
Use when you need to verify work is complete before making completion claims
Use when breaking down features into executable tasks, when preparing for implementation, or when tasks need exact code and commands
Use when the user wants to create, query, audit, or initialize an Obsidian vault — saving notes/ideas/URLs into it ("save this" / "file this back" included), querying vault knowledge, auditing health (missing links, orphans, drift), ingesting files, or registering vaults. Not for Excalidraw diagrams — use arc-diagramming-obsidian.
Use when executing a prepared task list, when running batch implementation, or when tasks are already broken down
Use when setting up an isolated workspace for a single epic from dag.yaml, or when a task means scoping work to one epic — even if the user never says "worktree". For batch multi-epic expansion, use arc-coordinating expand.
Use when the user wants to manually save a pattern or insight as an instinct from the current session context, invokes /arcforge:arc-recalling with a description, or identifies a reusable technique worth preserving
Use when specs/<spec-id>/dag.yaml has 2+ ready epics and the lead is staying present to monitor epic-level parallel work via agent teammates. Trigger on mentions of agent teams/teammates for multi-epic work, or after arc-planning yields multiple ready epics. For walk-away unattended execution, use arc-looping.
Use when optional learning is enabled and observations should become reviewable candidates, inactive drafts, and explicitly activated artifacts.
Use when maintaining ArcForge itself by creating, editing, or verifying ArcForge skills before deployment
Use when breaking down a structured spec into an executable DAG, when a spec has been refined and epics need to be defined, or when planning feature and epic structure for implementation
Guide for strategic manual compaction timing at workflow phase boundaries
Use when exploring ideas before implementation or when user wants to design a new feature or iterate on an existing spec
Use when converting design documents to structured specs, when spec quality is below threshold, or when requirements need formal acceptance criteria
Use when measuring whether skills, agents, or workflows actually change AI agent behavior — before shipping a new skill, after modifying an existing one, or when comparing alternative approaches
Use when the user asks to journal session reflections (/arcforge:arc-journaling), when the PreCompact hook triggers, or at end of a significant work session
Use when epic implementation in a worktree is complete (.arcforge-epic file exists), all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate
Use when an ArcForge task needs routing help or the user asks which ArcForge skill/workflow applies
Use when ending a session and handing off to a future session, summarizing recent context, continuing from where the last turn left off, archiving a session for durable reference, or resuming/listing/aliasing saved sessions
Use when the user explicitly invokes `/arcforge:arc-auditing-spec <spec-id>` for a read-only advisory audit of an SDD spec family (design, spec, dag, decision anchors). Only triggered by direct user invocation; never auto-invoked from any pipeline skill.
Use when the user wants an Excalidraw diagram or any visual representation — architecture, flowchart, mind map — including casual "draw this" / "show me how this works visually". Also use when arc-maintaining-obsidian delegates Synthesis visuals beyond embedded Mermaid.
Use when the user asks to reflect on accumulated diaries (/arcforge:arc-reflecting), after 5+ diary entries accumulate, or when asked to summarize preferences from past sessions
Use when user asks about behavioral patterns, requests instinct status, or wants to confirm/contradict a detected pattern
Use when orchestrating large project implementation in a worktree
Use when optimizing any measurable metric through autonomous hypothesis-driven experimentation — build times, algorithm efficiency, prompt quality, model performance, or any target with a numeric signal
Use when managing worktrees for multi-epic projects, when specs/<spec-id>/dag.yaml exists, or when coordinating parallel development
Use when dispatching multiple independent features within a worktree session
Use when running autonomous unattended loops — cross-session execution of DAG tasks without human intervention
Use when encountering any bug, test failure, or unexpected behavior, before proposing fixes
Use when implementing any feature or bugfix, before writing implementation code
Use when implementation is complete on a regular branch (no .arcforge-epic file), all tests pass, and you need to decide how to integrate
Use when completing tasks or features to request code review
Use when receiving code review feedback, requires technical rigor not performative agreement
Use when executing task lists where each task requires isolated execution