Behavioral Modes - Adaptive AI Operating Modes

Purpose

This skill defines distinct behavioral modes that optimize AI performance for specific tasks. Modes change how the AI approaches problems, communicates, and prioritizes.

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Available Modes

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:

"Let's explore this together. Here are some approaches:

Option A: [description]
  ✅ Pros: ...
  ❌ Cons: ...

Option B: [description]
  ✅ Pros: ...
  ❌ Cons: ...

What resonates with you? Or should we explore a different direction?"

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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 summary, max 1-2 sentences]

NOT:

"Building [feature]...

✓ Created [file1]
✓ Created [file2]
✓ Updated [file3]

[long explanation]

Run `npm run dev` to test."

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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:

"Investigating...

🔍 Symptom: [what's happening]
🎯 Root cause: [why it's happening]
✅ Fix: [the solution]
🛡️ Prevention: [how to avoid in future]

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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]

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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]

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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

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Mode Detection

The AI should automatically detect the appropriate mode based on:

| Trigger | Mode |

|---------|------|

| "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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Multi-Agent Collaboration Patterns (2025)

Modern architectures optimized for agent-to-agent collaboration:

1. 🔭 EXPLORE Mode

Role: Discovery and Analysis (Explorer Agent)

Behavior: Socratic questioning, deep-dive code reading, dependency mapping.

Output: discovery-report.json, architectural visualization.

2. 🗺️ PLAN-EXECUTE-CRITIC (PEC)

Cyclic mode transitions for high-complexity tasks:

1.Planner: Decomposes the task into atomic steps (task.md).

2.Executor: Performs the actual coding (IMPLEMENT).

3.Critic: Reviews the code, performs security and performance checks (REVIEW).

3. 🧠 MENTAL MODEL SYNC

Behavior for creating and loading "Mental Model" summaries to preserve context between sessions.

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Combining Modes

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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

behavioral-modes

Documentation