Parallel Exploration Skill

Guide the process of exploring multiple implementation approaches simultaneously using git worktrees.

The Job

• Identify when parallel exploration would be valuable

• Define distinct approaches to explore

• Create isolated worktrees for each approach

• Execute exploration in parallel

• Evaluate and compare results

• Merge the best solution

When to Use Parallel Exploration

Good Candidates

• Architecture decisions - Different patterns (e.g., microservices vs monolith)

• Library selection - Comparing similar libraries hands-on

• Algorithm choices - Different approaches to the same problem

• API design - Different interface designs

• Performance optimization - Multiple optimization strategies

Not Worth Parallelizing

• Simple, clear-cut decisions

• Tasks with obvious single approach

• Very small changes

• Changes that don't warrant the overhead

Exploration Process

Step 1: Identify the Decision Point

When you encounter a significant decision:

Decision Point Identified

Question: [What needs to be decided] Context: [Why this matters] Approaches to Explore:

1. [Approach A] - [Brief description]
2. [Approach B] - [Brief description]
3. [Approach C] - [Brief description]

Exploration Value: [Why parallel exploration helps here]

Step 2: Start Exploration

Use the parallel explorer script:

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh explore "task description" --approaches "approach1,approach2,approach3"

Or let AI suggest approaches:

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh explore "task description"

AI will suggest approaches automatically

Step 3: Work in Each Worktree

In each worktree, the AI should:

• Implement fully - Not just a stub, but working code

• Write tests - Validate the approach works

• Document findings - Create EXPLORATION_RESULT.md

Step 4: Create Exploration Result

Each worktree must have EXPLORATION_RESULT.md :

Exploration Result: [Approach Name]

Summary

[What was implemented]

Implementation Details

• [Key implementation decisions]
• [Code structure choices]
• [Dependencies used]

Pros Discovered

• [Pro 1]
• [Pro 2]
• ...

Cons Discovered

• [Con 1]
• [Con 2]
• ...

Code Quality Assessment

• Maintainability: [1-10]
• Readability: [1-10]
• Testability: [1-10]
• Performance: [1-10]

Unexpected Findings

[Anything surprising learned during implementation]

Recommendation Score

[1-10] - [Brief justification]

Would Need If Chosen

[What additional work would be needed to production-ready this approach]

Step 5: Evaluate Results

After all explorations complete:

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh evaluate explore-task-12345

This triggers multiple evaluation agents who:

• Review all EXPLORATION_RESULT.md files

• Compare approaches objectively

• Discuss trade-offs

• Make final recommendation

Step 6: Merge Best Approach

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh merge explore-task-12345 chosen-approach

Step 7: Cleanup

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh cleanup explore-task-12345

Parallel Exploration Mindset

Unlimited Resources

You have unlimited computational resources. Don't hold back:

• Explore as many approaches as seem valuable

• Run multiple variations of the same approach

• Don't worry about "wasting" resources on exploration

Genuine Exploration

Each approach should be explored genuinely:

• Don't sabotage approaches you don't prefer

• Give each approach fair effort

• Document honestly, including when an approach works better than expected

Learn from All Approaches

Even "losing" approaches provide value:

• Document why they didn't work

• Note any good ideas to borrow

• Record lessons for future decisions

Commands Reference

Start exploration

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh explore "description" --approaches "a,b,c"

Check status

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh status ./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh status explore-task-12345

Evaluate completed explorations

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh evaluate explore-task-12345

List all worktrees

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh list

Merge chosen approach

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh merge explore-task-12345 chosen-approach

Cleanup

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh cleanup explore-task-12345 ./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh cleanup --all

Example: Exploring Authentication Strategies

Trigger

You're implementing user authentication and there are multiple valid approaches.

Start Exploration

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh explore "user authentication for web app"
--approaches "jwt-stateless,session-based,magic-link"

In JWT Worktree

Implement full JWT authentication:

• Token generation

• Token validation

• Refresh token flow

• Tests

Create EXPLORATION_RESULT.md documenting:

• Pros: Stateless, scalable, mobile-friendly

• Cons: Token invalidation complexity, larger requests

• Score: 7/10

In Session Worktree

Implement session-based auth:

• Session creation

• Session storage (Redis/DB)

• Session middleware

• Tests

Create EXPLORATION_RESULT.md documenting:

• Pros: Simple to invalidate, smaller requests

• Cons: Requires session store, stateful

• Score: 8/10

In Magic Link Worktree

Implement passwordless magic link:

• Email sending

• Link generation

• Link validation

• Tests

Create EXPLORATION_RESULT.md documenting:

• Pros: No password to manage, good UX

• Cons: Email dependency, potential delays

• Score: 6/10

Evaluate

Multiple evaluation agents review all three approaches and produce:

• Comparison table

• Final recommendation (session-based for simplicity)

• Suggestion to borrow JWT's token rotation idea

Merge

./scripts/aha-loop/parallel-explorer.sh merge explore-auth-12345 session-based

Nested Exploration

During exploration, you may discover new decision points. You can:

• Defer - Note it for later, continue with current exploration

• Nest - Start a sub-exploration within the worktree

For nested exploration, create a sub-directory:

.worktrees/ explore-auth-12345/ jwt/ .worktrees/ # Nested exploration explore-refresh-67890/ rotating-tokens/ sliding-window/

Integration with Observability

Log exploration decisions to logs/ai-thoughts.md :

2026-01-29 14:00:00 | Task: PRD-003 | Phase: Exploration

Decision Point

Authentication strategy needs to be determined.

Approaches Being Explored

1. JWT (stateless)
2. Session-based (stateful)
3. Magic link (passwordless)

Exploration Status

Started parallel exploration: explore-auth-12345

Expected Outcome

Will evaluate all three and merge best approach.

Checklist

Before starting exploration:

• Decision point clearly identified

• Multiple valid approaches exist

• Approaches are meaningfully different

• Exploration effort is justified

During exploration:

• Each approach implemented genuinely

• Tests written for each

• EXPLORATION_RESULT.md created

After exploration:

• All approaches evaluated fairly

• Final recommendation documented

• Best approach merged

• Worktrees cleaned up