nature-figure

Nature Figure Making — Router

This skill is split into two layers:

• A static layer under static/ that holds versioned, reusable content fragments (the figure contract and default stance, plus a per-backend quick-start for Python and R).
• A dynamic layer (this file plus manifest.yaml) that detects the plotting backend and loads only the fragment needed for the current job. The large design, API, pattern, and QA material lives in on-demand references.

Do not try to apply the figure logic from memory or from this router. Always load fragments from disk as described below.

Routing protocol

Follow these five steps every time the skill is invoked.

1. Load the manifest and the core layer

Read manifest.yaml. It declares the backend axis, the allowed values, and the file paths each value maps to.

Also read every file listed under always_load (static/core/contract.md and static/core/stance.md). These hold the figure contract, the backend gate, the missing-runtime rule, the privacy rule, and the default operating stance that apply to every figure job.

2. Resolve the backend — a blocking gate

Backend selection blocks everything else. Decide the backend value only from an explicit user choice or a clearly language-specific input file/workflow:

• python — matplotlib / seaborn.
• r — ggplot2 / patchwork / ComplexHeatmap.

If the user has not explicitly chosen, ask exactly one concise question — Python or R? — and stop. Do not default, guess, generate mock data, or write scripts before the answer. Only recommend a backend when the user explicitly asks you to choose; then use references/backend-selection.md, state the reason, and proceed. Once selected, the backend is exclusive for all drawing, previewing, exporting, and visual QA (see core/contract.md).

3. Load the matching backend fragment

After the backend is resolved, Read the mapped fragment (static/fragments/backend/python.md or static/fragments/backend/r.md). It carries the backend-only execution rule and the publication quick-start (rcParams/theme and export helper). Do not load the other backend's fragment.