[](LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/releases)
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/maestro-workflow-mcp)
[](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sharpdeveye.maestro-workflow)
[](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)
[](#the-skill-agent-workflow)
[](#25-commands)
[](#supported-tools)
1 core skill · 25 commands · 7 domain references · memory layer · audit trail
[Quick Start](#quick-start) · [Commands](#25-commands) · [What's New in v2](#whats-new-in-v2) · [Supported Tools](#supported-tools) · [Contributing](#contributing)
---
## What is Maestro?
AI agents are only as good as the workflows they operate in. Without guidance, you get the same predictable mistakes: unstructured prompts, context window overflows, tool sprawl, no error handling, and multi-agent systems for single-agent problems.
Maestro fights that pattern with:
- A comprehensive **agent-workflow** skill with 7 domain-specific reference files ([view source](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/tree/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow))
- **25 commands** to diagnose, evaluate, refine, streamline, fortify, capture, reflect, and more
- **Persistent memory** — decisions, audit trail, and session history survive across sessions
- Curated **anti-patterns** that explicitly tell the AI what NOT to do
- A **context gathering protocol** (`.maestro.md` or `.maestro/context.md`) that ensures every command has project-specific awareness
- **Every command recommends a next step** — no dead ends
---
## Quick Start
```bash
npx skills add sharpdeveye/maestro
```
Then use any command in your AI coding agent:
```text
/diagnose # Find workflow issues
/streamline # Remove unnecessary complexity
/fortify # Add error handling
/refine # Final quality pass
```
Most commands accept an optional argument to focus on a specific area:
```text
/diagnose prompts
/fortify payment-workflow
/specialize legal
```
### Combine Commands
```text
/diagnose /calibrate /refine # Full workflow: audit → standardize → polish
/evaluate /fortify /accelerate # Review → harden → optimize
```
---
## The Skill: agent-workflow
A comprehensive workflow design skill with 7 domain references ([view skill](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/SKILL.md)):
| Reference | Domain |
|-----------|--------|
| [prompt-engineering](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/prompt-engineering.md) | Prompt structure, few-shot, CoT, output schemas |
| [context-management](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/context-management.md) | Window optimization, memory, state management |
| [tool-orchestration](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/tool-orchestration.md) | Tool design, chaining, error handling, sandboxing |
| [agent-architecture](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/agent-architecture.md) | Topologies, handoffs, multi-agent patterns |
| [feedback-loops](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/feedback-loops.md) | Evaluation, self-correction, regression detection |
| [knowledge-systems](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/knowledge-systems.md) | RAG, chunking, embeddings, source attribution |
| [guardrails-safety](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/agent-workflow/reference/guardrails-safety.md) | Validation, prompt injection, cost ceilings |
---
## 25 Commands
### Analysis — read-only, generate reports
| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| [`/diagnose`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/diagnose/SKILL.md) | Systematic workflow quality audit with scored dimensions |
| [`/evaluate`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/evaluate/SKILL.md) | Holistic review of workflow interaction quality |
| [`/reflect`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/reflect/SKILL.md) | 🆕 Analyze command history — which skills work, which fail |
### Fix & Improve — make targeted changes
| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| [`/refine`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/refine/SKILL.md) | Final quality pass on prompts, tools, and configuration |
| [`/streamline`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/streamline/SKILL.md) | Remove unnecessary complexity, flatten over-engineering |
| [`/calibrate`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/calibrate/SKILL.md) | Align workflow components to project conventions |
| [`/fortify`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/fortify/SKILL.md) | Add error handling, retries, fallbacks, circuit breakers |
| [`/zero-defect`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/zero-defect/SKILL.md) | Activate maximum precision mode — zero mistakes allowed |
### Enhancement — add capabilities
| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| [`/amplify`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/amplify/SKILL.md) | Boost capabilities with better tools and context |
| [`/compose`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/compose/SKILL.md) | Design multi-agent orchestration and delegation |
| [`/enrich`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/enrich/SKILL.md) | Add knowledge sources, RAG, and grounding |
| [`/accelerate`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/accelerate/SKILL.md) | Optimize for speed, reduce latency and cost |
| [`/chain`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/chain/SKILL.md) | Build effective tool chains and pipelines |
| [`/guard`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/guard/SKILL.md) | Add safety constraints and security boundaries |
| [`/iterate`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/iterate/SKILL.md) | Set up feedback loops and evaluation cycles |
| [`/temper`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/temper/SKILL.md) | Reduce over-engineering, simplify overbuilt workflows |
| [`/turbocharge`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/turbocharge/SKILL.md) | Push past conventional limits — advanced techniques |
### Utility
| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| [`/extract-pattern`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/extract-pattern/SKILL.md) | Extract reusable patterns from working workflows |
| [`/adapt-workflow`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/adapt-workflow/SKILL.md) | Adapt workflows for different providers/contexts |
| [`/onboard-agent`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/onboard-agent/SKILL.md) | Set up new agent configurations from scratch |
| [`/specialize`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/specialize/SKILL.md) | Make workflows domain-specific (legal, medical, etc.) |
| [`/teach-maestro`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/teach-maestro/SKILL.md) | One-time context gathering, saves to `.maestro.md` |
| [`/capture`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/capture/SKILL.md) | 🆕 Save a session summary — persist what happened |
| [`/recap`](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/blob/HEAD/source/skills/recap/SKILL.md) | 🆕 Quick summary of the last session |
---
## What's New in v2
### Memory Layer
Maestro now remembers what happened across sessions:
```text
.maestro/
├── context.md ← project context (replaces .maestro.md)
├── decisions.jsonl ← append-only decision log
├── audit.jsonl ← every command invocation with cost + duration
└── sessions/
└── 2026-04-26_fix_auth.md ← session summaries
```
- **Backward compatible** — `.maestro.md` users change nothing
- **Opt-in** — `.maestro/` is created only when you run `/capture` or use the extension
- **Git-friendly** — session data is gitignored by default, context file is versioned
### Audit Trail
Every command invocation is logged with duration, token usage, and estimated cost:
```json
{"command":"fortify","duration_ms":8200,"cost_estimate_usd":0.019,"exit_status":"completed"}
```
### Cost Estimation
Approximate cost tracking for Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, and more. Accuracy: ±20% — useful for trends, not invoicing.
### `/reflect` — Effectiveness Scorecard
Analyze your command history to see which skills work, which fail, and where to improve:
```text
╔══════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ MAESTRO EFFECTIVENESS ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Commands Run 23 (7 unique) ║
║ Completion Rate 87% ║
║ Most Used /fortify (6×) ║
║ Total Cost ~$0.47 ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════╝
```
---
## Anti-Patterns ("Workflow Slop")
The skill includes explicit guidance on what to avoid:
- Don't dump entire codebases/databases into context
- Don't use multi-agent systems for single-agent problems
- Don't skip error handling (happy path only = production failure)
- Don't retry the same prompt hoping for different results
- Don't deploy without cost controls
- Don't use vague tool descriptions that confuse the model
- Don't ship without evaluation ("it seems to work" ≠ tested)
---
## Supported Tools
| Tool | Directory |
|------|-----------|
| [Cursor](https://cursor.com) | `.cursor/skills/` |
| [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code) | `.claude/skills/` |
| [Gemini CLI](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli) | `.gemini/skills/` |
| [Codex CLI](https://github.com/openai/codex) | `.codex/skills/` |
| [VS Code Copilot](https://code.visualstudio.com) / Antigravity | `.agents/skills/` |
| [Kiro](https://kiro.dev) | `.kiro/skills/` |
| [Trae](https://trae.ai) | `.trae/skills/` |
| [Trae China](https://trae.ai) | `.trae-cn/skills/` |
| [OpenCode](https://opencode.ai) | `.opencode/skills/` |
| [Pi](https://pi.dev) | `.pi/skills/` |
---
## MCP Server
Use Maestro as a live MCP server instead of static skill files. Any MCP-compatible client can connect — no file copying required.
### Local (stdio)
Add to your MCP client config (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, etc.):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"maestro": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "maestro-workflow-mcp"]
}
}
}
```
### Remote (HTTP)
Host Maestro as a public MCP endpoint:
```bash
npx maestro-workflow-mcp --http --port 3001
```
Clients connect to `http://your-server:3001/mcp`.
### What the MCP Server Exposes
| Type | Count | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| **Prompts** | 25 | One per command — select from the prompt picker |
| **Tools** | 10 | `list_commands`, `run_command`, `read_context`, `init`, `wave_start`, `wave_advance`, `wave_status`, `write_decision`, `read_decisions`, `read_audit` |
| **Resources** | 8 | Core skill + 7 domain references |
---
## Manual Installation
If `npx skills add` doesn't work for your setup, copy the appropriate provider directory to your project root:
```bash
# Example for Claude Code
cp -r .claude/skills/ your-project/.claude/skills/
# Example for Cursor
cp -r .cursor/skills/ your-project/.cursor/skills/
```
---
## Project Structure
```text
maestro/
├── source/skills/ # 25 source skill definitions
│ ├── agent-workflow/ # Core skill + 7 reference files
│ │ └── reference/ # Domain-specific guidance
│ ├── diagnose/ # Analysis commands
│ ├── evaluate/
│ ├── reflect/ # 🆕 Effectiveness analysis
│ ├── refine/ # Fix & improve commands
│ ├── streamline/
│ ├── calibrate/
│ ├── fortify/
│ ├── zero-defect/
│ ├── amplify/ # Enhancement commands
│ ├── compose/
│ ├── enrich/
│ ├── accelerate/
│ ├── chain/
│ ├── guard/
│ ├── iterate/
│ ├── temper/
│ ├── turbocharge/
│ ├── extract-pattern/ # Utility commands
│ ├── adapt-workflow/
│ ├── onboard-agent/
│ ├── specialize/
│ ├── teach-maestro/
│ ├── capture/ # 🆕 Session persistence
│ └── recap/ # 🆕 Session recovery
├── packages/core/ # Shared utilities
│ └── src/
│ ├── context-utils.ts # Section parser + matcher
│ ├── token-estimator.ts # Token estimation
│ ├── decisions.ts # 🆕 Decision log
│ ├── audit.ts # 🆕 Audit trail
│ └── cost-estimator.ts # 🆕 Cost estimation
├── maestro-extension/ # VS Code extension
├── mcp-server/ # MCP server package
│ ├── src/
│ │ ├── index.ts # Entry point (stdio + HTTP)
│ │ ├── http.ts # HTTP transport wrapper
│ │ ├── tools.ts # 10 MCP tools
│ │ ├── prompts.ts # 25 MCP prompts
│ │ └── resources.ts # 8 MCP resources
│ └── package.json
├── scripts/
│ ├── build.js # Multi-provider build pipeline
│ ├── bundle-skills.js # MCP skill bundler
│ └── validate.js # Skill validation checks
└── package.json
```
---
## Contributing
Contributions welcome! Please ensure:
- All content is original (no copying from other skill projects)
- SKILL.md files have valid YAML frontmatter with `description` starting with "Use when..."
- All code fences have a language specifier
- Run `npm run check` to validate before submitting
---
## License
MIT — see [LICENSE](https://github.com/sharpdeveye/maestro/tree/HEAD/LICENSE).