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mk:ask-me

Overview

Answer questions about the current project — codebase, architecture, conventions, workflows, rationale, constraints — with minimal cited file:line evidence. Gives the agent deep, fast project understanding instead of long grep/search sessions. Read-only by default; the answer is the deliverable.

Route first

Classify the request before gathering evidence. If a specialist owns it, name that skill and stop; do not partially answer. The complete routing table is references/specialist-routes.md.

This skill answers what is true, how it works here, why it exists, and what constraints apply — about the current project only.

When to Use

Auto-activate on:

• "how does X work here / in this project / in this repo"
• "what does X mean" (project file, config, convention)
• "why is X structured this way"
• "is it true that ... in this repo" (claim-check)
• "what constraints apply before touching X"
• "explain X with sources / citations"

Explicit: the ask-me skill [question] [--depth quick|standard|deep] [--save-to <path>]

Do NOT invoke when: the request matches any Redirect First row, asks to change code, or is a pure general-knowledge question (answer those directly, no scouting).

Process

1. Route check. Match against Redirect First. Owned elsewhere → name the skill, stop.
2. Parse. Extract the question. Infer kind: factual, explanation, rationale, constraint-summary, or claim-check. Depth: standard unless flagged.
3. Minimal evidence plan. Prefer user-provided paths; else grep targeted keywords. Docs/project context first, then targeted code/config. Apply the forbidden-path list below.
4. Bounded gather. Read only relevant slices within the depth budget. Stop as soon as the answer is sufficiently supported. Track path:line for every source-backed claim.
5. Synthesize. Direct answer first; separate verified claims from inference; state confidence (high/medium/low — mandatory); list limitations; mention a related specialist skill only if the user's next likely action leaves scope.
6. Optional save. Only via --save-to or explicit request, per the save-path policy below. On unsafe path or conflict, refuse the write and return the answer inline.

Depth budgets and output/failure contracts: references/answer-contract.md.

Forbidden Paths (never read)

.env*, secrets/keys/credentials/tokens of any kind, .meowkit/memory/, session-state/, dependency dirs (node_modules/, .venv/), build outputs, browser profiles. No WebSearch — current-docs lookup belongs to mk:docs-finder.

Save-Path Policy

Write only when asked, and only under: an explicit user path inside the project root, tasks/reports/, or ${PLUGIN_DATA}/ask-me/. Path escapes a safe root → refuse and answer inline. Target exists → ask before overwrite or use a timestamped name.

Answer contract

Return a direct answer, confidence, cited evidence, and only needed inference/limitations. Include one related specialist only when the likely next action leaves this scope. Load references/answer-contract.md for the exact template and failure handling.

Workflow Integration

On-demand — no single phase anchor; usable at any point from Phase 0 (orient) through Phase 6 (reflect). Does not gate or feed any phase artifact.

Handoff Protocol

The answer is terminal by default — no agent receives it. If the user's next action leaves this skill's scope, point to the single owning specialist skill (one pointer, never auto-invoke it).

Gotchas

• Don't turn an answer request into a plan — the answer IS the deliverable.
• Don't over-scout: stop at sufficiency, not at budget exhaustion.
• Don't answer option-selection questions; route them (mk:party / mk:brainstorming).
• Never cite project facts without path:line sources; unsourced points go under Inference.
• Missing docs lower confidence but don't block — fall back to targeted code/config reads.
• "How does [library] work" is mk:docs-finder territory; this skill only answers "how does X work in this project".