Exploration Tracking

Exploration Tracking Skill

This skill provides techniques for maintaining awareness of explored vs. uncharted territory during the DISCUSS phase, ensuring comprehensive coverage and documented gaps.

Core Principles

1. No Silent Omissions: Always document what was NOT discussed, not just what was
2. Visual Progress: Use tree visualization for quick comprehension
3. Explicit Skipping: When skipping an area, record the reason
4. Backtracking Support: Enable return to partially explored areas

Territory Status Indicators

Exploration Map Structure

Tree Format

[MAIN TOPIC]
├── ✓ EXPLORED: [Area 1]
│   ├── ✓ [Sub-area 1.1] - [Summary of findings]
│   └── ◐ PARTIAL: [Sub-area 1.2] - [What we know, what's unclear]
├── → CURRENT: [Area 2]
│   ├── ✓ [Sub-area 2.1] - [Completed]
│   └── ○ UNCHARTED: [Sub-area 2.2]
├── ○ UNCHARTED: [Area 3]
│   └── [Suspected sub-topics]
└── ⊘ SKIPPED: [Area 4] - [Reason]

Exploration Depth Levels

Map Operations

Initialize Map

1. Add Exploration Map section to ITEM-XXX.md
2. Set topic from user's initial request
3. Identify initial L1 areas from topic
4. Mark all as UNCHARTED
5. Set status to IN_PROGRESS

Update Current Position

1. Mark previous CURRENT as appropriate status
   - EXPLORED if complete
   - PARTIAL if interrupted
   - SKIPPED if user chose to skip
2. Mark new area as CURRENT
3. Record timestamp
4. Add any newly discovered sub-areas

Add Discovered Areas

When conversation reveals new areas:

1. Identify where in tree the area belongs
2. Add as child of appropriate parent
3. Mark as UNCHARTED
4. Note discovery context

Mark Area Complete

1. Change status to EXPLORED
2. Add summary of findings
3. Link to relevant decisions (DECISION-XXX)
4. Record timestamp
5. Update CURRENT to next area

Skip Area

1. Change status to SKIPPED
2. Record reason for skipping
3. Note if should revisit later
4. Move to next area

Flag for Follow-up

1. Change status to FLAGGED
2. Record what's blocking
3. Note required action
4. Continue to next area

Checkpoint Protocol

At regular intervals and phase transitions:

Display Checkpoint

**Exploration Checkpoint**

Current position: [CURRENT AREA]
Just explored: [What we covered]
Key findings: [Summary]

**Map so far:**
[Visual tree with status indicators]

**Options:**
1. Dig deeper into [current area]
2. Move to [next uncharted area]
3. Return to [partial area]
4. Skip [current] and note reason
5. Mark discussion complete

User Choice Handling

Backtracking Protocol

When to Backtrack

1. Deep dive complete, surface to parent area
2. User wants to revisit earlier topic
3. Blocked area now unblocked
4. Discovered new info affects earlier area

Backtrack Process

1. Mark current position appropriately
2. Navigate to target area in map
3. Update target status to CURRENT
4. Resume exploration with prior context
5. Note backtrack in exploration log

Coverage Analysis

Before Completing DISCUSS Phase

Coverage Analysis:
- Total areas identified: [N]
- Fully explored: [X] (✓)
- Partially explored: [Y] (◐)
- Uncharted: [Z] (○)
- Skipped: [W] (⊘)
- Flagged: [V] (⚑)

Coverage: [X/(N-W)]%

Uncharted areas:
1. [Area] - [Why not explored]
2. [Area] - [Why not explored]

Skipped areas:
1. [Area] - [Reason skipped]

Flagged areas:
1. [Area] - [What's blocking]

Coverage Thresholds

Integration Points

• State Management: Store exploration map in ITEM-XXX.md
• Conflict Detection: Flag conflicting areas
• Interviewer Agent: Uses map to guide questioning
• Workflow Orchestration: Phase transition based on coverage

Best Practices

Naming Areas

• Use noun phrases: "User authentication", not "Authenticate users"
• Be specific: "Password requirements", not "Security stuff"
• Match user's vocabulary when possible

Recording Findings

• Keep summaries to one line
• Reference decisions by ID
• Note uncertainties explicitly

Managing Depth

• Don't go deeper than needed
• Ask user about depth preferences
• Default to L2 for initial exploration

See questioning.md for adaptive questioning patterns that drive exploration.