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name: using-praxis description: Use at session start to learn how Praxis skills are invoked and why triage runs before every task.

Using Praxis

You have Praxis.

<EXTREMELY_IMPORTANT> Before any response or action on every user message, classify scope using the triage table below, announce it, then load required skills in parallel. </EXTREMELY_IMPORTANT>

Triage

One line before every response:

praxis: scope=<x>, loading=<skills>                          # single-module (default)
praxis: scope=<x>, topology=multi-module, loading=<skills>   # multi-module

scope	signal	load
vague	problem space undefined — can't yet say what to build, for whom, or whether it's worth building	design
trivial	typo, rename, docs-only, <=1-line, pure Q	none
small	one function, single file, <=50 LOC, or test-only change	tdd (intent unclear? clarify first)
standard	feature or source-code change	design, plan, tdd, review
complex	new system, >=5 tasks, or parallel edits	design, plan, worktree, subagents, review, ship
debug	broken, regression, failing test	debug
onboard	existing project, no docs/tech-spec.md	onboard

Topology is declared alongside scope, not chosen from the table. Default single (omit it). Announce topology=multi-module when one change spans multiple modules or repositories - every loaded workflow skill then follows skills/references/multi-module.md. Multiple repositories require a user-designated existing coordinator repository. Once a multi-module change is underway, a coordinator spec/plan declaring topology: multi-module exists on disk; read it and carry topology=multi-module forward every turn - do not re-decide from scratch. If unsure, check for that declaration before announcing.

topology doesn't change scope: classify exactly as for single-repo work; multi-module only adds execution mechanics (multi-module.md). Unsure? Start single-module; upgrade the declaration once confirmed.

If multiple scopes fit, choose the smaller one. vague is a last resort — if you can name a rough deliverable, use a lower scope instead. feature change = user-visible/public-contract change. source code = code/schema/config that changes shipped behavior; docs, tests, examples, CI, and tooling excluded.

Rule

0. Unfamiliar with this project? Read docs/tech-spec.md first.
1. Classify inline using the table above — no skill-loader call needed for triage.
2. Announce: praxis: scope=<x>, loading=<skills> (add topology=multi-module when the change spans multiple modules - see Topology above)
3. Load all required skills in parallel (single response): use the harness skill loader when available (praxis:<name> / native skill tool), otherwise read skills/<name>/SKILL.md with the native file-read tool.
4. Follow loaded skills literally; respect <gate> markers.
5. Search code shapes with structural search (no index needed, works in any repo); plain grep only when structure is irrelevant.