" | "knowledge",
  "confidence": "high" | "medium" | "low",
  "signals": {
    "prompt_indicators": ["API", "endpoint", "database"],
    "project_type": "node_typescript",
    "explicit_override": false
  }
}
```

---

## How Workflow Skills Use Context

### flow-discover (Research)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Research Focus** | Technical implementation, library comparison, code patterns | Market analysis, academic synthesis, competitive research |
| **Primary Agents** | Codex (implementation), Gemini (ecosystem) | Gemini (analysis), research-synthesizer |
| **Output Format** | Code examples, API comparisons, tech recommendations | Reports, frameworks, strategic recommendations |
| **Visual Banner** | `🔍 [Dev] Discover Phase: Technical research` | `🔍 [Knowledge] Discover Phase: Strategic research` |

### flow-develop (Build)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Build Focus** | Code generation, implementation, architecture | PRDs, strategy docs, presentations |
| **Primary Agents** | Codex (code), backend-architect, tdd-orchestrator | product-writer, strategy-analyst, exec-communicator |
| **Output Format** | Source files, tests, migrations | Documents, frameworks, action plans |
| **Visual Banner** | `🛠️ [Dev] Develop Phase: Building code` | `🛠️ [Knowledge] Develop Phase: Building deliverables` |

### flow-deliver (Review)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Review Focus** | Code quality, security, performance | Document quality, argument strength, completeness |
| **Primary Agents** | code-reviewer, security-auditor | exec-communicator, strategy-analyst |
| **Quality Gates** | OWASP, test coverage, maintainability | Evidence quality, clarity, actionability |
| **Visual Banner** | `✅ [Dev] Deliver Phase: Code review` | `✅ [Knowledge] Deliver Phase: Document review` |

---

## Visual Indicator Update

When context is detected, update the visual banner to show context:

**Dev Context:**
```
🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode
🔍 [Dev] Discover Phase: Researching OAuth implementation patterns

Providers:
🔴 Codex CLI - Technical implementation analysis
🟡 Gemini CLI - Ecosystem and library comparison
🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis
```

**Knowledge Context:**
```
🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode
🔍 [Knowledge] Discover Phase: Researching market entry strategies

Providers:
🔴 Codex CLI - Data analysis and modeling
🟡 Gemini CLI - Market and competitive research
🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis
```

---

## Implementation in Workflow Skills

Each flow skill should:

1. **Before executing workflow**, run context detection
2. **Show detected context** in visual banner
3. **Adjust behavior** based on context:
   - Agent selection
   - Prompt framing for external CLIs
   - Output format expectations
   - Quality gate criteria

### Example Integration (Pseudocode)

```markdown
When this skill activates:

1. **Detect context**
   - Analyze user's prompt for knowledge vs dev indicators
   - Check project type (code repo vs doc-heavy)
   - Check for explicit override (~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode)
   - Determine: "dev" or "knowledge" with confidence level

2. **Show context-aware banner**
   ```
   🐙 **