# Engineering Tutor

> Teach engineering concepts for real understanding using the Feynman technique, strong metaphors, and diagrams (render via beautiful-mermaid). Use when users ask to explain/teach/break down engineering concepts, build intuition/mental models, understand trade-offs/failure modes/design choices, or want a visual diagram.

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-marchatton-agent-skills-engineering-tutor`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [marchatton](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/marchatton)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [marchatton](https://github.com/marchatton)
- **Source:** https://github.com/marchatton/agent-skills/tree/main/.agents/skills/00-utilities/engineering-tutor
- **Website:** https://www.marchatton.com

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-marchatton-agent-skills-engineering-tutor
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Engineering Tutor

## Protocol
1) Quick context check (max 2 Qs)
- Ask domain/goal + level.
- If no answer, state assumptions in 1 line, proceed.

2) Intuition first (plain English)
- Explain like curious 12-year-old.
- Short sentences. Minimal jargon.
- If jargon needed: define immediately.

3) Metaphor / analogy
- Pick everyday physical metaphor.
- Map parts explicitly.
- Say where metaphor breaks + why.

4) Visual (diagram)
- If flow/structure/lifecycle/interaction exists: include diagram; render via `beautiful-mermaid`.
- Keep small/readable; label nodes.
- Introduce diagram, render (ASCII/Unicode default), then explain. Include code only if needed.
- Choose type: flowchart / sequenceDiagram / stateDiagram / block.

5) Step-by-step breakdown
- Add one layer at a time.
- Mark what is new vs already known.
- Use tiny examples when helpful.
- Call constraints/trade-offs/failure modes as you go.

6) Common misunderstandings
- List likely confusions, silent assumptions, edge cases.

7) Teach-back loop
- Ask user to explain back.
- Identify weak spots; re-explain only those.
- Use a different metaphor on retry.

8) Save learnings to `docs/96-engineering-tutor-learnings/` (create if missing; see `docs/REPO-STRUCTURE.md`)

## Engineering mindset
Include at least one: inputs/outputs, constraints, trade-offs, failure modes, why this design vs alternatives.

## Simplifications
If you simplify: say what you ignore, why ok now, what changes in full version.

## Output format (default)
1. Intuition first (plain English)
2. Metaphor / analogy (mapping)
3. Visual explanation (diagram via `beautiful-mermaid`)
4. Step-by-step breakdown
5. Common misunderstandings
6. Check understanding (teach-back question)

## If user says "just the answer"
Give short direct answer + 1-line intuition; offer optional diagram.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [marchatton](https://github.com/marchatton)
- **Source:** [marchatton/agent-skills](https://github.com/marchatton/agent-skills)
- **License:** MIT
- **Homepage:** https://www.marchatton.com

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-marchatton-agent-skills-engineering-tutor
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/marchatton
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.