sc-explain

Educational explanations with adaptive depth and format.

Quick Start

# Basic code explanation
/sc:explain authentication.js --level basic

# Framework concept
/sc:explain react-hooks --level intermediate --context react

# System architecture
/sc:explain microservices-system --level advanced --format interactive

Behavioral Flow

1. Analyze - Examine target code or concept
2. Assess - Determine audience level and depth
3. Structure - Plan explanation with progressive complexity
4. Generate - Create clear explanations with examples
5. Validate - Verify accuracy and educational effectiveness

Flags

| Flag | Type | Default | Description | |------|------|---------|-------------| | --level | string | intermediate | basic, intermediate, advanced | | --format | string | text | text, examples, interactive | | --context | string | - | Domain context (react, security, etc.) |

Personas Activated

• communicator - Learning-optimized explanations
• architect - System design context
• guardian - Security practice explanations

MCP Integration

PAL MCP (Multi-Perspective Explanations)

| Tool | When to Use | Purpose | |------|-------------|---------| | mcp__pal__consensus | Complex topics | Cross-perspective validation | | mcp__pal__chat | Clarification | Get alternative explanations | | mcp__pal__thinkdeep | Deep concepts | Multi-stage exploration | | mcp__pal__apilookup | Current APIs | Get up-to-date documentation | | mcp__pal__challenge | Verify accuracy | Challenge explanation correctness |

PAL Usage Patterns

# Multi-perspective explanation for complex topic
mcp__pal__consensus(
    models=[
        {"model": "gpt-5.2", "stance": "neutral"},
        {"model": "gemini-3-pro", "stance": "neutral"}
    ],
    step="Explain: How does React's reconciliation algorithm work?"
)

# Get alternative explanation approach
mcp__pal__chat(
    prompt="Explain React hooks to someone familiar with Vue composition API",
    model="gpt-5.2",
    thinking_mode="medium"
)

# Deep dive into complex concept
mcp__pal__thinkdeep(
    step="Understanding Kubernetes pod scheduling algorithm",
    hypothesis="Priority-based scheduling with resource constraints",
    confidence="medium",
    focus_areas=["scheduling", "resource_management", "affinity"]
)

# Verify explanation accuracy
mcp__pal__challenge(
    prompt="Is my explanation of OAuth2 refresh tokens technically accurate?"
)

# Get current API/framework documentation
mcp__pal__apilookup(
    prompt="Get current React 19 documentation for use hook"
)

Rube MCP (Research & Sharing)

| Tool | When to Use | Purpose | |------|-------------|---------| | mcp__rube__RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS | Web research | Find tutorials, docs, examples | | mcp__rube__RUBE_MULTI_EXECUTE_TOOL | Share explanations | Post to Notion, Slack, etc. |

Rube Usage Patterns

# Research current best practices
mcp__rube__RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS(queries=[
    {"use_case": "web search", "known_fields": "query:React 19 new features explained"}
])

# Share explanation with team
mcp__rube__RUBE_MULTI_EXECUTE_TOOL(tools=[
    {"tool_slug": "NOTION_CREATE_PAGE", "arguments": {
        "title": "Understanding: React Concurrent Mode",
        "content": "## Overview\n..."
    }},
    {"tool_slug": "SLACK_SEND_MESSAGE", "arguments": {
        "channel": "#learning",
        "text": "New explainer: React Concurrent Mode fundamentals"
    }}
])

Flags (Extended)

| Flag | Type | Default | Description | |------|------|---------|-------------| | --pal-consensus | bool | false | Use PAL for multi-perspective validation | | --pal-deep | bool | false | Use PAL thinkdeep for complex topics | | --research | bool | false | Use Rube for web research | | --share | string | - | Share via Rube (notion, slack, confluence) |

Evidence Requirements

This skill does NOT require hard evidence. Focus on:

• Clear, accurate explanations
• Appropriate examples
• Progressive complexity

Explanation Levels

Basic (--level basic)

• Foundational concepts
• Simple examples
• Beginner-friendly language

Intermediate (--level intermediate)

• Implementation details
• Common patterns
• Best practices

Advanced (--level advanced)

• Deep technical details
• Edge cases and trade-offs
• Performance implications

Format Options

Text (--format text)

• Written explanations
• Step-by-step breakdowns
• Conceptual overviews

Examples (--format examples)

• Code samples
• Before/after comparisons
• Real-world applications

Interactive (--format interactive)

• Progressive disclosure
• Follow-up suggestions
• Exploration paths

Examples

Code Explanation

/sc:explain src/auth/jwt.js --level basic
# What the code does, how it works, why it's structured this way

Framework Concept

/sc:explain useEffect --level intermediate --context react
# Hook lifecycle, dependency arrays, cleanup patterns

Architecture Explanation

/sc:explain event-driven-architecture --level advanced
# Patterns, trade-offs, implementation strategies

Security Concept

/sc:explain oauth2-flow --level basic --context security
# Authorization flow, tokens, security considerations

Tool Coordination

• Read/Grep/Glob - Code analysis
• TodoWrite - Multi-part explanation tracking
• Task - Complex explanation delegation