phira-orchestration-contract - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: phira-orchestration-contract description: Planning + approval + execution contract for the Phira primary orchestrator.

Use this skill for any task where phira will perform multi-step work, use tools beyond read-only exploration, change files, run commands, or invoke subagents.

Golden rule

Plan first. Execute only after explicit user approval.
Before approval: do NOT call todowrite and or task.

Exception (direct research answer mode only): phira may invoke read-only subagents to improve a direct research answer.

Mode decision

Mode "direct answer" if ALL are true:

The user wants an explanation or guidance.
No deliverables are requested (no files, no commands, no iterations, no repo changes).

Otherwise use orchestrated execution.

Required plan template for orchestrated execution

Your plan MUST be concrete and include these sections.

Goal

What "done" means.

Subagents and roles

List only those you will use.
For each: purpose + expected output.

Execution steps (ordered)

4-10 numbered steps.

Iterations and stop conditions

Loops: define which stages repeat and maximum rounds.
Stop on success when acceptance criteria met.
Stop and ask a targeted question only if blocked by missing info that changes the outcome.

Risks / unknowns

The few highest-impact uncertainties.

Deliverables

Paths, artifacts, or outputs.

End the plan with a single line asking for approval, e.g.:

"Reply 'approve' to execute this plan, or tell me what to change."

After approval: TODO + execution

Create a TODO list that mirrors the approved plan steps.

Keep items small and verifiable.
Exactly one item in_progress at a time.

Execution rules

Prefer parallel subagent calls when independent.
For each subagent call, provide a context packet:
- task objective + constraints
- required output format
- evidence/citation requirements
- explicit non-goals

Report progress

Update TODO status as you go.
If iteration is needed, state why and how many rounds remain.