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how

Use for "how does X work", code walkthroughs before changing something, and placement / ownership / layering questions ("where should this live", "which package owns this", "is this the right layer"). Explains subsystem architecture, runtime flow, onboarding mental models. Use why for motivation.

t3/overrides/how/SKILL.md

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# How

Explore the codebase to answer "how does X work?" questions. Produce architectural explanations at the level of a senior engineer onboarding onto a subsystem, enough to build a working mental model, not so much that it reads like annotated source code.

Every spawn is a `delegate_task` child task with `mode: "async"`, a stable `clientRequestId` such as `how-<slug>-<angle>`, and a read-only brief. The prompt templates tell the child not to edit files, commit, or push. Explorers use the `how explorer` role with `role` set to `"research"`, and every explainer uses the `how explainer` role with `role` set to `"general"`. Resolve each role per [the runtime's Roles section](../pstack-runtime/SKILL.md#roles) with `python3 <pstack-runtime>/scripts/roles.py show --cwd "$PWD" --parent "<inheritedProviderInstanceId>/<inheritedModel>" --role "<role>"`. Set `target` to the role's seat. Leave `target` unset when the seat is `inherit`. If `delegate_task` rejects a target, apply the runtime's fallback and say which seat changed and why. Retain every returned `taskId`. Pass the seat the role this step names, per the Subagents section of the poteto-mode skill.

[The runtime's Modes section](../pstack-runtime/SKILL.md#modes) sets the mode lines of every brief this skill writes and how its spawns run in light mode.

## 1. Assess complexity

If the scope is ambiguous, state your interpretation and explore. The user can redirect.

- **Simple** (a single module, a small utility, a narrow question such as "how does function X work"): no explorers. Spawn one explainer that explores and explains in one pass, built from `references/explainer-prompt.md` without the explorer-findings section. Go to step 4.
- **Complex** (a subsystem spanning multiple files or services, a cross-cutting feature, a full architectural overview): go to step 2.