MCP SkillSet Orchestration Workflows

Nuanced workflows combining multiple skills from mcp-skillset for sophisticated problem-solving.

Workflow 1: Parallel Debugging Orchestration

Combines: dispatching-parallel-agents + root-cause-tracing + systematic-debugging

When to Use

digraph parallel_debug {
  "Multiple failures detected" [shape=doublecircle];
  "Failures independent?" [shape=diamond];
  "Single agent trace" [shape=box];
  "Dispatch parallel agents" [shape=box];
  "Each agent does root-cause-tracing" [shape=box];
  "Integrate findings" [shape=box];
  "Verify no conflicts" [shape=box];
  "Run full test suite" [shape=doublecircle];

  "Multiple failures detected" -> "Failures independent?";
  "Failures independent?" -> "Single agent trace" [label="no"];
  "Failures independent?" -> "Dispatch parallel agents" [label="yes"];
  "Dispatch parallel agents" -> "Each agent does root-cause-tracing";
  "Each agent does root-cause-tracing" -> "Integrate findings";
  "Integrate findings" -> "Verify no conflicts";
  "Verify no conflicts" -> "Run full test suite";
}

Pattern Implementation

// Phase 1: Classify failures
const failures = [
  { file: 'auth.test.ts', type: 'timing', domain: 'authentication' },
  { file: 'api.test.ts', type: 'data', domain: 'api-layer' },
  { file: 'db.test.ts', type: 'state', domain: 'persistence' }
];

// Phase 2: Check independence
const independent = failures.every((f, i) =>
  failures.every((other, j) => i === j || f.domain !== other.domain)
);

// Phase 3: Dispatch parallel agents with root-cause instructions
if (independent) {
  for (const failure of failures) {
    Task(`
      Investigate ${failure.file} using root-cause-tracing methodology:

      1. OBSERVE: What error appears?
      2. TRACE: Follow call stack backward to origin
      3. IDENTIFY: Find original trigger (not symptom)
      4. FIX: Address root cause at source
      5. DEFEND: Add validation at each layer

      Do NOT fix where error appears. Trace to source.
      Return: Root cause, fix applied, defense layers added.
    `);
  }
}

Key Principles

1. Independence Check First: Only parallelize truly independent domains
2. Each Agent Uses Root-Cause: No symptom fixes, trace to origin
3. Integration Review: Check for conflicts before merging
4. Defense-in-Depth: Each agent adds layer validation

---

Workflow 2: TDD-Driven Root Cause Resolution

Combines: test-driven-development + root-cause-tracing + verification-before-completion

When to Use

• Bug reported in production
• Regression detected in CI
• Intermittent test failures

The TDD Root Cause Cycle

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. REPRODUCE: Write failing test capturing bug behavior    │
│     ↓                                                       │
│  2. TRACE: Use root-cause-tracing to find origin            │
│     ↓                                                       │
│  3. FIX: Make minimal change at root cause                  │
│     ↓                                                       │
│  4. VERIFY: Test now passes (Green)                         │
│     ↓                                                       │
│  5. REFACTOR: Add defense-in-depth (keep tests green)       │
│     ↓                                                       │
│  6. REGRESSION: Ensure no other tests broke                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Implementation

# Step 1: Reproduce with failing test (Red)
def test_should_not_create_duplicate_sessions_when_race_condition():
    """
    Bug: Two concurrent requests create duplicate sessions
    Root cause: Unknown - need to trace
    """
    # Arrange
    user = create_test_user()

    # Act: Simulate concurrent session creation
    with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=2) as executor:
        futures = [executor.submit(create_session, user) for _ in range(2)]
        sessions = [f.result() for f in futures]

    # Assert: Should only create one session
    assert len(set(s.id for s in sessions)) == 1  # FAILS - creates 2

# Step 2: Trace to root cause
# Symptom: Two sessions created
#   ← create_session() called twice
#   ← no mutex/lock in session creation
#   ← ROOT CAUSE: Missing concurrency control in SessionManager.create()

# Step 3: Fix at source
class SessionManager:
    _lock = threading.Lock()

    def create(self, user):
        with self._lock:  # FIX: Add concurrency control
            existing = self.get_by_user(user)
            if existing:
                return existing
            return self._create_new_session(user)

# Step 4: Verify test passes (Green)
# Step 5: Add defense-in-depth (unique constraint on DB)
# Step 6: Run full test suite

Critical Rules

1. Test the Bug First: Never fix without reproduction test
2. Trace Before Fix: Don't guess - follow call chain to origin
3. Fix at Source: Address root cause, not where error appears
4. Verify Thoroughly: Run full suite, not just new test

---

Workflow 3: Multi-Agent Feature Development

Combines: dispatching-parallel-agents + test-driven-development + writing-plans

When to Use

• Large feature spanning multiple domains
• Independent components with clear interfaces
• Team velocity optimization

Orchestration Pattern

feature: User Authentication with OAuth + MFA
domains:
  - auth-core: "Core authentication logic"
  - oauth-providers: "OAuth integration (Google, GitHub)"
  - mfa-implementation: "TOTP/SMS verification"
  - ui-components: "Login/signup forms"

orchestration:
  phase_1_design:
    action: "Write contracts and interfaces"
    agents: 1 (architect)
    output: "Interface definitions, API contracts"

  phase_2_parallel_tdd:
    action: "TDD implementation per domain"
    agents: 4 (parallel)
    each_agent:
      - "Write failing tests for domain"
      - "Implement to pass tests"
      - "Refactor with tests green"
    output: "Tested implementations"

  phase_3_integration:
    action: "Integration testing"
    agents: 1 (coordinator)
    tasks:
      - "Wire components together"
      - "Integration tests across boundaries"
      - "E2E workflow tests"
    output: "Working integrated feature"

Agent Task Templates

Auth Core Agent:

Implement authentication core using TDD:

Domain: auth-core
Interface: AuthService { authenticate(credentials), validate(token), refresh(token) }

1. Write tests for authenticate() - happy path, invalid creds, locked account
2. Implement authenticate() to pass tests
3. Write tests for validate() - valid token, expired, revoked
4. Implement validate() to pass tests
5. Write tests for refresh() - valid refresh, expired, used
6. Implement refresh() to pass tests

Do NOT implement OAuth or MFA - those are separate domains.
Return: Test file + implementation + coverage report

---

Workflow 4: Emergency Debug Escalation

Combines: root-cause-tracing + systematic-debugging + verification-before-completion

Escalation Levels

LEVEL 1: Single Failure
├── Apply root-cause-tracing directly
├── Fix at source
└── Verify with existing tests

LEVEL 2: Multiple Related Failures
├── Apply systematic-debugging Phase 1 (investigation)
├── Use root-cause-tracing per failure
├── Look for common root cause
├── Fix shared source if found
└── Verify all failures resolved

LEVEL 3: System-Wide Issues
├── Dispatch parallel agents per subsystem
├── Each agent: systematic-debugging + root-cause-tracing
├── Coordinator: Pattern detection across findings
├── Fix: Address systemic issues
└── Verify: Full regression suite

LEVEL 4: Production Emergency
├── STABILIZE: Immediate mitigation (rollback if needed)
├── ISOLATE: Identify affected components
├── TRACE: Root-cause-tracing on isolated problem
├── FIX: Minimal targeted fix at source
├── VERIFY: Extensive testing before redeploy
└── POSTMORTEM: Document and prevent recurrence

---

Workflow 5: Continuous Quality Pipeline

Combines: test-driven-development + verification-before-completion + condition-based-waiting

Quality Gates

pre_commit:
  - lint: "Code style and formatting"
  - type_check: "Static type analysis"
  - unit_tests: "Fast unit tests (<30s)"

pre_merge:
  - integration_tests: "Cross-component tests"
  - coverage_check: "Minimum 80% coverage"
  - security_scan: "Vulnerability detection"

post_merge:
  - e2e_tests: "Full user journey tests"
  - performance_tests: "Latency and throughput"
  - smoke_tests: "Production health checks"

deployment_verification:
  skill: verification-before-completion
  checks:
    - "All tests passing"
    - "No regressions"
    - "Performance within SLA"
    - "Rollback plan ready"

---

Skill Combination Matrix

Problem Type	Primary Skill	Supporting Skills	Workflow
Single bug	root-cause-tracing	systematic-debugging	Direct trace
Multiple independent bugs	dispatching-parallel-agents	root-cause-tracing	Parallel trace
New feature	test-driven-development	writing-plans	TDD cycle
Large feature	dispatching-parallel-agents	TDD, writing-plans	Multi-agent TDD
Regression	test-driven-development	root-cause-tracing	Reproduce-trace-fix
Production issue	verification-before-completion	all above	Emergency escalation

---

Quick Reference Commands

# Search for debugging workflows
mcp-skillset search "debugging root cause" --search-mode semantic_focused

# Get skill details
mcp-skillset info "obra/superpowers/skills/dispatching-parallel-agents"

# Enrich prompt with relevant skills
mcp-skillset enrich "Fix race condition in session manager" --max-skills 3

# Build custom skill
mcp-skillset build-skill --name "Custom Workflow" --domain "development" --template base

---

Integration with mcp-skillset CLI

Discovery Phase

# Recommend skills for current project
mcp-skillset recommend --search-mode graph_focused

# Search by problem pattern
mcp-skillset search "testing TDD verification" --limit 10

# Get detailed skill info
mcp-skillset show "bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/universal/testing/test-driven-development"

Execution Phase

# Enrich prompt with skill context
mcp-skillset enrich "Implement feature X with TDD" --detailed --max-skills 5

# Generate skill demos
mcp-skillset demo "test-driven-development"

---

Key Principles Across All Workflows

1. Never Fix Symptoms: Always trace to root cause
2. Test First: Write failing test before fixing
3. Parallelize Independence: Only dispatch parallel agents for independent domains
4. Defense-in-Depth: Add validation at each layer after fixing source
5. Verify Completion: Run full test suite before marking done
6. Document Traces: Keep record of investigation chain for future reference