c3-context-design

What problem does it solve?

This Skill guides architects in defining the highest-level view of a system (Context), clarifying its boundaries, external actors, and how its major components (containers) interact. It establishes the foundational architectural understanding, preventing scope creep and ensuring alignment.

Core Features & Use Cases

• Loads Project Settings & Defaults: Automatically applies project-specific configuration for context-level documentation.
• Defines Container Inventory & Responsibilities: Clearly lists all deployable units and their high-level purposes within the system.
• Documents Container Interaction Protocols: Specifies how different containers communicate with each other (e.g., REST, message queues).
• Analyzes Change Impact: Helps determine if a proposed change truly belongs at the Context level or should be delegated, preventing unnecessary system-wide ripple effects.
• Socratic Discovery: Uses targeted questions to elicit crucial information about system boundaries, actors, and cross-cutting concerns.
• Use Case: A new system is being designed. This skill helps define its scope, identify all external integrations, and map out the primary deployable units and their communication channels, forming the foundational architecture document that all other layers will inherit from.

Quick Start

Use the c3-context-design skill to define the system boundary for the new payment gateway.