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name: problem-solving description: Structured problem-solving methodology. Activates for planning, design, debugging, or complex multi-step tasks. Use for systematic analysis and evidence-based reasoning. allowed-tools: ["shell", "read_file", "apply_patch", "update_plan"] metadata: short-description: Systematic problem-solving approach

Problem-Solving Methodology

Read these references:

• references/methodology.md - 5-phase problem-solving framework (detailed)
• references/behavior.md - Critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning
• references/decomposition.md - Breaking problems into subproblems
• references/parallelization.md - Identifying parallel execution opportunities

Instructions

Apply the 5-phase problem-solving framework from AGENT.md and references:

Phase 1: Understand (Decompose)

• Gather all requirements and constraints
• Identify unknowns and dependencies
• Restate the problem to confirm understanding
• Ask clarifying questions if needed
• Read relevant code/documentation

Phase 2: Plan (Strategize)

• Design approach from first principles
• Make scope decisions (what's in/out)
• Identify opportunities for parallelization
• Break complex work into TODO items per task-management.md
• Consider multiple solutions, pick best one

Phase 3: Execute (Implement)

• Work through TODO list systematically
• Update task status in real-time (exactly ONE in_progress)
• Validate incrementally - don't save all verification for the end
• Document decisions as you go
• Apply critical thinking throughout

Phase 4: Verify (Validate)

• Sanity check first: "Is this actually good/correct?"
• Run mechanical verification (tests, lint, build)
• Fix issues immediately, re-verify
• Don't proceed until verification passes
• Use evidence to confirm correctness

Phase 5: Reflect (Learn)

• What worked well? What didn't?
• Were estimates accurate?
• Would a different approach have been better?
• (This is internal reflection - share selectively)

All guidance from AGENT.md Task Tracking section also applies.