Hmbown Programmed Illusion
Set up an illusion that activates automatically when conditions are met.
Overview
Programmed Illusion is interpreted here as a metaphorical spell with a shipping-now execution model.
Canonical source: Programmed Illusion (spell)
Provider target: OpenClaw
When To Use
- A demo, tutorial, or preview should activate automatically based on user behavior or system state.
- Onboarding flows, contextual help, or guided walkthroughs need to trigger on specific conditions.
- Preview environments or scenario simulations should spin up automatically in response to events.
Workflow
- Define the trigger condition: what event, state, or behavior should activate the illusion.
- Design the illusion sequence: what plays out when the trigger fires.
- Implement the trigger mechanism and the illusion payload.
- Test that the illusion activates correctly and does not fire on false conditions.
- Set an expiry or review cycle — programmed illusions should not persist forever without review.
Deliverables
- A triggered illusion or automated demo with clear activation conditions.
- Documentation of the trigger condition and the illusion sequence.
- A review schedule to assess whether the programmed illusion is still relevant.
Guardrails
- Programmed illusions that trigger on user behavior must be disclosed — surprise popups and unsolicited walkthroughs are a dark pattern if hidden.
- Triggered demos must not impersonate real system state. If a preview environment looks like production, label it.
- Set expiry dates. Forgotten programmed illusions that fire on outdated conditions create confusion.
Default Invocation
Use $programmed-illusion to create an automated demo, triggered walkthrough, or conditional preview that activates when specific conditions are met — without requiring someone to run it manually.