Domain Template

Input: $ARGUMENTS

Purpose

Create a domain-specific template that pre-configures:

Which skills to use and in what order
Domain-specific dimensions for enumeration
Common assumptions to check
Relevant analogy domains
Standard output formats

Templates accelerate work by encoding domain expertise into reusable configurations.

Template Structure

Every domain template includes:

DOMAIN TEMPLATE: [domain name]
version: [1.0]
created: [date]
last_updated: [date]

# What this domain is about
description: |
  [Brief description of the domain and what problems it addresses]

# When to use this template
triggers:
  - [keyword or phrase that indicates this domain]
  - [another trigger]

# Skills to run and in what order
skill_chain:
  - skill: [skill_name]
    config: [any domain-specific config]
  - skill: [skill_name]
    config: [any domain-specific config]

# Pre-defined dimensions for this domain
dimensions:
  - name: [dimension name]
    values: [list of common values]
  - name: [dimension name]
    values: [list of common values]

# Common assumptions to always check
default_assumptions:
  - [assumption that's often hidden in this domain]
  - [another common assumption]

# Domains that provide useful analogies
analogy_domains:
  - domain: [domain name]
    why: [why this domain is relevant]
  - domain: [domain name]
    why: [why this domain is relevant]

# Standard output format for this domain
output_format: |
  [Template for how results should be structured]

# Domain-specific vocabulary
vocabulary:
  [term]: [definition in this domain's context]
  [term]: [definition]

The Template Creation Process

Step 1: Domain Analysis

Understand the domain deeply:

DOMAIN ANALYSIS: [domain name]

CORE ACTIVITIES:
What do practitioners in this domain actually do?
1. [Activity 1]
2. [Activity 2]
3. [Activity 3]

KEY DECISIONS:
What decisions do they make?
1. [Decision type 1]
2. [Decision type 2]

COMMON PROBLEMS:
What problems do they face?
1. [Problem 1]
2. [Problem 2]

SUCCESS CRITERIA:
How is success measured?
1. [Metric/criteria 1]
2. [Metric/criteria 2]

FAILURE MODES:
How do things typically go wrong?
1. [Failure mode 1]
2. [Failure mode 2]

Step 2: Identify Domain Dimensions

What are the key dimensions for enumeration in this domain?

DOMAIN DIMENSIONS: [domain name]

| Dimension | Values | Why Important |
|-----------|--------|---------------|
| [Dim 1] | [v1, v2, v3...] | [why this matters] |
| [Dim 2] | [v1, v2, v3...] | [why this matters] |
| [Dim 3] | [v1, v2, v3...] | [why this matters] |

DIMENSION RELATIONSHIPS:
- [Dim 1] often constrains [Dim 2]
- [Dim 3] is independent of others

PRIMARY DIMENSION: [which dimension is most important]

Step 3: Map Domain Assumptions

What assumptions are commonly hidden in this domain?

DOMAIN ASSUMPTIONS: [domain name]

ALWAYS CHECK (common blind spots):
1. [Assumption] - Type: [causal/existence/etc.]
   Why hidden: [why people miss this]

2. [Assumption] - Type: [type]
   Why hidden: [why people miss this]

DOMAIN-SPECIFIC ASSUMPTIONS:
1. [Assumption unique to this domain]
2. [Another domain-specific assumption]

ASSUMPTION CLUSTERS:
- [Theme]: [list of related assumptions]
- [Theme]: [list of related assumptions]

Step 4: Select Analogy Domains

Which other domains provide useful perspectives?

ANALOGY MAPPING: [domain name]

| Source Domain | Structural Match | Key Insights Available |
|---------------|------------------|------------------------|
| [Domain 1] | [what matches] | [what we can learn] |
| [Domain 2] | [what matches] | [what we can learn] |
| [Domain 3] | [what matches] | [what we can learn] |

PRIMARY ANALOGIES (most useful):
1. [Domain]: [why especially relevant]
2. [Domain]: [why especially relevant]

ANTI-ANALOGIES (misleading):
1. [Domain]: [why it seems relevant but isn't]

Step 5: Design Skill Chain

What skills should run, in what order?

SKILL CHAIN: [domain name]

STANDARD WORKFLOW:

Phase 1: Understanding
|-- /dd (if dimensions unknown)
|-- /aex

Phase 2: Exploration
|-- /se
|-- /ai
|-- /cda (with pre-selected domains)

Phase 3: Validation
|-- /mv
|-- /de (if procedural)
|-- /pv (if procedural)

Phase 4: Synthesis
|-- /ins

SKIP CONDITIONS:
- Skip /dd if: [condition]
- Skip /de if: [condition]

DOMAIN-SPECIFIC ADDITIONS:
- Add [skill] when: [condition]

Step 6: Define Output Format

What should the final output look like?

OUTPUT FORMAT: [domain name]

STANDARD SECTIONS:
1. [Section 1 name]
   - [What goes here]
   - [Format requirements]

2. [Section 2 name]
   - [What goes here]
   - [Format requirements]

REQUIRED ELEMENTS:
- [ ] [Element that must be present]
- [ ] [Another required element]

OPTIONAL SECTIONS:
- [Section]: Include when [condition]

EXAMPLE OUTPUT:
[Minimal example of well-formatted output]

Step 7: Compile Template

===================================================
DOMAIN TEMPLATE: [domain name]
===================================================
version: 1.0
created: [date]

DESCRIPTION:
[What this domain covers and when to use this template]

TRIGGERS:
- [keyword/phrase]
- [keyword/phrase]
- [keyword/phrase]

===================================================

SKILL CHAIN:
1. /[skill] - [purpose in this domain]
2. /[skill] - [purpose in this domain]
3. /[skill] - [purpose in this domain]
...

===================================================

DIMENSIONS:
1. [Dimension]: [values]
2. [Dimension]: [values]
3. [Dimension]: [values]

===================================================

DEFAULT ASSUMPTIONS TO CHECK:
- [Assumption 1]
- [Assumption 2]
- [Assumption 3]

===================================================

ANALOGY DOMAINS:
- [Domain 1]: [why relevant]
- [Domain 2]: [why relevant]

===================================================

OUTPUT FORMAT:
[Template structure]

===================================================

VOCABULARY:
- [Term]: [domain-specific meaning]
- [Term]: [domain-specific meaning]

===================================================

USAGE:
To apply this template:
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]
3. [Step 3]

===================================================

Example: Research Domain Template

===================================================
DOMAIN TEMPLATE: Academic Research
===================================================
version: 1.0
created: 2026-01-28

DESCRIPTION:
For academic research projects: literature reviews, hypothesis
generation, methodology design, and research synthesis.

TRIGGERS:
- "research question"
- "literature review"
- "hypothesis"
- "methodology"
- "academic paper"

===================================================

SKILL CHAIN:
1. /aex - Surface hidden research assumptions
2. /dd - Identify research dimensions
3. /se - Map the research space
4. /cda - Find methodological analogies
5. /mv - Ensure complete coverage
6. /ins - Generate research insights

===================================================

DIMENSIONS:
1. Methodology: [quantitative, qualitative, mixed, theoretical]
2. Scope: [case study, comparative, longitudinal, cross-sectional]
3. Data source: [primary, secondary, archival, experimental]
4. Analysis: [statistical, thematic, content, discourse]
5. Contribution: [empirical, theoretical, methodological, practical]

===================================================

DEFAULT ASSUMPTIONS TO CHECK:
- The research question is novel
- Data is accessible and sufficient
- Methodology matches research question
- Results will be publishable
- Timeline is realistic
- Ethics approval obtainable

===================================================

ANALOGY DOMAINS:
- Medicine: Rigorous methodology, peer review, evidence standards
- Law: Argument construction, precedent, burden of proof
- Engineering: Systematic problem-solving, validation

===================================================

OUTPUT FORMAT:
1. Research Question (refined)
2. Key Assumptions (with validity assessment)
3. Methodology Options (with trade-offs)
4. Gap Analysis (what's missing in literature)
5. Recommended Approach (with rationale)

===================================================

Quality Checklist

Before completing template:

Domain thoroughly analyzed
Dimensions identified and validated
Common assumptions documented
Analogy domains selected and justified
Skill chain designed with skip conditions
Output format specified
Template compiled in standard structure
Example output provided
Triggers defined for activation

Integration

Use with:

/tr - Register and retrieve templates
/tpm - Update templates based on usage
All skills in the template’s skill chain

dmt - Domain Template