Intent Detection — Workflow Routing
When user describes work WITHOUT specifying a /phx: command, analyze their intent and suggest the appropriate workflow BEFORE starting work.
Routing Table
| Signal |
Detected Intent |
Suggest |
| "bug", "error", "crash", "failing", "broken", stack trace |
Bug investigation |
/phx:investigate |
| "brainstorm", "explore idea", "not sure what I need", "vague idea", "let's discuss", "how to approach" |
Ideation/requirements |
/phx:brainstorm |
| "add", "implement", "build", "create" + multi-step |
New feature |
/phx:plan |
| "review", "check", "audit" code |
Code review |
/phx:review |
| "fix" + small/specific scope |
Quick fix |
handle directly or /phx:quick |
| "refactor", "clean up", "improve" |
Refactoring |
/phx:plan (needs scope) |
| "research", "how to", "what's the best" |
Research |
/phx:research |
| "evaluate", "compare", "adopt", "library", "should we use" |
Library evaluation |
/phx:research --library |
| "test", "spec", "coverage" |
Testing |
handle directly or /phx:plan |
| Describes 1-2 file changes, < 50 lines |
Small task |
handle directly |
| "deploy", "release", "production" |
Deployment |
/phx:verify then deploy |
| "performance", "slow", "N+1", "memory" |
Performance |
/phx:perf |
| "PR review", "review comments", "address feedback", "respond to PR" |
PR response |
/phx:pr-review |
| "that worked", "fixed it", "problem solved" |
Knowledge capture |
/phx:compound |
| "enhance plan", "more detail", "deepen" |
Plan enhancement |
/phx:plan --existing |
| "triage", "which findings", "prioritize fixes" |
Finding triage |
/phx:triage |
Behavior
- Read user's first message
- Match against routing table (use keyword + context signals, not exact match)
- If match found with multi-step workflow: "This looks like [intent]. I'd suggest
[command] — want me to run it, or should I just dive in?"
- If trivial task (typo, single-line fix, config change): skip suggestion, just do it
- If user already specified a
/phx: command: follow it, don't re-suggest
- NEVER block the user — suggestion only, not mandatory
Confidence Signals
High confidence (suggest immediately):
- Stack trace or error message pasted →
/phx:investigate
- "Add [feature] with [multiple components]" →
/phx:plan
- "Review my changes" or "check this PR" →
/phx:review
Medium confidence (suggest with caveat):
- "Fix [thing]" — could be quick or complex, suggest based on scope description
- "Update [thing]" — could be small edit or refactor
Low confidence (just do it):
- Single file mentioned, clear change
- "Change X to Y"
- Configuration or dependency updates
Complexity Signals
When a task matches a workflow command, check complexity before suggesting:
Trivial signals (suggest /phx:quick or handle directly):
- Single file mentioned explicitly
- "exclude X from Y", "add X to config", "rename", "change X to Y"
- Problem + solution both stated ("X is wrong, change to Y")
- One-line fix described
Complex signals (suggest /phx:plan or /phx:investigate):
- 3+ modules or files mentioned
- "intermittent", "race condition", "sometimes", "random"
- Stack trace with 5+ frames
- "across", "all", "every" (scope indicators)
Override rule: If user invokes /phx:full but task matches trivial signals:
"This looks like a quick fix. Want /phx:quick instead, or stick with the full cycle?"
Iron Laws
- NEVER block on suggestion — If user starts explaining, just do the work
- One suggestion max — Don't re-suggest if user ignores first suggestion
- Commands are shortcuts, not gates — All work can be done without commands
Routing Logic Example
if has_slash_command($ARGUMENTS) -> follow command directly
elif has_stack_trace(message) -> suggest /phx:investigate
elif matches("add|build|implement", message) and multi_step -> suggest /phx:plan
elif matches("fix", message) and small_scope -> handle directly or /phx:quick
elif matches("review|audit", message) -> suggest /phx:review
else -> handle directly (no suggestion)
Integration
This skill is consulted at session start. It works alongside:
- SessionStart hook (shows plugin loaded message)
- CLAUDE.md routing instructions (passive reference)
- Individual workflow skills (activated by commands)
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1---2name: oliver-kriska-claude-elixir-phoenix-intent-detection3description: Intent Detection — Workflow Routing4---56# Intent Detection — Workflow Routing78When user describes work WITHOUT specifying a `/phx:` command, analyze their intent and suggest the appropriate workflow BEFORE starting work.910## Routing Table1112| Signal | Detected Intent | Suggest |13|--------|----------------|---------|14| "bug", "error", "crash", "failing", "broken", stack trace | Bug investigation | `/phx:investigate` |15| "brainstorm", "explore idea", "not sure what I need", "vague idea", "let's discuss", "how to approach" | Ideation/requirements | `/phx:brainstorm` |16| "add", "implement", "build", "create" + multi-step | New feature | `/phx:plan` |17| "review", "check", "audit" code | Code review | `/phx:review` |18| "fix" + small/specific scope | Quick fix | handle directly or `/phx:quick` |19| "refactor", "clean up", "improve" | Refactoring | `/phx:plan` (needs scope) |20| "research", "how to", "what's the best" | Research | `/phx:research` |21| "evaluate", "compare", "adopt", "library", "should we use" | Library evaluation | `/phx:research --library` |22| "test", "spec", "coverage" | Testing | handle directly or `/phx:plan` |23| Describes 1-2 file changes, < 50 lines | Small task | handle directly |24| "deploy", "release", "production" | Deployment | `/phx:verify` then deploy |25| "performance", "slow", "N+1", "memory" | Performance | `/phx:perf` |26| "PR review", "review comments", "address feedback", "respond to PR" | PR response | `/phx:pr-review` |27| "that worked", "fixed it", "problem solved" | Knowledge capture | `/phx:compound` |28| "enhance plan", "more detail", "deepen" | Plan enhancement | `/phx:plan --existing` |29| "triage", "which findings", "prioritize fixes" | Finding triage | `/phx:triage` |3031## Behavior32331. Read user's first message342. Match against routing table (use keyword + context signals, not exact match)353. If match found with multi-step workflow: "This looks like [intent]. I'd suggest `[command]` — want me to run it, or should I just dive in?"364. If trivial task (typo, single-line fix, config change): skip suggestion, just do it375. If user already specified a `/phx:` command: follow it, don't re-suggest386. **NEVER block the user** — suggestion only, not mandatory3940## Confidence Signals4142High confidence (suggest immediately):4344- Stack trace or error message pasted → `/phx:investigate`45- "Add [feature] with [multiple components]" → `/phx:plan`46- "Review my changes" or "check this PR" → `/phx:review`4748Medium confidence (suggest with caveat):4950- "Fix [thing]" — could be quick or complex, suggest based on scope description51- "Update [thing]" — could be small edit or refactor5253Low confidence (just do it):5455- Single file mentioned, clear change56- "Change X to Y"57- Configuration or dependency updates5859## Complexity Signals6061When a task matches a workflow command, check complexity before suggesting:6263**Trivial signals** (suggest `/phx:quick` or handle directly):6465- Single file mentioned explicitly66- "exclude X from Y", "add X to config", "rename", "change X to Y"67- Problem + solution both stated ("X is wrong, change to Y")68- One-line fix described6970**Complex signals** (suggest `/phx:plan` or `/phx:investigate`):7172- 3+ modules or files mentioned73- "intermittent", "race condition", "sometimes", "random"74- Stack trace with 5+ frames75- "across", "all", "every" (scope indicators)7677**Override rule**: If user invokes `/phx:full` but task matches trivial signals:78"This looks like a quick fix. Want `/phx:quick` instead, or stick with the full cycle?"7980## Iron Laws81821. **NEVER block on suggestion** — If user starts explaining, just do the work832. **One suggestion max** — Don't re-suggest if user ignores first suggestion843. **Commands are shortcuts, not gates** — All work can be done without commands8586## Routing Logic Example8788```89if has_slash_command($ARGUMENTS) -> follow command directly90elif has_stack_trace(message) -> suggest /phx:investigate91elif matches("add|build|implement", message) and multi_step -> suggest /phx:plan92elif matches("fix", message) and small_scope -> handle directly or /phx:quick93elif matches("review|audit", message) -> suggest /phx:review94else -> handle directly (no suggestion)95```9697## Integration9899This skill is consulted at session start. It works alongside:100101- SessionStart hook (shows plugin loaded message)102- CLAUDE.md routing instructions (passive reference)103- Individual workflow skills (activated by commands)104105---106> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/oliver-kriska) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.107<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->