phx-help

Plugin Help — Interactive Command Advisor

Helps users find the right command, skill, or agent for their situation.

Usage

/skill:phx-help                          # Analyze context, suggest commands
/skill:phx-help how do I debug this?     # Route to /skill:phx-investigate
/skill:phx-help add a new feature        # Route to /skill:phx-plan -> /skill:phx-work

Arguments

• $ARGUMENTS — optional description of what the user wants to do
• Empty = analyze current context (git status, existing plans, file patterns)

Execution Flow

Step 1: Gather Context

If $ARGUMENTS is non-empty, use it as primary signal.

Always gather ambient context (run in parallel):

1. Check for existing plans: use Glob on .claude/plans/*/plan.md — active work in progress?
2. Check git status: uncommitted changes? which files?
3. Check for solution docs: use Glob on .claude/solutions/**/*.md — prior knowledge?

Step 2: Classify Intent

Read references/tool-catalog.md for the full routing table.

Map the user's situation to one of these categories:

| Category | Signals | Primary Commands |

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

| Starting out | No plans, new to plugin | /skill:phx-intro |

| Ideation | "explore", "brainstorm", "not sure", "how to approach", "vague idea" | /skill:phx-brainstorm |

| New feature | "add", "build", "implement", multi-file | /skill:phx-plan → /skill:phx-work |

| Quick change | Single file, <50 lines, "fix typo" | /skill:phx-quick |

| Bug | Error, stack trace, "broken", "failing" | /skill:phx-investigate |

| Review | "check", "review", PR ready | /skill:phx-review |

| Performance | "slow", "N+1", "memory" | /skill:phx-perf, /skill:ecto-n1-check, /skill:lv-assigns |

| Research | "how to", "best practice", "evaluate lib" | /skill:phx-research |

| Resume work | Existing plan with unchecked tasks | /skill:phx-work --continue |

| Post-fix | "that worked", solved a hard bug | /skill:phx-compound |

| Full cycle | Large feature, new domain area | /skill:phx-full |

| Project health | "audit", "tech debt", "overall quality" | /skill:phx-audit, /skill:phx-techdebt |

| Dep update audit | "audit deps", "supply chain", "post-mix deps.update", "review mix.lock PR" | /skill:phx-deps-audit |

| Manual dep vetting | "vet this package", "approve dep", "trust ledger", "after /skill:phx-deps-audit findings" | /skill:phx-deps-vet |

| Deployment | "deploy", "release", "production" | /skill:phx-verify then deploy skill |

| Permissions | "too many prompts", "allow", "permission fatigue" | /skill:phx-permissions |

| Returning after time off | "what did I miss", "back from vacation", "catch up", "what changed while I was out" | /catchup (companion plugin, separate install) |

Step 3: Respond or Clarify

If high confidence (clear match to one category):

Present the recommendation with:

• The command to run (with exact syntax)
• One-line explanation of what it does
• What artifacts it creates (if any)
• Suggested next step after it completes

If medium confidence (2-3 possible matches):

Use AskUserQuestion with the top options, each with a one-line explanation.

If low confidence (vague or no signal):

Ask ONE focused clarifying question. Examples:

• "Are you starting something new or continuing existing work?"
• "Is this a bug fix or a new feature?"
• "How many files do you expect to change?"

Then recommend based on the answer.

Step 4: Offer Follow-up

After recommending, always add:

• "Run /skill:phx-help anytime to get routing advice"
• If they seem new: "Try /skill:phx-intro for a full plugin walkthrough"

Iron Laws

1. ONE recommendation — don't dump the full catalog, pick the best match
2. MAX ONE clarifying question — don't interrogate, make your best guess
3. Show exact syntax — /skill:phx-plan Add user notifications not just "use the plan command"
4. Context over keywords — existing plans + git state matter more than word matching
5. NEVER block — if user already knows what they want, DO NOT redirect

Integration

• Complements intent-detection (auto-trigger) with explicit invocation
• References same routing logic but adds interactive clarification
• Can recommend /skill:phx-intro for onboarding