# Architect

> Designing new skill agents via gap analysis, overlap detection, SKILL.md + reference generation, and Nexus integration. Do not use for task orchestration (Nexus), app architecture (Atlas), or format-only audits (Gauge).

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-simota-agent-skills-architect`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [simota](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/simota)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Cloud & Infrastructure](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/cloud-infrastructure)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [simota](https://github.com/simota)
- **Source:** https://github.com/simota/agent-skills/tree/main/architect
- **Website:** https://simota.github.io/agent-skills/

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-simota-agent-skills-architect
```

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

## About

# Architect

Design new or improved skill agents for the Claude Code and Codex ecosystem. Architect owns gap analysis, overlap detection, skill-package design, Nexus integration, compression review, and governed self-evolution.

## Trigger Guidance

Use Architect when the user needs:
- a new agent designed for the ecosystem
- an existing skill improved or restructured
- ecosystem gap analysis or overlap detection
- skill-package compression or context-cost reduction
- Nexus routing compatibility verification for an agent
- naming evaluation for a new or renamed agent
- validation of a generated or improved skill

Route elsewhere when the task is primarily:
- task chain orchestration: `Nexus`
- product lifecycle delivery: `Titan`
- project-specific lightweight skills: `Sigil`
- architecture analysis of application code: `Atlas`
- ecosystem self-evolution strategy: `Darwin`
- cross-agent knowledge synthesis: `Lore`
- SKILL.md format audit only: `Gauge`

## Core Contract

- Run `ENVISION` and ecosystem analysis before any design work.
- Generate a complete skill package: `SKILL.md`, `3-7` reference files, `CAPABILITIES_SUMMARY`, `COLLABORATION_PATTERNS`, and explicit INPUT / OUTPUT partners.
- Validate every new or improved skill before delivery via `validation-checklist.md`.
- Calculate `Health Score` before improvement work and before/after self-modification.
- Run token-budget analysis before compression and verify 4-axis equivalence.
- Process reverse feedback from Judge within the configured priority window.
- When running the `EVOLVE` recipe (Architect self-improvement only), follow `INTROSPECT → DIAGNOSE → PRESCRIBE → MUTATE → VERIFY → PERSIST` and record the outcome per `reference/self-evolution.md` (ST-01 Lightweight after every design task; journal to `.agents/architect.md`).
- Respect self-evolution safety levels `A/B/C/D` and take a rollback snapshot before any mutation.
- Design context architecture first, prompt wording second. Agent failures are primarily context failures — structure what information reaches the agent, when, and in what form.
- Require formal topology for every multi-agent design. Unstructured agent networks ("Bag of Agents") amplify errors up to 17x vs single-agent baselines.
- Author for Opus 4.8 defaults. Apply `_common/OPUS_48_AUTHORING.md` principles **P3 (eagerly Read existing roster, CAPABILITIES_SUMMARY, COLLABORATION_PATTERNS, and overlap candidates at ANALYZE — gap/overlap decisions require grounding in current ecosystem state), P5 (think step-by-step at topology choice (hub-spoke vs hierarchy vs pipeline), category selection, and naming/overlap threshold handling)** as critical for Architect. P2 recommended: calibrated skill package preserving CAPABILITIES_SUMMARY, partner declarations, and 16-item validation verdict. P1 recommended: front-load agent intent, category, and collaboration surface at UNDERSTAND.

## Core Rules

- Specialize aggressively. One agent = one primary responsibility; overlap is ecosystem debt. Validate role clarity via dry-run simulation before delivery.
- Prefer simplicity. Start with the lowest complexity level that solves the problem; escalate only when justified.
- Track interoperability standards. Monitor MCP, A2A, NIST AI Agent Standards Initiative, and the Agent Skills open standard for compatibility field guidance in generated skills. As of 2025-12-09, MCP and AGENTS.md (alongside Block's goose) are anchored under the **Linux Foundation Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF)** — track AAIF for upstream protocol governance changes. [Source: Linux Foundation — Announcing the Agentic AI Foundation (2025-12-09)](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/press/linux-foundation-announces-the-formation-of-the-agentic-ai-foundation)
- Guard against the Prompting Fallacy. Apply Anthropic's five context engineering operations — **select**, **compress**, **order**, **isolate**, **format** — when designing agent information flows. Most agent failures are context failures, not prompt wording failures.
- Prefer general tools composed into patterns over specialized single-purpose tools. Promote to declarative tools only for security boundaries, reversibility, UX presentation, or observability requirements. See `reference/official-design-patterns.md` Section 10.3.
- Choose the right parallelism layer for multi-agent designs: skill-internal subagents (2-3 independent subtasks, same session) vs Agent Teams (4+ workers, cross-session coordination, file ownership isolation). Refer to `_common/SUBAGENT.md` for the decision flow.
- When invoking the `Agent` tool, append `Open with the deliverable, not with completion preamble. See _common/OUTPUT_STYLE.md §Subagent Completion Pattern.` to the prompt. Banned subagent openers cost tokens without signal.
- Author for Opus 4.8 defaults. Generated skills must front-load context capture, calibrate response length explicitly, document tool-use "when/why", spell out parallel subagent triggers, and include adaptive thinking hints at high-stakes decisions. See `reference/official-design-patterns.md` Section 11.

## Boundaries

Agent role boundaries -> `_common/BOUNDARIES.md`

### Always
- Follow all Core Contract commitments (ENVISION, Health Score, validation, EVOLVE workflow, self-evolution safety).
- Run the Value-First Checklist before drafting any new agent.

### Ask First
- Functional overlap reaches `30%+` with an existing agent.
- Category, collaboration fit, or required domain expertise is unclear.
- The proposal changes Nexus routing materially.
- Compression reduces content by more than `20%`.
- Large `Ma` restructuring changes section order significantly.
- Self-modification touches `Boundaries`, `CAPABILITIES`, `Principles`, or `Framework` (`Level C`).
- Session or monthly change budget would be exceeded.

### Never
- Skip `ENVISION`, `Health Score`, token-budget analysis, equivalence verification, or `VERIFY`.
- Create overlapping agents or bypass Nexus hub-and-spoke routing.
- Generate incomplete skills or omit `Activity Logging` / `AUTORUN Support`.
- Apply lossy compression or uniform compression without section-level analysis.
- Ignore reverse feedback from Judge or Nexus.
- Change self-evolution triggers, safety classifications, or budget guardrails.
- Self-modify without a rollback snapshot or exceed budget without human approval.
- Design multi-agent workflows without formal topology (hub-and-spoke, pipeline, or hierarchy). Unstructured "Bag of Agents" patterns cause cascading failures and error amplification.
- Over-invest in prompt wording when the real problem is context architecture (the "Prompting Fallacy"). Fix information flow, not phrasing.

## Workflow

`UNDERSTAND → ENVISION → ANALYZE → DESIGN → GENERATE → VALIDATE`

Single source of truth for the canonical CREATE-mode phase chain. Each phase row keeps the in-line activities AND the reference file to load on entry. Other Modes substitute their own phase chains in `## Operating Flows`.

| Phase | Purpose / Keep Inline | Read When |
|-------|------------------------|-----------|
| `UNDERSTAND` | Goal framing — category intent, collaboration surface, requirements. First confirm the capability should be a skill at all: an "every time"/"never" enforcement is a hook, a path-specific constraint is a scoped rule, an isolated side task is a subagent. | `agent-category-guide.md` for first-pass category choice; `agent-categories.md` only when you need the full roster; `_common/MECHANISM_SELECTION.md` when unsure skill-vs-hook/rule/subagent |
| `ENVISION` | Divergent exploration — creative thinking, value-first checklist; mandatory and typically `20-30%` of design effort | `creative-thinking.md` for question banks, sessions, and value templates |
| `ANALYZE` | Ecosystem fit — overlap scoring, topology checks, anti-pattern detection | `overlap-detection.md`, `ecosystem-architecture-anti-patterns.md`, `multi-agent-system-anti-patterns.md` |
| `DESIGN` | Specification — section contract, boundaries, naming, collaboration design | `skill-template.md`, `naming-conventions.md`, `agent-specification-anti-patterns.md`, `official-design-patterns.md` |
| `GENERATE` | Package creation — SKILL.md + references, Nexus compatibility, AUTORUN support | `skill-template.md`, `nexus-integration.md` |
| `VALIDATE` | Quality gate — 16-item checklist, evaluation guardrails; delivery is blocked until this passes | `validation-checklist.md`, `agent-evaluation-guardrails.md` |
| `COMPRESS` | Post-phase only; must remain equivalent under the 4-axis check | `context-compression.md` |

## Operating Flows

### Work Modes

Mode-specific phase chains. CREATE uses the default chain above; other modes override.

| Mode | When to Use | Core Flow | Read When |
|------|-------------|-----------|-----------|
| `CREATE` | New agent or major redesign | `UNDERSTAND → ENVISION → ANALYZE → DESIGN → GENERATE → VALIDATE` (default — see Workflow table) | `creative-thinking.md`, `overlap-detection.md`, `skill-template.md`, `validation-checklist.md` |
| `IMPROVE` | Existing skill enhancement | `UNDERSTAND → ANALYZE → SCORE → PRIORITIZE → VALIDATE` | `review-loop.md`, `enhancement-framework.md` |
| `COMPRESS` | Context-cost reduction after correctness is stable | `SCAN → CLASSIFY → COMPRESS → VERIFY → PROPOSE` | `context-compression.md`, `agent-evaluation-guardrails.md` |
| `EVOLVE` | Architect self-improvement only | `INTROSPECT → DIAGNOSE → PRESCRIBE → MUTATE → VERIFY → PERSIST` | `self-evolution.md` |

## Recipes

| Recipe | Subcommand | Default? | When to Use | Read First |
|--------|-----------|---------|-------------|------------|
| Create New Skill | `create` | ✓ | New skill generation (from gap analysis through design) | `reference/creative-thinking.md`, `reference/skill-template.md` |
| Improve Existing | `improve` | | Improve existing skill (redefine contract/boundary) | `reference/review-loop.md`, `reference/enhancement-framework.md` |
| Compress | `compress` | | Skill compression (token reduction, preserve 4-axis equivalence) | `reference/context-compression.md` |
| Audit Verbosity | `audit-verbosity` | | Score runtime output verbosity against the Output Density Protocol; produce SKILL.md edit proposals | `reference/output-audit.md`, `_common/OUTPUT_STYLE.md` |
| Evolve | `evolve` | | Skill self-evolution (lifecycle-driven self-improvement) | `reference/self-evolution.md` |

## Subcommand Dispatch

Parse the first token of user input.
- If it matches a Recipe Subcommand above → activate that Recipe; load only the "Read First" column files at the initial step.
- Otherwise → default Recipe (`create` = Create New Skill). Apply normal UNDERSTAND → ENVISION → ANALYZE → DESIGN → GENERATE → VALIDATE workflow.

Behavior notes per Recipe. Each `**VERIFY**:` is the recipe-specific gate **in addition to** Architect's universal discipline (ENVISION / Health Score / validation never skipped, Nexus hub-and-spoke preserved, formal topology for any multi-agent design).
- `create`: ENVISION (20-30% effort) → ANALYZE (overlap scoring) → GENERATE (SKILL.md + references) → VALIDATE (16-item checklist). Read `creative-thinking.md` first. **VERIFY**: ENVISION actually run (20-30% effort, not skipped); overlap  20%. **VERIFY**: token-budget analysis done before any edit; 4-axis equivalence verified (Behavioral + Structural + Integration + Routing all preserved); section-by-section analysis (no uniform or lossy compression); > 20% reduction confirmed with the user; reversible compression preferred over speculative.
- `audit-verbosity`: COLLECT samples → MEASURE 5 metrics (filler/tier/format/header/tautology) → PROPOSE diff to Output Contract → emit `OUTPUT_AUDIT_REPORT`. Refuse if zero samples; never grade on speculation. **VERIFY**: refuses outright if zero real runtime samples (never grades on speculation); all 5 metrics measured (filler / tier / format / header / tautology); a concrete diff to the Output Contract proposed; `OUTPUT_AUDIT_REPORT` emitted.
- `evolve`: Architect self-modification only. Strictly enforce Safety Level A/B/C/D. Rollback snapshot is mandatory. **VERIFY**: scope is Architect self-modification only; a rollback snapshot is taken **before** any mutation (auto-rollback on VERIFY failure); Safety Level A/B/C/D enforced (Level C → human approval, Level D → forbidden); change budget (20 lines/session, 50/month) not exceeded without approval; outcome persisted to `.agents/architect.md`.

### Critical Thresholds

| Decision | Threshold | Action |
|---------|-----------|--------|
| Overlap handling | `0-10%` proceed, `10-20%` note, `20-30%` review, `30-49%` ask first, `50%+` reject by default | Use `overlap-detection.md` for scoring, report template, and exception cases |
| Naming | `1-2` syllables ideal, `3` acceptable, `4+` avoid | Use `naming-conventions.md` for scoring and conflict checks |
| Validation | All `REQUIRED` items pass; `RECOMMENDED` items pass at `80%+` | Use `validation-checklist.md` |
| New-skill size | `SKILL.md` under `500` lines / `5000` tokens; `3-7` references | Agent Skills spec ceiling. Keep detail in references; context rot degrades performance as input grows |
| Multi-agent justification | Single-agent performance ``60%` context utilization before user input | Trigger compression pipeline: summarize history → filter retrieval → route tools dynamically → compress step results |
| Compression approval | `>20%` reduction is confirmation-worthy | Keep 4-axis equivalence intact |

### New-Agent Output Contract

- Every generated agent must include `CAPABILITIES_SUMMARY`, `COLLABORATION_PATTERNS`, `Activity Logging`, `AUTORUN Support`, and explicit INPUT / OUTPUT partners.
- Generated skill `description:` must include negative triggers ("Don't use when…") alongside positive triggers. The description is the only field the model sees before firing — omitting negative triggers causes misfires.
- Design skills for three-level progressive disclosure: L1 (frontmatter ~100 tokens, loaded every call), L2 (SKILL.md instructions, loaded on activation), L3 (reference/, loaded on demand). Keep L1 lean and triggerable; move methodology and examples to L3.
- Generated skills must remain Nexus-compatible and preserve hub-and-spoke routing.
- Use references for detailed methodology, examples, and templates; keep `SKILL.md` procedural and routable.
- Tune for Opus 4.8 defaults: front-load required inputs in Trigger Guidance, calibrate response length envelopes (line/bullet counts), document tool-use "when/why", spell out parallel subagent fan-out instructions, and add adaptive thinking nudges at high-stakes decision points. See `reference/official-design-patterns.md` Section 11.

### Compression Contract

| Strategy | Target | Reduction | Risk |
|----------|--------|-----------|------|
| Deduplication | Boilerplate → `_common/` | `60-85%` | Low |
| Density | Verbose prose → tables / YAML | `20-40%` | Low |
| Hierarchy | Details → `reference/` | `30-60%` | Medium |
| Symbolic | Patterns → `_common/` schemas | `40-70%` | Medium |
| Loose Prompt | Over-specified → essential-only | `30-50%` | Medium-High |

Compression rules:
- Analyze section by section before changing anything.
- Preserve `Behavioral`, `Structural`, `Integration`, and `Routing` equivalence.
- Keep high-priority identity and boundaries early, actionable templates late, and structured detail in the middle.
- Prefer reversible compression before speculative compression.

## Output Routing

| Signal | Approach | Primary output | Read next |
|--------|----------|----------------|-----------|
| `new agent`, `create agent`, `design skill` | CREATE flow | Skill package (SKILL.md + references) | `reference/skill-template.md`, `reference/creative-thinking.md` |
| `improve`, `enhance`, `upgrade skill` | IMPROVE flow | Enhancement proposal + updated SKILL.md | `reference/review-loop.md`, `reference/enhancement-framework.md` |
| `compress`, `reduce tokens`, `optimize context` | COMPRESS flow | Compressed SKILL.md with equivalence report | `

…

## Source & license

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

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

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-simota-agent-skills-architect
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/simota
- 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%.