When Stuck - Problem-Solving Dispatch
Overview
Different stuck-types need different techniques. This skill helps you quickly identify which problem-solving skill to use.
Core principle: Match stuck-symptom to technique.
Quick Dispatch
digraph stuck_dispatch {
rankdir=TB;
node [shape=box, style=rounded];
stuck [label="You're Stuck", shape=ellipse, style=filled, fillcolor=lightblue];
complexity [label="Same thing implemented 5+ ways?
Growing special cases?
Excessive if/else?"];
innovation [label="Can't find fitting approach?
Conventional solutions inadequate?
Need breakthrough?"];
patterns [label="Same issue in different places?
Feels familiar across domains?
Reinventing wheels?"];
assumptions [label="Solution feels forced?
'This must be done this way'?
Stuck on assumptions?"];
scale [label="Will this work at production?
Edge cases unclear?
Unsure of limits?"];
bugs [label="Code behaving wrong?
Test failing?
Unexpected output?"];
stuck -> complexity;
stuck -> innovation;
stuck -> patterns;
stuck -> assumptions;
stuck -> scale;
stuck -> bugs;
complexity -> simp [label="yes"];
innovation -> collision [label="yes"];
patterns -> meta [label="yes"];
assumptions -> invert [label="yes"];
scale -> scale_skill [label="yes"];
bugs -> debug [label="yes"];
simp [label="skills/problem-solving/
simplification-cascades", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];
collision [label="skills/problem-solving/
collision-zone-thinking", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];
meta [label="skills/problem-solving/
meta-pattern-recognition", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];
invert [label="skills/problem-solving/
inversion-exercise", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];
scale_skill [label="skills/problem-solving/
scale-game", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];
debug [label="skills/debugging/
systematic-debugging", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightyellow];
}
Stuck-Type → Technique
| How You're Stuck |
Use This Skill |
| Complexity spiraling - Same thing 5+ ways, growing special cases |
skills/problem-solving/simplification-cascades |
| Need innovation - Conventional solutions inadequate, can't find fitting approach |
skills/problem-solving/collision-zone-thinking |
| Recurring patterns - Same issue different places, reinventing wheels |
skills/problem-solving/meta-pattern-recognition |
| Forced by assumptions - "Must be done this way", can't question premise |
skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise |
| Scale uncertainty - Will it work in production? Edge cases unclear? |
skills/problem-solving/scale-game |
| Code broken - Wrong behavior, test failing, unexpected output |
skills/debugging/systematic-debugging |
| Multiple independent problems - Can parallelize investigation |
skills/collaboration/dispatching-parallel-agents |
| Root cause unknown - Symptom clear, cause hidden |
skills/debugging/root-cause-tracing |
Process
- Identify stuck-type - What symptom matches above?
- Load that skill - Read the specific technique
- Apply technique - Follow its process
- If still stuck - Try different technique or combine
Combining Techniques
Some problems need multiple techniques:
- Simplification + Meta-pattern: Find pattern, then simplify all instances
- Collision + Inversion: Force metaphor, then invert its assumptions
- Scale + Simplification: Extremes reveal what to eliminate
Remember
- Match symptom to technique
- One technique at a time
- Combine if first doesn't work
- Document what you tried
1---2name: when-stuck-problem-solving-dispatch3description: Dispatch to the right problem-solving technique based on how you're stuck4---56# When Stuck - Problem-Solving Dispatch78## Overview910Different stuck-types need different techniques. This skill helps you quickly identify which problem-solving skill to use.1112**Core principle:** Match stuck-symptom to technique.1314## Quick Dispatch1516```dot17digraph stuck_dispatch {18 rankdir=TB;19 node [shape=box, style=rounded];2021 stuck [label="You're Stuck", shape=ellipse, style=filled, fillcolor=lightblue];2223 complexity [label="Same thing implemented 5+ ways?24Growing special cases?25Excessive if/else?"];26 innovation [label="Can't find fitting approach?27Conventional solutions inadequate?28Need breakthrough?"];29 patterns [label="Same issue in different places?30Feels familiar across domains?31Reinventing wheels?"];32 assumptions [label="Solution feels forced?33'This must be done this way'?34Stuck on assumptions?"];35 scale [label="Will this work at production?36Edge cases unclear?37Unsure of limits?"];38 bugs [label="Code behaving wrong?39Test failing?40Unexpected output?"];4142 stuck -> complexity;43 stuck -> innovation;44 stuck -> patterns;45 stuck -> assumptions;46 stuck -> scale;47 stuck -> bugs;4849 complexity -> simp [label="yes"];50 innovation -> collision [label="yes"];51 patterns -> meta [label="yes"];52 assumptions -> invert [label="yes"];53 scale -> scale_skill [label="yes"];54 bugs -> debug [label="yes"];5556 simp [label="skills/problem-solving/57simplification-cascades", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];58 collision [label="skills/problem-solving/59collision-zone-thinking", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];60 meta [label="skills/problem-solving/61meta-pattern-recognition", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];62 invert [label="skills/problem-solving/63inversion-exercise", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];64 scale_skill [label="skills/problem-solving/65scale-game", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightgreen];66 debug [label="skills/debugging/67systematic-debugging", shape=box, style="rounded,filled", fillcolor=lightyellow];68}69```7071## Stuck-Type → Technique7273| How You're Stuck | Use This Skill |74|------------------|----------------|75| **Complexity spiraling** - Same thing 5+ ways, growing special cases | skills/problem-solving/simplification-cascades |76| **Need innovation** - Conventional solutions inadequate, can't find fitting approach | skills/problem-solving/collision-zone-thinking |77| **Recurring patterns** - Same issue different places, reinventing wheels | skills/problem-solving/meta-pattern-recognition |78| **Forced by assumptions** - "Must be done this way", can't question premise | skills/problem-solving/inversion-exercise |79| **Scale uncertainty** - Will it work in production? Edge cases unclear? | skills/problem-solving/scale-game |80| **Code broken** - Wrong behavior, test failing, unexpected output | skills/debugging/systematic-debugging |81| **Multiple independent problems** - Can parallelize investigation | skills/collaboration/dispatching-parallel-agents |82| **Root cause unknown** - Symptom clear, cause hidden | skills/debugging/root-cause-tracing |8384## Process85861. **Identify stuck-type** - What symptom matches above?872. **Load that skill** - Read the specific technique883. **Apply technique** - Follow its process894. **If still stuck** - Try different technique or combine9091## Combining Techniques9293Some problems need multiple techniques:9495- **Simplification + Meta-pattern**: Find pattern, then simplify all instances96- **Collision + Inversion**: Force metaphor, then invert its assumptions97- **Scale + Simplification**: Extremes reveal what to eliminate9899## Remember100101- Match symptom to technique102- One technique at a time103- Combine if first doesn't work104- Document what you tried
ashishgoswami01