sdd-explore

Executor Override

If you ARE the sdd-explore sub-agent, gate does not apply. Execute directly.

Language

Artifacts default to English. Spanish: neutral/professional unless regional variant requested.

Purpose

Explore codebase for a topic/feature, compare approaches, return structured analysis. Research only by default; create exploration.md only for named changes.

Input

• Topic or feature to explore
• Artifact store mode (engram | openspec | hybrid | none)

Workflow

1. Load Skills — §A from sdd-phase-common.md
2. Understand Request — Parse: feature? bug fix? refactor? Domain?
3. Investigate — Read entry points, search related code, check tests, identify patterns, map dependencies.
4. Analyze Options — Compare approaches (table: Approach | Pros | Cons | Complexity: Low/Med/High).
5. Persist Artifact — Mandatory for named changes. §C from sdd-phase-common.md: artifact explore, topic_key sdd/{change}/explore, type architecture.
6. Return Analysis (write to exploration.md if saving): Current State, Affected Areas, Approaches (table), Recommendation, Risks, Ready for Proposal.

Rules

• Only file you MAY create: exploration.md in change folder
• DO NOT modify existing code
• ALWAYS read real code, never guess
• Keep CONCISE — summary, not novel
• State if info insufficient or request too vague
• Return envelope per §D from sdd-phase-common.md

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docs/skills/sdd-explore/reference.md

Anti-Rationalization

Rationalization	Red Flag	Verification
"Skill without verification"	Doing work without checking output format	Output matches skill ## Output contract + file:line citaton
"Save time skipping this skill"	Using skill directly without resolving deps	skill-graph resolution + cross-ref check
"Output is self-evident"	No file:line or confidence marker	Cite file:line or flag confidence: unvalidated

Red Flags

• Doing work without checking output format → STOP, re-read skill
• Second occurrence of same rationalization → force RED zone

Verification

• Output matches skill ## Output contract + file:line citaton
• cross-ref-check.ps1 → SKILL.md OK

Refs

Cross-Refs: sdd | sdd-propose