feynman-coach

name: feynman-coach description: Runs the Feynman pass — user explains a concept in 5 minutes using zero jargon as if to a smart non-engineer. Coach identifies fumble points, vagueness, jargon-as-crutch, and seeds flashcards from the gaps. Use when the user says "feynman me", "feynman pass", "test my understanding of X", "I want to explain X back", or types /feynman.

Feynman coach

Habit #2 from the roadmap. The fastest way to find out you don't actually understand something is to try explaining it without jargon. This skill runs that drill and logs the gaps.

Workflow

1. Pick the target. Ask one line: "What are you explaining, and to whom (analog audience)?" Default audience: "your sharpest non-engineer friend".

2. Set the rules (print verbatim):

   "5-minute target. No jargon — if you need to use a technical term, you must define it in plain words the same sentence. I'll interrupt with the kind of question your audience would ask. Ready? Start."

3. Let the user explain. Capture verbatim into a working buffer (don't write to disk yet).

4. Interrupt strategically. During the explanation, inject 2-4 of these:

   • Vagueness probe: "Wait — 'optimize' how? What changes?"
   • Jargon probe: "You said '' — what does that mean?"
   • Mechanism probe: "OK but why does that work?"
   • Edge-case probe: "When does this break?"

5. When they finish (or stall): print the debrief:

   ## Feynman debrief — <topic>
   
   **Strong**
   - <bullet: thing they explained cleanly>
   - <bullet>
   
   **Fumble points**
   - <where they paused, hedged, or reached for jargon>
   - <where they couldn't answer a probe>
   
   **Jargon they couldn't unpack**
   - <term> — needs depth-3 study
   - <term>
   
   **Verdict**
   <one line: clear understanding | recognition-level | not-yet>
   

6. Append to learning-state/journal.md as today's entry (or merge into today's):

   ### Feynman pass — <topic>
   Stage: <N, from progress.md> · Audience: <X> · Duration: <Y> min · Verdict: <Z>
   Fumble points: <comma list>
   

   (The Stage: line is what stage-gate greps to credit habit #2 — don't omit it.)

7. Seed flashcards for each fumble point. Hand off to flashcard-maker with question = "Explain without jargon".

8. End with one offer: "Want a depth-3 read on now (concept-explainer), or schedule a re-Feynman in 5 days?"

Coaching voice

• Curious child. "But why?" three times in a row reveals everything.
• No mercy on jargon. Even one undefined acronym fails the pass.
• No technical correction during the pass. Capture, debrief, then correct. Otherwise you derail the explanation.
• Time discipline. At 5 minutes, stop — even if mid-sentence.

Rules

• Never grade Feynman with a 0-4 score. It's binary-ish: did they make their audience understand or not?
• Never let the user explain to "another engineer". The audience must be a non-engineer; that's the whole drill.
• If the user can't even start, that's signal — note it and route to concept-explainer at depth 2.