---
name: Context Detection
slug: context-detection
category: AI Engineering
description: Context Detection automatically identifies whether the current task is development or knowledge work, so agent workflows can tailor research, build, and review behavior. It checks explicit overrides, prompt indicators, and project structure before returning a confidence-scored context.
github: "https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus/tree/main/skills/skill-context-detection"
language: Shell
stars: 3971
forks: 374
install: "npx degit https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus/tree/main/skills/skill-context-detection ~/.claude/skills/skill-context-detection"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/skill-context-detection
source_path: skills/skill-context-detection/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 2451
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/nyldn/claude-octopus"
added: 2026-08-16T07:01:33.729Z
last_synced: 2026-08-16T07:01:33.729Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/context-detection"
---

# Context Detection

Context Detection automatically identifies whether the current task is development or knowledge work, so agent workflows can tailor research, build, and review behavior. It checks explicit overrides, prompt indicators, and project structure before returning a confidence-scored context.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/nyldn/claude-octopus/tree/main/skills/skill-context-detection ~/.claude/skills/skill-context-detection
```

## README

> **Host: Codex CLI** — This skill was designed for Claude Code and adapted for Codex.
> Cross-reference commands use installed skill names in Codex rather than `/octo:*` slash commands.
> Use the active Codex shell and subagent tools. Do not claim a provider, model, or host subagent is available until the current session exposes it.
> For host tool equivalents, see `skills/blocks/codex-host-adapter.md`.


# Context Detection - Internal Skill

## Purpose

This skill provides **automatic context detection** to determine whether the user is working in a **Development context** (code-focused) or **Knowledge context** (research/strategy-focused). This replaces the manual `/octo:km` toggle with intelligent auto-detection.

## Detection Algorithm

When a workflow skill activates, detect context using these signals:

### Step 1: Check for Explicit Override

If user has explicitly set mode via `/octo:km on` or `/octo:km off`, respect that setting.

```bash
# Check if knowledge mode is explicitly set
if [[ -f ~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode ]]; then
  EXPLICIT_MODE=$(cat ~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode)
  if [[ "$EXPLICIT_MODE" == "on" ]]; then
    echo "knowledge"
    exit 0
  elif [[ "$EXPLICIT_MODE" == "off" ]]; then
    echo "dev"
    exit 0
  fi
fi
# If "auto" or not set, proceed with auto-detection
```

### Step 2: Analyze Prompt Content (Strongest Signal)

**Knowledge Context Indicators** (check prompt for these terms):
- Business/strategy: "market", "ROI", "stakeholders", "strategy", "business case", "competitive"
- Research: "literature", "synthesis", "academic", "papers", "research question"
- UX: "personas", "user research", "journey map", "pain points", "interviews"
- Deliverables: "presentation", "report", "PRD", "proposal", "executive summary"

**Dev Context Indicators** (check prompt for these terms):
- Technical: "API", "endpoint", "database", "function", "class", "module"
- Actions: "implement", "debug", "refactor", "test", "deploy", "build"
- Artifacts: "code", "tests", "migration", "schema", "controller"

**Scoring:**
- Count knowledge indicators in prompt
- Count dev indicators in prompt
- Higher count wins
- If tied, check project context (Step 3)

### Step 3: Analyze Project Context (Secondary Signal)

**Dev Project Indicators:**
- Has `package.json`, `Cargo.toml`, `go.mod`, `pyproject.toml`, `pom.xml`
- Has `src/`, `lib/`, `app/` directories with code files
- Recent files are `.ts`, `.js`, `.py`, `.go`, `.rs`, `.java`

**Knowledge Project Indicators:**
- Has `docs/`, `research/`, `strategy/`, `reports/` directories
- Majority of files are `.md`, `.docx`, `.pdf`, `.pptx`
- No code package managers detected

### Step 4: Default Fallback

If signals are ambiguous or equal:
- In a git repo with code files → Default to **Dev Context**
- No code files detected → Default to **Knowledge Context**


## Context Output Format

Return detected context as a structured object for use by workflow skills:

```json
{
  "context": "dev" | "knowledge",
  "confidence": "high" | "medium" | "low",
  "signals": {
    "prompt_indicators": ["API", "endpoint", "database"],
    "project_type": "node_typescript",
    "explicit_override": false
  }
}
```


## How Workflow Skills Use Context

### flow-discover (Research)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Research Focus** | Technical implementation, library comparison, code patterns | Market analysis, academic synthesis, competitive research |
| **Primary Agents** | Codex (implementation), Antigravity (ecosystem) | Antigravity (analysis), research-synthesizer |
| **Output Format** | Code examples, API comparisons, tech recommendations | Reports, frameworks, strategic recommendations |
| **Visual Banner** | `🔍 [Dev] Discover Phase: Technical research` | `🔍 [Knowledge] Discover Phase: Strategic research` |

### flow-develop (Build)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Build Focus** | Code generation, implementation, architecture | PRDs, strategy docs, presentations |
| **Primary Agents** | Codex (code), backend-architect, tdd-orchestrator | product-writer, strategy-analyst, exec-communicator |
| **Output Format** | Source files, tests, migrations | Documents, frameworks, action plans |
| **Visual Banner** | `🛠️ [Dev] Develop Phase: Building code` | `🛠️ [Knowledge] Develop Phase: Building deliverables` |

### flow-deliver (Review)

| Aspect | Dev Context | Knowledge Context |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|
| **Review Focus** | Code quality, security, performance | Document quality, argument strength, completeness |
| **Primary Agents** | code-reviewer, security-auditor | exec-communicator, strategy-analyst |
| **Quality Gates** | OWASP, test coverage, maintainability | Evidence quality, clarity, actionability |
| **Visual Banner** | `✅ [Dev] Deliver Phase: Code review` | `✅ [Knowledge] Deliver Phase: Document review` |


## Visual Indicator Update

When context is detected, update the visual banner to show context:

**Dev Context:**
```
🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode
🔍 [Dev] Discover Phase: Researching OAuth implementation patterns

Providers:
🔴 Codex CLI - Technical implementation analysis
🟡 Antigravity CLI - Ecosystem and library comparison
🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis
```

**Knowledge Context:**
```
🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode
🔍 [Knowledge] Discover Phase: Researching market entry strategies

Providers:
🔴 Codex CLI - Data analysis and modeling
🟡 Antigravity CLI - Market and competitive research
🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis
```


## Implementation in Workflow Skills

Each flow skill should:

1. **Before executing workflow**, run context detection
2. **Show detected context** in visual banner
3. **Adjust behavior** based on context:
   - Agent selection
   - Prompt framing for external CLIs
   - Output format expectations
   - Quality gate criteria

### Example Integration (Pseudocode)

```markdown
When this skill activates:

1. **Detect context**
   - Analyze user's prompt for knowledge vs dev indicators
   - Check project type (code repo vs doc-heavy)
   - Check for explicit override (~/.claude-octopus/config/knowledge-mode)
   - Determine: "dev" or "knowledge" with confidence level

2. **Show context-aware banner**
   ```
   🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider [research|implementation|validation] mode
   [Phase Emoji] [Context] [Phase Name]: [Description]
   
   Detected Context: [Dev|Knowledge] (confidence: [high|medium|low])
   ```

3. **Execute workflow with context-appropriate behavior**
   - Frame prompts for external providers based on context
   - Select appropriate synthesis approach
   - Apply context-specific quality gates
```


## Override Mechanism

Users can still explicitly set context when auto-detection is wrong:

```bash
# Force knowledge mode
/octo:km on

# Force dev mode  
/octo:km off

# Return to auto-detection
/octo:km auto
```

When explicit override is set, context detection respects it until user resets to "auto".


## Confidence Levels

- **High**: Strong signals in prompt AND project context agree
- **Medium**: Signals in prompt OR project context (not both)
- **Low**: Ambiguous signals, using fallback default

When confidence is "low", consider briefly mentioning the detected context to user:
> "I detected this as a [dev/knowledge] task. If that's wrong, you can use `/octo:km` to override."


## Testing Context Detection

To verify context detection is working:

1. In a code repository, ask "octo research caching patterns" → Should detect **Dev Context**
2. In same repo, ask "octo research market opportunities" → Should detect **Knowledge Context**
3. With `/octo:km on` set, ask "octo research API patterns" → Should use **Knowledge Context** (explicit override)


## Proactive Skill Suggestions

When detecting the user's work stage, surface relevant command suggestions:

| Detected Context | Suggestion |
|-----------------|------------|
| Brainstorming / exploring ideas | Consider `/octo:brainstorm` for structured ideation |
| Reviewing a plan or strategy | Consider `/octo:plan` for strategic planning |
| Debugging errors or failures | Consider `/octo:debug` for systematic investigation |
| Writing or running tests | Consider `/octo:tdd` for test-driven development |
| Code review before merge | Use Claude-native `/review` for ordinary review; suggest `/octo:review` for multi-AI escalation |
| Ready to deploy or ship | Consider `/octo:deliver` for quality-gated delivery |
| Researching a topic | Consider `/octo:research` for multi-source synthesis |
| Working on security | Use Claude-native `/security-review` for ordinary security review; suggest `/octo:security` for escalated OWASP or adversarial audit |

### Suggestion Format

Suggestions should be non-intrusive, appended as a brief note:

```
💡 Tip: You appear to be debugging — `/octo:debug` provides systematic investigation with multi-AI support.
```

### Persistent Opt-Out

- If user says "stop suggesting" or "no more tips": set `OCTO_PROACTIVE_SUGGESTIONS=off` in `.claude-octopus/preferences.json`
- If user says "be proactive" or "turn on tips": set `OCTO_PROACTIVE_SUGGESTIONS=on`
- Check preference at suggestion time — never suggest when opted out
- Respect current mode: dev mode suggestions differ from knowledge work suggestions

### Re-Enable Suggestions

Users who previously opted out can re-enable suggestions at any time:
- Say "be proactive", "turn on tips", or "enable suggestions"
- Manually edit `~/.claude-octopus/preferences.json` and set `OCTO_PROACTIVE_SUGGESTIONS` to `on`
- Default state (no preference set) is suggestions enabled

### Detection Signals

Detect work stage from:
- Recent tool usage (many Bash calls = likely implementing/debugging)
- File types being edited (.test.ts = testing, .md = documentation)
- Error patterns in recent output (stack traces = debugging)
- Git state (uncommitted changes = implementing, clean tree = ready to review/ship)