intent

Extract

From the conversation/context/user:

• The ask as given — the words on the table.
• What blocks it — everything that would have to be invented to start the work now.

Gate

Proceed only when: starting the work now would mean inventing what the user means.

Anything else, say which in one plain line — never work the ask over anyway:

• The ask is already one confirmed thing → proceed with the work.
• The WHAT is confirmed and the open question is the technical path — architecture, technology, design → use shape skill.

Route

Before routing anything: retrieve what the record, the repo, or the world can answer. Only what the user alone holds routes to a skill.

Route each blocker by what it is, invoking the named skill with the Skill tool:

• The words admit two readings that would build different things → use clarify skill.
• The user holds what they want but can't yet say it → use elicit skill.
• The user is missing something already settled — what exists, what a thing means — and can't ask past it → use explain skill.
• The ask arrives already committed — a locked proposal with undefended decisions inside → use interrogate skill.

What each skill gives back re-enters the routing: a clarify pick can surface something the user can't express; an elicit record can leave words with two readings; an explain can let the user finally say the ask; an interrogate answer can amend the ask. Route again until nothing blocks the ask.

Where the input leaves it open, ask the negative once — what should this NOT do — before closing.

Output

The work order is the result: the ask restated in one line, confirmed by the user — plus what it must NOT do, where that surfaced. The routing ends only when starting the work would invent nothing.

Then check what still stands open:

• Nothing — or one way to build it is already plain → proceed with the work.
• The WHAT is confirmed but more than one way to build it remains → use shape skill.