# Impasse Detector

> Detects when the agent is stuck in a reasoning loop or unproductive state by analyzing tool usage and sentiment patterns. Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/impasse-detector` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/impasse-detector`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/impasse-detector/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/impasse-detector

---


# SKILL-017: Impasse Detector

## Overview

Critical **meta-cognitive skill** that acts as a circuit breaker for unproductive loops. It analyzes recent conversation history and tool outputs to detect "stuck" states, preventing token wastage on failing paths and forcing escalation or delegation.

## Trigger Phrases

- `check logic`
- `am i stuck`
- `detect loop`
- `impasse check`

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|-----------|------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `--TranscriptPath` | string | No | $null | Path to conversation log/json |
| `--Content` | string | No | $null | Direct string content to analyze |
| `--Lookback` | int | No | 10 | Number of recent turns to analyze |

## Outputs

### 1. Analysis Result (JSON)

```json
{
  "status": "IMPASSE",
  "confidence": 0.95,
  "reasons": [
    "Apology loop detected (4 occurrences)",
    "High frequency of file reads (6 in window)"
  ],
  "recommendation": "ESCALATE_TO_USER",
  "score": 80
}
```

### 2. Status Codes

- `CLEAR`: No issues detected.
- `IMPASSE`: Significant loop/blockage detected.
- `UNKNOWN`: Insufficient data.

## Preconditions

1. Access to conversation history OR a provided transcript string.
2. PowerShell 5.1+ or Core 7+.

## Safety/QA Checks

1. **Read-Only**: This skill only analyzes text; it does not modify state.
2. **Fail-Safe**: If input is missing/malformed, defaults to "UNKNOWN" rather than crashing.

## Stop Conditions

| Condition | Action |
|-----------|--------|
| No input provided | Return status "UNKNOWN" (0 confidence) |
| File not found | Return error JSON |

## Implementation

See `scripts/detect_impasse.ps1`.

## Integration with Other Skills

**All agent loops should:**

1. Call SKILL-017 every 5-10 turns.
2. If status is `IMPASSE`, trigger **SKILL-020 (Failure Postmortem)** AND **SKILL-010 (Async Feedback)**.
3. If score > 90, stop execution and warn user.

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->