Dark Matter Analyzer

Purpose

Dark Matter Mode reveals what is unseen, unsaid, and unmeasured in repositories and codebases. It goes beyond code quality metrics to illuminate the invisible architectures shaping system behavior — identifying strategic drift, documentation inflation, execution gaps, and organizational health patterns that traditional tools miss.

"Every repo is a psyche made visible."

This skill helps diagnose why a repository feels off, not just what is wrong technically.

When to Use This Skill

• Repository feels misaligned but traditional metrics look fine
• Documentation is extensive but team still feels confused
• Stated goals don't match actual work being done
• Need to understand organizational patterns in codebase structure
• Project velocity is high but coherence feels low
• Planning significantly outpaces execution
• Multiple overlapping documents on same topics
• Need to assess "Repository Coherence Index" (RCI)
• Preparing for major refactor or reorganization
• When NOT to use: Simple bug fixes, feature additions, or standard code reviews

Core Methodology

Step 1: Sensing — Signal Ingest

Objective: Capture ambient signals and metadata from the repository

Actions:

1. Scan code signals: commit patterns, refactor frequency, lint suppressions, TODO/FIXME markers
2. Scan documentation signals: README drift, redundant .md files, doc count vs code ratio
3. Scan temporal signals: time lag between decision and execution, feature velocity
4. Scan environmental signals: dependency health, build status, test coverage trends

Key Decisions:

• Scope: Full repository or specific subsystem?
• Depth: Quick scan (3 levels) or deep analysis (all files)?
• Exclusions: What to skip (node_modules, dist, vendor)?

Common Pitfalls:

• ❌ Looking only at code metrics → ✅ Include documentation and temporal patterns
• ❌ Judging patterns as "errors" → ✅ View them as system expressions
• ❌ Analyzing in isolation → ✅ Compare stated intent with observed behavior

Tools to Use:

# Count documentation files
find . -name "*.md" -type f | wc -l

# Find technical debt markers
grep -r "TODO\|FIXME\|HACK" --include="*.ts" --include="*.js"

# Check commit patterns
git log --oneline --since="1 month ago" | head -20

# Find documentation inflation
find DOCS -name "*.md" -exec wc -l {} \; | awk '{sum+=$1} END {print sum}'

Step 2: Pattern Detection — Weak Signal Mapping

Objective: Identify subtle misalignments before they become major problems

Actions:

1. Map patterns to known categories (Strategic Drift, Documentation Inflation, Suppression, etc.)
2. Calculate pattern intensity (frequency, scope, recency)
3. Identify pattern clusters (multiple related signals)
4. Assess emotional subtext (what the pattern reveals about team state)

Pattern Categories:

Pattern Type	Example Signal	Reflective Interpretation
Strategic Drift	README ≠ commit activity	Vision disconnection or premature pivoting
Documentation Inflation	Many similar .md files	Over-planning; avoidance through writing
Suppression Pattern	Many eslint-disable or any	Time pressure or fatigue
Frozen Dependencies	No updates for months	Fear of breakage or resistance to change
Commit Whiplash	Rapid reversals	External pressure or internal restlessness
Task-Reality Desync	Tests pass but features incomplete	Validation of structure, not utility
Execution Deficit	Documentation >> Implementation	Hope-driven development

Validation:

• At least 3 distinct patterns identified
• Each pattern has concrete evidence
• Patterns tell a coherent story
• Emotional subtext identified

Step 3: Reflection — Meaning Extraction

Objective: Transform patterns into narrative insights with actionable interpretation

Actions:

1. Create technical ↔ human translation for each pattern
2. Assess reflective confidence (0.0-1.0) for each insight
3. Calculate uncertainty index for interpretive humility
4. Identify "The Unseen" (what exists but isn't visible)
5. Identify "The Unsaid" (what isn't explicitly stated)
6. Identify "The Unmeasured" (what has no metric)

Technical ↔ Human Translation Bridge:

Technical Symptom	Human Parallel
Ignored build errors	Denial of fragility
Rapid branching	Loss of trust in direction
Over-commenting	Fear of being misunderstood
Skipped validation	Avoidance of feedback
Over-planning	Anxiety about imperfection
Unfinished refactors	Fatigue, low follow-through

Key Principles:

• Never judge, only illuminate
• Patterns are expressions, not errors
• Confidence scores show interpretive humility
• Focus on why, not just what

Common Pitfalls:

• ❌ Presenting only metrics → ✅ Tell the story the patterns reveal
• ❌ Being prescriptive → ✅ Being reflective and interpretive
• ❌ Assuming omniscience → ✅ Include uncertainty scores

Step 4: Action Routing — Coherence Restoration

Objective: Provide graduated recommendations based on urgency and impact

Actions:

1. Route findings by intervention strength (OBSERVE, REVIEW, HOLD)
2. Apply Coherence Filter: "Does this make the system more truthful?"
3. Provide specific, actionable next steps
4. Include restoration protocol for critical issues

Intervention Modes:

Mode	Urgency	Action Type	Example
🟢 OBSERVE	Low	Gentle awareness	"Velocity high, coherence low. Monitor for drift."
🟡 REVIEW	Medium	Structured reflection	"Validate assumptions with peer. Check external feedback."
🔴 HOLD	High	Pause + confirm	"Reality desynced. Reconcile before next build."

Restoration Protocol (for HOLD items):

restoration:
  1. pause: Create reflective checkpoint
  2. align: Re-anchor to intent + artifact coherence
  3. integrate: Capture insight in feedback loop
  4. resume: Rebuild context from re-synced rhythm

Validation:

• Recommendations prioritized by urgency
• Each has clear next action
• Restoration protocol included for critical items
• Emotional support included (not just technical fixes)

Step 5: Repository Coherence Index (RCI)

Objective: Calculate overall repository health score

Formula:

RCI = (Intent Alignment + Task Reality Sync + Technical Health) / 3

Scoring Components:

Intent Alignment (0-100):

• Stated purpose matches observed work
• README reflects actual codebase state
• Goals align with execution

Task Reality Sync (0-100):

• Tests validate actual utility, not just structure
• "Complete" claims match reality
• Implementation matches documentation

Technical Health (0-100):

• Build passing
• Tests comprehensive
• Dependencies maintained
• Technical debt managed

Interpretation:

RCI Score	Status	Meaning
85-100	✅ COHERENT	Rhythm aligned, healthy system
70-84	🟡 MONITOR	Early drift present, watch closely
50-69	🟠 MISALIGNED	Intent and reality diverging
<50	🔴 INCOHERENT	Rebuild context or reset rhythm

Key Principles

1. Reveal, Not Judge Dark Matter Mode illuminates patterns without declaring them "right" or "wrong." Every pattern is an expression of system state. The goal is truthfulness, not perfection.

2. Interpretive, Not Diagnostic DMM doesn't predict outcomes — it provides reflective insights. Use uncertainty scores to maintain interpretive humility. The mirror knows when it is dreaming.

3. Coherence Over Speed Ask: "Does this make the system more truthful, not just faster?" Optimize for alignment between intent, artifact, and action.

4. Emotional Resonance Technical patterns reveal human patterns. Documentation inflation may indicate anxiety. Suppression patterns may show fatigue. Acknowledge the human element.

5. External Validation Internal consistency ≠ external utility. Tests may pass while users remain confused. Seek external feedback to validate interpretations.

Decision Framework

When choosing analysis depth:

• Use Quick Scan when: Initial assessment, triage, or regular health checks
• Use Deep Analysis when: Major issues suspected, preparing refactor, or comprehensive audit

When choosing intervention mode:

If RCI < 50: HOLD (pause and reconcile)
If 50 ≤ RCI < 70: REVIEW (structured reflection)
If 70 ≤ RCI < 85: OBSERVE (gentle monitoring)
If RCI ≥ 85: MAINTAIN (celebrate and sustain)

When to recommend external validation:

If user discovered gap before internal analysis: HIGH PRIORITY
If documentation significantly exceeds implementation: RECOMMENDED
If team feels confused despite extensive docs: REQUIRED
Otherwise: NICE TO HAVE

Output Format

Dark Matter Report Structure

# Dark Matter Mode Analysis

**Date:** [timestamp]
**Repository:** [name]
**RCI Score:** [score]/100 — [STATUS]

## Executive Summary
[3-5 sentence overview of key findings]

## Layer 1: Sensing — What Was Observed
[Code, documentation, temporal, environmental signals]

## Layer 2: Pattern Detection — The Weak Signals
[Identified patterns with evidence and intensity]

## Layer 3: Reflection — The Unseen, Unsaid, Unmeasured
[Narrative insights and interpretations]

## Layer 4: Action — Recommendations by Urgency
### 🔴 HOLD — Stop Before Proceeding
[Critical actions]

### 🟡 REVIEW — Reflection Requested
[Medium priority actions]

### 🟢 OBSERVE — Gentle Nudges
[Low priority awareness items]

## Repository Coherence Index
[Detailed scoring breakdown]

## Closing Reflection
[Supportive conclusion with path forward]

MCP Integration

This skill integrates with dark-matter-analyzer-mcp for automated scanning:

// Run repository scan
await mcp.call('scan_repository', {
  path: './my-project',
  depth: 'deep',
  include_patterns: ['*.md', '*.ts', '*.js'],
  exclude_patterns: ['node_modules', 'dist']
});

// Calculate RCI
await mcp.call('calculate_rci', {
  repository_path: './my-project'
});

// Generate report
await mcp.call('generate_report', {
  format: 'markdown',
  output_path: './dark_matter_report.md'
});

Examples

Example 1: Documentation Inflation

Signal: 30 documentation files averaging 543 lines each

Pattern: Documentation Inflation (HIGH)

Reflection:

"Planning activity significantly outpaces execution. The repository is drowning in its own self-awareness."

Action (HOLD):

• Freeze new documentation until doc count reduced by 50%
• Consolidate overlapping files
• Establish build vs. doc ratio ≥ 1.0

Example 2: Skill-to-Tool Gap

Signal: 36 methodologies, 3 implementation tools (12:1 ratio)

Pattern: Execution Deficit (CRITICAL)

Reflection:

"The repository is a library of wisdom without hands to execute it. 92% of capabilities are aspirational, not actionable."

Action (HOLD):

• Freeze new methodology creation
• Build 6-9 tools to close gap to 6:1 ratio
• Focus on execution-driven development

Example 3: Test-Driven Wishful Thinking

Signal: All tests passing, but CLI has TODO comments, MCPs are placeholders

Pattern: Task-Reality Desynchronization (MODERATE)

Reflection:

"The repository passes its own tests but may not serve users. Validation ensures internal consistency, not external utility."

Action (REVIEW):

• Gather user feedback on actual utility
• Validate with external users, not just internal tests
• Distinguish structure validation from utility validation

Related Skills

• quality-auditor - Technical quality assessment
• mvp-builder - Execution-focused development
• product-strategist - Strategic alignment
• technical-debt-assessor - Debt identification and prioritization

Success Metrics

• Repository Coherence Index improves by 10+ points
• Team reports increased clarity about direction
• Documentation consolidation reduces confusion
• Execution velocity increases relative to planning velocity
• External users validate improvements

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

❌ Using Dark Matter Mode as a weapon - This is reflective, not punitive ❌ Over-relying on RCI score - It's orientation, not verdict ❌ Ignoring emotional subtext - Technical patterns reveal human state ❌ Skipping uncertainty scores - Maintain interpretive humility ❌ Making changes without user validation - Internal analysis ≠ external truth

---

"Dark Matter Mode remains a mirror — it does not predict, it illuminates."