Quartz 5

mode-detection

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Mode & Parameter Detection (Algorithm v6.2.0)

⚠️ STAGED — for a future Algorithm v6.2.0; NOT the active doctrine. Algorithm/LATEST = v5.7.2. This file describes v6.2.0-era patterns staged ahead of the shipped doctrine; the active v5.7.2 doctrine governs. Reconcile/promote when v6.2.0 ships. (Spine P2 stamp, 2026-05-30.)

Loaded by OBSERVE on demand when ideate, optimize, fast-path, or effort override modes are detected.

Effort Override Detection

Triggers: /e[1-5] or E[1-5] as standalone token in message (case-insensitive)

Mapping: E1=Standard, E2=Extended, E3=Advanced, E4=Deep, E5=Comprehensive

When detected:

  1. Set effort level to corresponding tier — this is an override, not a hint
  2. Add effort_source: explicit to ISA frontmatter
  3. Skip “Set effort level” auto-detection in OBSERVE
  4. E1 additionally forces fast-path mode (OBSERVE→EXECUTE→VERIFY) when task structure allows
  5. AI may note complexity mismatch in ISA but MUST proceed at specified level

Interaction with modes: E-level and mode (ideate/optimize/research) are orthogonal. Both can be set simultaneously. E-level sets the tier; mode sets the execution pattern.

Ideate Mode

Triggers: ideate [problem] | id8 [problem] | generate ideas for | dream up solutions for

  1. Set mode: ideate in ISA frontmatter
  2. Load ~/.claude/PAI/ALGORITHM/ideate-loop.md
  3. Map effort tier to time_scale per ideate-loop.md

Optimize Mode

Trigger: optimize [target]

  1. Determine eval_mode:
    • metric_command provided or code target → eval_mode: metric
    • Prompt/skill/agent target or explicit eval_mode: eval → eval_mode: eval
  2. Set mode: optimize and eval_mode in ISA frontmatter

Parameter Detection (Ideate & Optimize)

Resolution order: Preset → Focus → Individual overrides → Meta-Learner (ideate only)

  1. Check for explicit preset name → algorithm_config.preset
  2. Check for focus value (0.0–1.0) → algorithm_config.focus
  3. Check for individual param specs → overrides
  4. If no explicit params, infer from tone:
PresetTone keywords
dreamwild, dream, free-form, surprise me, hallucinate
exploreexplore, broad, brainstorm
directedfocused, practical, actionable
surgicalprecise, surgical, optimal
cautious (optimize)careful, safe, production
aggressive (optimize)bold, aggressive, fast
  1. Resolve via parameter-schema.md
  2. Write resolved algorithm_config: block to ISA frontmatter

Fast-Path Detection (revised v6.2.0)

Available at Standard tier (E1) only. Compresses phases for simple tasks AND skips the mandatory Skill("ISA") invocation that would otherwise fire at OBSERVE for E2+.

The fast-path is a whitelist, not a heuristic. A task qualifies for fast-path ONLY if every condition below holds. This is deliberate — the v5.0.0 BPE concern is that any heuristic-shaped bypass becomes a doctrine-evasion route. The whitelist closes that.

Execute-and-verify archetype (E1 fast-path): ALL must hold:

  • Effort tier is E1 (auto-detected or explicit /e1).
  • Task is one of: rename a symbol, fix a typo, run a command, read-and-report-on a file, append a single line, format/lint, single-package install, single test run.
  • Single file or single command in scope.
  • No multi-step transformation.
  • No new architecture, no new endpoints, no new dependencies, no migrations.
  • MODE: ALGORITHM AND TIER: E1 in additionalContext (written by ModeClassifier.hook.ts).

If ALL whitelist conditions hold:

  • Set mode: fast-path in ISA frontmatter.
  • Inline-write the minimal ISA (Goal + Criteria only — the E1 tier completeness floor) without invoking Skill("ISA").
  • Compress to: OBSERVE → EXECUTE → VERIFY (skip THINK/PLAN/BUILD).

If ANY whitelist condition fails:

  • Fast-path does NOT apply.
  • Proceed with standard 7-phase Algorithm at the resolved tier (E2+ requires Skill("ISA") invocation at OBSERVE).

Research-only archetype: Analysis, review, or investigation with no code changes.

  • Set mode: research in ISA frontmatter.
  • Skip ISA creation only at E1 with the same whitelist conditions; otherwise scaffold via Skill("ISA").
  • Compress to: OBSERVE → THINK → EXECUTE → VERIFY → LEARN.

v6.2.0 doctrine note: the whitelist exists because the new twelve-section ISA frame and Skill("ISA") invocation pattern raise the OBSERVE-phase floor. Without an explicit whitelist, an E1 task could “feel like” a fast-path candidate to the model and bypass the skill silently — recreating the v5.0.0 BPE under-cut {{PRINCIPAL_NAME}} and {{DA_NAME}} already closed at the mode-selection layer in v6.0.0. The whitelist is the same enforcement pattern, applied one level deeper.

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