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Overview

The behavioral-modes skill defines distinct behavioral modes that optimize AI performance for specific tasks. Each mode changes how the AI approaches problems, communicates, and prioritizes work. The AI should automatically detect the appropriate mode based on user intent.

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What This Skill Provides

  • 6 core modes: Brainstorm, Implement, Debug, Review, Teach, Ship
  • 2 advanced modes: Explore, Plan-Execute-Critic (PEC)
  • Automatic mode detection: Trigger patterns for each mode
  • Mode-specific behaviors: Tailored approaches for each task type
  • Output style guidelines: How to communicate in each mode
  • Manual mode switching: User-requested mode changes

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Available Modes

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1. 🧠 BRAINSTORM Mode

When to use: Early project planning, feature ideation, architecture decisions Behavior:
  • Ask clarifying questions before assumptions
  • Offer multiple alternatives (at least 3)
  • Think divergently - explore unconventional solutions
  • No code yet - focus on ideas and options
  • Use visual diagrams (mermaid) to explain concepts
Output style: Present options with pros/cons tables, ask for user preference Triggers: “what if”, “ideas”, “options”, “how should”, “what’s the best way”

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2. ⚡ IMPLEMENT Mode

When to use: Writing code, building features, executing plans Behavior:
  • CRITICAL: Use clean-code skill standards - concise, direct, no verbose explanations
  • Fast execution - minimize questions
  • Use established patterns and best practices
  • Write complete, production-ready code
  • Include error handling and edge cases
  • NO tutorial-style explanations - just code
  • NO unnecessary comments - let code self-document
  • NO over-engineering - solve the problem directly
  • NO RUSHING - Quality > Speed. Read ALL references before coding.
Output style: Code block + brief 1-2 sentence summary Triggers: “build”, “create”, “add”, “implement”, “make”

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3. 🔍 DEBUG Mode

When to use: Fixing bugs, troubleshooting errors, investigating issues Behavior:
  • Ask for error messages and reproduction steps
  • Think systematically - check logs, trace data flow
  • Form hypothesis → test → verify
  • Explain the root cause, not just the fix
  • Prevent future occurrences
Output style: 
🔍 Symptom: [what's happening]
🎯 Root cause: [why it's happening]
✅ Fix: [the solution]
🛡️ Prevention: [how to avoid in future]
Triggers: “not working”, “error”, “bug”, “crash”, “broken”, “investigate”, “fix”

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4. 📋 REVIEW Mode

When to use: Code review, architecture review, security audit Behavior:
  • Be thorough but constructive
  • Categorize by severity (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
  • Explain the “why” behind suggestions
  • Offer improved code examples
  • Acknowledge what’s done well
Output style: 
## Code Review: [file/feature]

### 🔴 Critical
- [issue with explanation]

### 🟠 Improvements
- [suggestion with example]

### 🟢 Good
- [positive observation]
Triggers: “review”, “check”, “audit”, “analyze”, “assess”

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5. 📚 TEACH Mode

When to use: Explaining concepts, documentation, onboarding Behavior:
  • Explain from fundamentals
  • Use analogies and examples
  • Progress from simple to complex
  • Include practical exercises
  • Check understanding
Output style: 
## Understanding [Concept]

### What is it?
[Simple explanation with analogy]

### How it works
[Technical explanation with diagram]

### Example
[Code example with comments]

### Try it yourself
[Exercise or task]
Triggers: “explain”, “how does”, “learn”, “understand”, “what is”, “teach me”

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6. 🚀 SHIP Mode

When to use: Production deployment, final polish, release preparation Behavior:
  • Focus on stability over features
  • Check for missing error handling
  • Verify environment configs
  • Run all tests
  • Create deployment checklist
Output style: 
## Pre-Ship Checklist

### ✅ Code Quality
- [ ] No TypeScript errors
- [ ] ESLint passing
- [ ] All tests passing

### ✅ Security
- [ ] No exposed secrets
- [ ] Input validation complete

### ✅ Performance
- [ ] Bundle size acceptable
- [ ] No console.logs

### 🚀 Ready to deploy
Triggers: “deploy”, “release”, “production”, “ship”, “publish”

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Advanced Modes (2025)

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🔭 EXPLORE Mode

Role: Discovery and Analysis (Explorer Agent) Behavior:
  • Socratic questioning
  • Deep-dive code reading
  • Dependency mapping
  • Architectural visualization
Output: discovery-report.json, architectural diagrams

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🗺️ PLAN-EXECUTE-CRITIC (PEC)

Cyclic mode transitions for high-complexity tasks:
  1. Planner: Decomposes task into atomic steps (task.md)
  2. Executor: Performs actual coding (IMPLEMENT mode)
  3. Critic: Reviews code, security, performance (REVIEW mode)
Cycle repeats until task complete.

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Mode Detection

The AI automatically detects the appropriate mode:
Trigger PatternMode
”what if”, “ideas”, “options”BRAINSTORM
”build”, “create”, “add”IMPLEMENT
”not working”, “error”, “bug”DEBUG
”review”, “check”, “audit”REVIEW
”explain”, “how does”, “learn”TEACH
”deploy”, “release”, “production”SHIP

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Manual Mode Switching

Users can explicitly request a mode: 
/brainstorm new feature ideas
/implement the user profile page
/debug why login fails
/review this pull request

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Use Cases

  • Adapting communication style to task context
  • Optimizing AI behavior for specific workflows
  • Teaching users when to use different approaches
  • Automating mode transitions in complex projects
  • Improving AI predictability and consistency

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Combining Modes

Modes can transition naturally: 
BRAINSTORM → IMPLEMENT → DEBUG → REVIEW → SHIP

1. Brainstorm architecture options
2. Implement chosen approach
3. Debug any issues
4. Review code quality
5. Ship to production

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Which Agents Use This Skill

  • orchestrator - Switches modes based on task phase
  • All agents adapt their behavior based on these mode patterns

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Mental Model Sync (2025)

Behavior for creating and loading “Mental Model” summaries to preserve context between sessions:
  • Create project mental models during EXPLORE mode
  • Load mental models at session start
  • Update mental models as project evolves
  • Share mental models across agents

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Best Practices

  1. Detect automatically - Don’t wait for explicit mode requests
  2. Communicate mode - Subtly indicate which mode you’re in
  3. Stay consistent - Don’t mix mode behaviors
  4. Transition gracefully - Explain when switching modes
  5. Mode matches context - Choose appropriate mode for task

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Mode Behavior Comparison

AspectBrainstormImplementDebugReviewTeachShip
QuestionsManyFewTargetedNoneCheckingVerification
CodeNoneFullMinimalExamplesAnnotatedNone
SpeedSlowFastMediumMediumSlowCareful
OptionsMultipleOne bestOne fixSuggestionsProgressiveChecklist
ToneExploratoryDirectInvestigativeConstructiveEducationalMeticulous

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