git-fg/thecattoolkit
Overview
This skill applies proven system architecture and design frameworks to shape software systems, evaluate existing architectures, and document decisions. It provides discovery protocols, end-to-end system design workflows, architecture decision record (ADR) practices, and quality evaluation criteria. Use it proactively when making architectural choices or preparing design deliverables.
How this skill works
Start every engagement with a mandatory discovery workflow to map context, requirements, constraints, stakeholders, and the runtime environment. Based on discovery outcomes the skill selects a workflow: a greenfield system-design path for new systems or a brownfield analysis path for existing systems. It produces ADRs for significant decisions, enforces an append-only ADR practice with sequential numbering, and runs a quality checklist against key quality gates.
When to use it
- Before designing a new system or major feature (greenfield)
- When analyzing or refactoring an existing system (brownfield)
- When choosing or changing core technologies or architecture patterns
- When documenting breaking API or infrastructure changes
- Before committing to significant refactors or infra additions
Best practices
- Always run the full discovery protocol first to ensure clear context and requirements
- Select architecture patterns based on documented quality attributes and constraints
- Create an ADR for any decision that affects system behavior, interfaces, or operational model
- Keep ADRs append-only, sequentially numbered, and stored with project documentation
- Evaluate designs against the quality checklist (performance, reliability, security, operability) early and iteratively
Example use cases
- Designing a new microservices platform including data partitioning and service boundaries
- Evaluating an inherited monolith for strangler-pattern refactor and migration planning
- Choosing a datastore and caching strategy with documented trade-offs and ADRs
- Documenting a switch of authentication strategy or introduction of a message queue
- Running a quality gate review before major release to certify architectural fitness
FAQ
Run the discovery protocol to capture context, stakeholders, requirements, and constraints; this is mandatory before design or analysis.
When should I create an ADR?
Create an ADR for technology stack changes, major patterns, breaking API changes, infrastructure additions, or significant refactors.
How are ADRs managed?
ADRs are append-only, sequentially numbered, and stored with the project documentation so every decision is traceable and immutable.
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