Request Analyzer
Classifies incoming requests to enable intelligent routing and identify clarification needs before delegating to specialist agents.
When to Use
- •When receiving a new user request that needs classification
- •When determining which specialist agent should handle a request
- •When identifying if requirements are too vague to proceed
- •When detecting buzzwords that need to be challenged
Analysis Framework
Step 1: Detect Intent
Classify the primary intent:
| Intent | Indicators | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic | "roadmap", "strategy", "plan", "prioritize", "decide" | May need validation |
| Implementation | "build", "create", "implement", "design", "architect" | Design work |
| Debugging | "fix", "broken", "error", "slow", "not working" | Debug/investigate |
| Documentation | "document", "explain", "describe", "write docs" | Documentation |
Step 2: Classify Request Type
| Type | Key Phrases | Primary Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Design | "How should I build...", "What architecture...", "Design a system..." | cto-architect |
| Validate | "Is this plan solid?", "Thoughts on...", "Review my roadmap..." | strategic-cto-mentor |
| Debug | "Why is X slow?", "Fix this error...", "Troubleshoot..." | debug-helper |
| Document | "Write documentation for...", "Explain how..." | docs-writer |
| Review | "Review this code...", "Check for issues..." | code-reviewer |
Step 3: Assess Complexity
| Complexity | Characteristics | Execution Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Clear scope, one domain, obvious routing | Direct to one agent |
| Sequential | Multiple phases, depends on previous output | Agent chain |
| Parallel | Independent domains, can run simultaneously | Multiple agents in parallel |
Step 4: Identify Vague Terms
Scan for buzzwords that require clarification. See buzzword-dictionary.md for the complete list.
Common red flags:
- •"AI-powered" - What specific AI capability?
- •"scale" - What numbers? From what to what?
- •"fast" / "soon" - What timeline exactly?
- •"simple" - Simple for whom? What constraints?
- •"modern" - What specific technologies?
Step 5: Detect Missing Context
Check for required context based on request type:
For Design Requests:
- • Expected user/traffic scale
- • Budget constraints
- • Timeline requirements
- • Team size and expertise
- • Existing infrastructure
For Validation Requests:
- • Current state or existing plan
- • Business goals and constraints
- • Timeline and resources
- • Success criteria
Output Format
Provide analysis in this structure:
## Request Analysis **Intent**: [strategic | implementation | debugging | documentation] **Type**: [design | validate | debug | document | review] **Complexity**: [single | sequential | parallel] ### Vague Terms Detected - "[term]" - needs clarification: [what to ask] ### Missing Context - [missing information item] ### Suggested Routing **Primary Agent**: [agent name] **Rationale**: [why this agent] ### Clarification Needed [yes/no] - [brief explanation] ### Recommended Next Step [what to do next - clarify or delegate]
Examples
Example 1: Vague Request
User: "I want to add AI capabilities to my app"
Analysis:
- •Intent: Implementation
- •Type: Design
- •Complexity: Unknown (needs clarification)
- •Vague Terms: "AI capabilities" - What specific problem are we solving?
- •Missing Context: Scale, budget, timeline, team, existing stack
- •Clarification Needed: Yes
- •Next Step: Use clarification-protocol before routing
Example 2: Clear Design Request
User: "Design a real-time notification system for 100K users, using our existing PostgreSQL database and Node.js backend"
Analysis:
- •Intent: Implementation
- •Type: Design
- •Complexity: Single
- •Vague Terms: None
- •Missing Context: Timeline, budget (nice to have but not blocking)
- •Suggested Routing: cto-architect
- •Clarification Needed: No (can proceed with optional clarification)
Example 3: Validation Request
User: "Here's my Q2 roadmap - migrate to microservices, add real-time features, and launch mobile app. Thoughts?"
Analysis:
- •Intent: Strategic
- •Type: Validate
- •Complexity: Single
- •Vague Terms: None
- •Missing Context: Team size, current architecture state
- •Suggested Routing: strategic-cto-mentor
- •Clarification Needed: Mild (some context helpful but not blocking)
References
- •Classification Criteria - Detailed routing logic
- •Buzzword Dictionary - Common vague terms to challenge