Dialogue Help

Skill: Dialogue Framework Help

Provide contextual help and orientation for the Dialogue Framework.

When to Use

Activate this skill when:

• User asks about framework capabilities or commands
• User is confused about document types or processes
• User wants to understand phases, patterns, or capabilities
• AI agent needs orientation to the framework
• User asks "what can you do" or "how does this work"

Trigger phrases: "how does dialogue work", "what commands are available", "explain phases", "framework help", "what can you do", "list commands", "help with dialogue", "what are document types"

Implementation

Read and follow the /help command at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/commands/help.md for:

• Framework overview and core principles
• Command listing with descriptions
• Document type explanations
• Phase and collaboration pattern tables
• Getting started guidance

The command contains the authoritative help content.

Contextual Help Guidance

Tailor responses based on what the user is asking:

For "What can you do?" / General orientation

Provide brief overview, then offer specific areas:

• Document creation (THY, REF, STR, WRK)
• Decision and observation logging
• Process guidance

For Command Questions

List commands from the help content. If asking about a specific command, read and summarise that command file.

For Concept Questions

Explain the relevant concept. For detailed reference, consult the operational manual at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/framework-manual.md, which covers:

• Phases (Quick Reference section)
• Collaboration patterns (Five Collaboration Patterns section)
• Capabilities (Eight Capabilities section)
• Document types (Document Type Classification section)

For "How do I..." Questions

Map to the appropriate command or skill:

• "How do I capture understanding?" → /create-theory
• "How do I log a decision?" → dialogue-log-decision skill
• "How do I start using this?" → /init-dialogue

For AI Agents

When helping another AI agent understand the framework:

• Emphasise the capability model (Elicit, Analyse, Synthesise, etc.)
• Explain collaboration patterns and when to use each
• Point to process definitions if designing workflows

Proactive Orientation

If the user seems new to the framework (hasn't used commands, asks basic questions), proactively:

1. Check if .dialogue/ exists — if not, suggest /init-dialogue
2. Briefly explain the core principle (tacit knowledge preservation)
3. Offer to help with their immediate task using framework capabilities

Relationship to Command

Both use the same content. The skill enables Claude to provide help without the user knowing the exact command.