Skill: Create Theory Document

Create THY (Theory) documents that capture integrated understanding—the "why" that enables coherent system modification.

When to Use

Activate this skill when:

• User wants to capture understanding about why something works the way it does
• Documenting the mental model that enables modification
• Recording integrated understanding (not just individual decisions)
• Creating a scaffold for future theory rebuilding

Trigger phrases: "capture theory", "document understanding", "write theory", "explain why this works", "record the mental model", "capture the why"

Implementation

Read and follow the /create-theory command at ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/commands/create-theory.md for:

• Document type explanation and characteristics
• Step-by-step workflow
• Full document template with frontmatter and body
• Logging integration

The command contains the authoritative implementation details.

Elicitation Guidance

When helping users complete theory document sections, use these prompts:

For Problem Mapping: "What problem were you trying to solve? What constraints shaped your thinking?"

For Design Rationale: "Why this structure and not alternatives? What's the integrated picture?"

For Modification Patterns: "If someone needed to extend this, what should they understand first?"

For Invalidation Conditions: "What assumptions would have to change for this approach to be wrong?"

Relationship to Command

| Invocation | Trigger | |------------|---------| | /create-theory | User explicitly requests | | This skill | Claude recognises context (trigger phrases above) |

Both use the same implementation. The skill adds autonomous activation based on conversation context.