About extract-pattern
A skill for turning reliable workflows into reusable, documented patterns. It guides agents through generalization, reuse testing, and recording when a pattern should or should not be applied.
Key features
- 01Identify effective workflow components
- 02Create reusable pattern templates
- 03Document use and non-use conditions
- 04Test patterns in analogous tasks
Use cases
- 01Capture a solution that took substantial iteration
- 02Reuse an effective prompt or tool pipeline
- 03Document workflow error handling for other projects
Install
Copy the command and run it in a terminal.
npx skills add https:/After installing, type/extract-patternin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.
Details
From the project READMEMANDATORY PREPARATION
Invoke /agent-workflow — it contains workflow principles, anti-patterns, and the Context Gathering Protocol. Follow the protocol before proceeding — if no workflow context exists yet, you MUST run /teach-maestro first.
Turn working solutions into reusable patterns. Every successful workflow contains patterns that are applicable beyond their original context.
Step 1: Identify What Worked
Review the workflow and identify components that:
- Solved a common problem in a particularly effective way
- Would be useful in other workflows or projects
- Required significant iteration to get right
- Represent a non-obvious solution
Step 2: Generalize the Pattern
Transform the specific solution into a reusable template:
From specific → To general pattern:
## Pattern: [Name]
**Problem**: What recurring problem does this solve?
**When to use**: When is this pattern appropriate?
**When NOT to use**: When is this pattern inappropriate?
**Template**: Copy-pastable starting point with customization markers.
**Variants**: Common variations for different contexts.
**Pitfalls**: What went wrong during development and how it was fixed.
**Examples**: 1-2 concrete examples.
Step 3: Test Reusability
- Apply the template to a different but analogous problem
- Confirm the customization points are sufficient
- Verify the documentation is clear enough for someone unfamiliar with the original
| Workflow Element | Extract As |
|---|---|
| Effective prompt structure | Prompt template with customization points |
| Tool chain that works well | Pipeline pattern with data flow diagram |
| Error handling strategy | Resilience pattern with implementation guide |
| Evaluation approach | Quality assurance pattern with scoring rubric |
| Context management technique | Context pattern with budget guidance |
| Agent coordination protocol | Orchestration pattern with handoff templates |
Recommended Next Step
After extracting patterns, run /calibrate to ensure the new patterns are consistent with existing project conventions.
NEVER:
- Extract patterns from workflows that don't work reliably
- Over-generalize (if it only applies to one case, document it as a solution, not a pattern)
- Skip the "when NOT to use" section
- Extract without testing reusability