---

name: model-architecture description: "Use and debug the TimeMixer Model API, PDM/FMM architecture, decomposition, downsampling, channel independence, normalization, and task-specific forward shapes." disable-model-invocation: true metadata: disco-role: operating license: Apache 2.0

TimeMixer Model Architecture

Use this sub-skill when the task is about instantiating or debugging the TimeMixer model class, checking forward-output shapes, choosing decomposition/downsampling/channel settings, or explaining the Past-Decomposable-Mixing and Future-Multipredictor-Mixing internals.

Route here for

• Model.forward(x_enc, x_mark_enc, x_dec, x_mark_dec, mask=None) behavior.
• Forecast, imputation, anomaly-detection, and classification tensor shapes.
• moving_avg versus dft_decomp, avg/max/conv downsampling, channel_independence, use_norm, and future temporal features.
• Small CPU smoke tests that instantiate TimeMixer and print deterministic JSON shape evidence.
• Classification shape errors involving multi-feature tensors and the default channel-independent embedding.

Do not use this sub-skill for

• Benchmark command recipes, training loops, dataset downloads, or shell-script reproduction; route those to forecasting experiment guidance.
• Raw dataset layout, CSV validation, PEMS/Solar/M4/UEA file placement, or time-feature preprocessing beyond tensor-shape context.
• Full imputation, anomaly-detection, or classification CLI workflows beyond model-forward shape diagnostics.

Operating flow

1. Read references/api-reference.md for the model constructor inputs, forward signature, and task output contracts.

2. Read references/architecture-notes.md before changing decomposition, downsampling, normalization, future temporal features, or channel independence.

3. Use references/troubleshooting.md to map common RuntimeErrors to concrete config or tensor fixes.

4. Run the bundled smoke helper when you need a fast CPU-only shape check. Invoke the helper by its explicit skill path, while pointing --repo-root at the source checkout:

   cd /path/to/TimeMixer-checkout
   python /path/to/timemixer-skill/sub-skills/model-architecture/scripts/smoke_timemixer_forward.py --repo-root /path/to/TimeMixer-checkout --task long_term_forecast
   

The smoke helper is diagnostic only. It does not train, download data, run benchmark scripts, or read generated test artifacts.