# Claude MPM Skills Integration - Implementation Decisions Summary

**Quick Reference Guide**

---

## 📋 Decision Matrix

| # | Question | Decision | Impact |
|---|----------|----------|--------|
| **1** | Skill Bundling | ✅ Bundle pre-downloaded copies in package | Offline functionality, ~50KB |
| **2** | SKILL.md Format | ✅ Strict specification with 16 validation rules | Quality control, consistency |
| **3** | Bundled Population | ✅ Scripts download → refactor → bundle | Week 2-3 task |
| **4** | Template Enhancement | ✅ Dynamic injection at runtime | Clean templates, no git noise |
| **5** | Progressive Disclosure | ✅ Use documented + field-tested behavior | Conservative token estimates |
| **6** | Registry vs Template | ✅ Registry is source of truth | Single source, easy updates |
| **7** | Custom Skills | ✅ Defer with documented stubs | Focus on infrastructure first |
| **8** | Deployment Timing | ✅ Silent auto-deploy + config override | Zero-config for 90% of users |
| **9** | Missing Skills | ✅ Warn but deploy anyway | Graceful degradation |
| **10** | Auto-Configure | ✅ Skills deploy before agent recommendation | Seamless integration |
| **11** | Versioning | ✅ Version checking + update command | Safe, user-controlled updates |
| **12** | Testing | ✅ Manual test plan + integration tests | 7-test human verification suite |
| **13** | Source URLs | ✅ Pre-download with GitHub API scripts | Security, no runtime downloads |
| **14** | Migration | ✅ Automatic with interactive prompts | Smooth upgrades, rollback support |
| **15** | Configuration | ✅ Three-tier (system → user → project) | Flexibility, familiar pattern |

---

## 🎯 Key Implementation Principles

### 1. Zero-Config Default, Power-User Control

**Design Philosophy**: Works perfectly out-of-box, customizable for advanced users

```yaml
# Default: Just works
claude-mpm run  # Skills auto-deploy

# Advanced: Full control
~/.config/claude-mpm/skills_registry.yaml  # User-wide overrides
.claude/skills_config.yaml                 # Project-specific
```

### 2. Graceful Degradation

**Design Philosophy**: Never block user workflows, always degrade gracefully

```
Missing skills? → Warn, deploy anyway
Update available? → Notify, don't force
Invalid format? → Skip skill, continue
```

### 3. Offline-First

**Design Philosophy**: Users shouldn't need internet at runtime

```
Bundle skills in package → Works on plane
Pre-download during dev → Build-time only
No runtime GitHub access → Security + reliability
```

### 4. Single Source of Truth

**Design Philosophy**: Configuration lives in one authoritative place

```
config/skills_registry.yaml → Source of truth for mappings
Templates stay clean → No skill references
Runtime injection → Dynamic, flexible
```

### 5. Progressive Enhancement

**Design Philosophy**: Skills enhance agents, but agents work without them

```
Agent without skills → Still functional
Agent with skills → Enhanced capabilities
Missing skill → Agent continues working
```

---

## 📁 File Structure After Implementation

```
claude-mpm/
├── src/claude_mpm/
│   ├── skills/
│   │   ├── __init__.py
│   │   ├── skills_service.py              # Core service
│   │   ├── agent_skills_injector.py       # Injection logic
│   │   └── bundled/                       # Pre-downloaded skills
│   │       ├── development/
│   │       │   ├── test-driven-development/
│   │       │   │   ├── SKILL.md           # <200 lines
│   │       │   │   └── references/         # 200-300 line files
│   │       │   └── systematic-debugging/
│   │       ├── infrastructure/
│   │       │   └── devops/                 # Consolidated 14 tools
│   │       ├── web-development/
│   │       └── LICENSE_ATTRIBUTIONS.md
│   │
│   └── agents/
│       └── templates/                      # Clean, no skills field
│           ├── engineer.json
│           └── ...
│
├── config/
│   ├── skills_registry.yaml               # SOURCE OF TRUTH
│   ├── skills_sources.yaml                # Download sources
│   └── skills_licenses.yaml               # License tracking
│
├── scripts/
│   ├── download_skills_api.py             # GitHub API downloader
│   ├── validate_skills.py                 # Format validation
│   ├── generate_license_attributions.py   # Compliance
│   └── refactor_skill_progressive.sh      # Convert to 200-line format
│
└── tests/
    ├── integration/
    │   ├── test_skills_claude_code.py     # Integration tests
    │   └── claude-code-manual-test-plan.md # Human verification
    └── test_skills_service.py             # Unit tests

User's System:
~/.config/claude-mpm/
    └── skills_registry.yaml               # User overrides (optional)

~/.claude/
    ├── skills/                             # Deployed skills (runtime)
    │   ├── development/
    │   ├── infrastructure/
    │   └── ...
    └── agents/                             # Agents with injected skills

Project:
.claude/
    └── skills_config.yaml                 # Project overrides (optional)
```

---

## 🚀 Implementation Timeline

### Week 1: Infrastructure (Nov 7-14)
- [ ] Implement SkillsService with validation
- [ ] Implement AgentSkillsInjector
- [ ] Create skills_registry.yaml (v2.0.0)
- [ ] Add CLI commands (list, deploy, validate, update, config)
- [ ] Write unit tests (>80% coverage)
- [ ] Create stub skills for testing

### Week 2: Content Preparation (Nov 14-21)
- [ ] Run download scripts (skills_sources.yaml)
- [ ] Begin progressive disclosure refactoring
- [ ] Priority: devops (14 tools → 1 capability)
- [ ] Priority: web-frameworks, ui-styling
- [ ] Validate all refactored skills
- [ ] Generate license attributions

### Week 3: Core Skills Refactoring (Nov 21-28)
- [ ] Complete test-driven-development refactor
- [ ] Complete systematic-debugging refactor
- [ ] Complete remaining development skills
- [ ] Complete infrastructure skills
- [ ] Complete web-development skills
- [ ] Validate all skills pass format checks

### Week 4: Integration & Migration (Nov 28-Dec 5)
- [ ] Integrate with AgentFactory (dynamic injection)
- [ ] Integrate with auto-configure
- [ ] Implement migration framework
- [ ] Update all agent templates (v2.1.0 with context limits)
- [ ] Write integration tests
- [ ] Create manual test plan

### Week 5: Testing & Release (Dec 5-12)
- [ ] Execute manual test plan with Claude Code
- [ ] Performance benchmarking
- [ ] Documentation (README, guides, migration)
- [ ] Release notes preparation
- [ ] Final validation
- [ ] Package and release v4.15.0

---

## 📊 Success Metrics

### Technical Metrics

| Metric | Target | Measurement |
|--------|--------|-------------|
| Entry point line limit | 100% <200 lines | Automated validation |
| Reference file limit | 100% 150-300 lines | Automated validation |
| Test coverage | >80% | pytest-cov |
| Token reduction | 85% | Context estimation |
| Activation time | <100ms | Manual testing |

### User Experience Metrics

| Metric | Target | Measurement |
|--------|--------|-------------|
| Zero-config success | 90%+ | Upgrade testing |
| Migration success | 95%+ | Telemetry (opt-in) |
| User satisfaction | Positive | GitHub feedback |
| Documentation clarity | High | User questions |

---

## 🔧 Configuration Examples

### User-Wide Override

```yaml
# ~/.config/claude-mpm/skills_registry.yaml

version: 2.0.0-user-override

agent_capabilities:
  engineer:
    primary_workflows:
      - test-driven-development
      - systematic-debugging
      - my-custom-skill
    context_limit: 800  # Increased from 600
```

### Project-Specific Override

```yaml
# .claude/skills_config.yaml

version: 2.0.0-project-override

agent_capabilities:
  engineer:
    primary_workflows:
      - test-driven-development
      - devops  # Add for this project
    context_limit: 1000
```

### Disable Auto-Deploy

```yaml
# ~/.config/claude-mpm/config.yaml

skills:
  auto_deploy: false
```

---

## 🧪 Testing Strategy

### Automated Tests (CI)

```bash
# Unit tests
pytest tests/test_skills_service.py -v

# Integration tests
pytest tests/integration/test_skills_integration.py -v

# Validation tests
pytest tests/test_skills_validation.py -v
```

### Manual Tests (Human)

```bash
# Follow test plan
tests/integration/claude-code-manual-test-plan.md

# 7 verification tests:
1. Skills Discovery
2. Metadata Scan
3. Entry Point Loading
4. Reference Loading
5. Agent with Skills
6. Workflow Consolidation
7. Context Efficiency
```

---

## 📚 Documentation Deliverables

1. **Progressive Disclosure Design** ✅ (Created)
2. **Implementation Decisions** ✅ (This document)
3. **Implementation Checklist** ✅ (Created)
4. **SKILL.md Format Specification** ✅ (In decisions doc)
5. **Manual Test Plan** ✅ (In decisions doc)
6. **Migration Guide** (Week 5)
7. **User Guide: Skills** (Week 5)
8. **Developer Guide: Creating Skills** (Week 5)
9. **Release Notes** (Week 5)

---

## ⚠️ Critical Reminders

### During Implementation

1. **NEVER exceed 200-line limit** for entry points
2. **ALWAYS validate** before deploying skills
3. **TEST with real Claude Code** - not just unit tests
4. **DOCUMENT all overrides** - configuration is complex
5. **MIGRATE gracefully** - existing users must not break

### During Refactoring

1. **Preserve all information** - just reorganize
2. **Create navigation maps** - entry points guide to references
3. **Keep references focused** - single topic per file
4. **Validate line counts** - strict enforcement
5. **Test context estimates** - verify token usage

### During Release

1. **Test migration path** - from v4.14.x → v4.15.0
2. **Verify rollback works** - users can revert
3. **Document breaking changes** - (there should be none)
4. **Communicate clearly** - release notes, upgrade guide
5. **Monitor feedback** - GitHub issues, discussions

---

## 🎬 Quick Start Commands

```bash
# Download skills (development)
python scripts/download_skills_api.py

# Validate skills
python scripts/validate_skills.py

# Generate license attributions
python scripts/generate_license_attributions.py

# Deploy skills (testing)
claude-mpm skills deploy

# List skills
claude-mpm skills list

# Validate specific skill
claude-mpm skills validate test-driven-development

# Check for updates
claude-mpm skills update --check-only

# User configuration
claude-mpm skills config --scope user --edit

# Project configuration
claude-mpm skills config --scope project --edit

# Test with Claude Code
cd test-project
claude-mpm auto-configure
claude-code
```

---

## 📞 Support & Questions

- **Design Questions**: See full decisions document
- **Implementation Help**: See checklist document
- **Progressive Disclosure**: See optimization design
- **GitHub Issues**: [Link to issues]
- **Discussions**: [Link to discussions]

---

*Executive Summary - Quick Reference for Implementation*

**Documents**: 
1. Progressive Disclosure Design (47 pages)
2. Implementation Decisions (This document)
3. Implementation Checklist (Task tracking)
