auto-trigger
Workflow hook metadata for agent-playbook skills. This skill documents trigger intent between skills - DO NOT use directly, and do not assume hooks execute unless the host runtime explicitly supports them.
Works with
---
name: auto-trigger
description: Workflow hook metadata for agent-playbook skills. This skill documents trigger intent between skills - DO NOT use directly, and do not assume hooks execute unless the host runtime explicitly supports them.
license: MIT
---
# Auto-Trigger Hooks
This skill defines trigger intent between skills. When a skill completes its
workflow, a host runtime or agent may read this metadata, record a pending
follow-up, and execute the next skill only when that action is supported and
safe for the current session.
## Hook Definitions
### PRD Creation Chain
```yaml
prd_complete:
triggers:
- skill: self-improving-agent
mode: background
condition: PRD file exists and is complete
- skill: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "PRD created for {feature_name}"
prd_implemented:
triggers:
- skill: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "Implemented PRD: {feature_name}"
```
### Implementation Chain
```yaml
implementation_complete:
triggers:
- skill: code-reviewer
mode: ask_first
message: "Implementation complete. Run code review?"
- skill: create-pr
mode: ask_first
condition: user_requested_submission
```
### Session Management
```yaml
session_start:
auto_triggers:
- skill: session-logger
action: create_session_file
session_end:
auto_triggers:
- skill: session-logger
action: update_session_file
```
## Hook Format in Skills
To add auto-trigger capability to a skill, add to its front matter:
```yaml
---
name: my-skill
description: Skill description
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit
hooks:
before_start:
- trigger: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "Start {skill_name}"
after_complete:
- trigger: self-improving-agent
mode: background
- trigger: session-logger
mode: auto
on_error:
- trigger: self-improving-agent
mode: background
---
```
## Implementation Guide
When a skill completes its workflow:
1. **Check `hooks`** in its own front matter (`before_start`, `after_complete`, `on_error`, `on_progress`)
2. **For each hook:**
- If `mode: auto`, record or run a low-risk follow-up only when the host runtime supports it
- If `mode: background`, record a non-blocking follow-up; do not mutate durable files silently
- If `mode: ask_first`, ask user before triggering
- If `condition:` exists, check it first
3. **Pass context** to the triggered skill
## Example Integration
### prd-planner should add
```yaml
---
name: prd-planner
description: Creates PRDs using persistent file-based planning...
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob, AskUserQuestion, WebSearch
hooks:
after_complete:
- trigger: self-improving-agent
mode: background
context: "PRD created at {prd_file}"
- trigger: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "PRD creation complete"
---
```
### self-improving-agent uses explicit validation and application gates
```yaml
---
name: self-improving-agent
description: Captures redacted candidates, validates them with evidence, and records only explicitly applied rules...
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob
---
```
Its Claude failure hook is installed by the CLI adapter, not declared as
portable skill metadata. The `hooks` examples in this skill are declarative
intent only unless a host adapter explicitly implements them. Other hosts
should use documented adapters or manual capture.
### create-pr should add
```yaml
---
name: create-pr
description: Creates pull requests with bilingual documentation updates...
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, AskUserQuestion
hooks:
after_complete:
- trigger: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "PR created: {pr_title}"
---
```
## Chain Visualization
```
┌──────────────┐
│ prd-planner │
└──────┬───────┘
│ after_complete
├──→ self-improving-agent (background)
│ └──→ create-pr (ask_first)
│ └──→ session-logger (auto)
└──→ session-logger (auto)
```
## Error Correction Chain
```yaml
on_error:
triggers:
- skill: self-improving-agent
mode: background
context: "Error occurred in {skill_name}"
- skill: session-logger
mode: auto
context: "Error captured for {skill_name}"
```
## Important Rules
1. **Don't create infinite loops** - Ensure chains terminate
2. **Ask before major actions** - Use `mode: ask_first` for PRs, deployments, and durable file changes
3. **Background tasks** - Use `mode: background` for non-blocking analysis or proposal artifacts
4. **Pass context** - Always include relevant context to triggered skillsMore General & Other skills
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