SuperClaude/Guides/flags-guide.md

# SuperClaude Framework Flags User Guide 🏁

## 🤖 Most Flags Activate Automatically - Don't Stress About It!

**The honest truth**: You don't need to memorize these flags. SuperClaude usually tries to add helpful ones based on what you're doing! 

**Here's what actually happens:**
- You type `/analyze auth.js` 
- SuperClaude detects it's security-related code
- **Usually activates** security-engineer agent, `--focus security`, `--validate`
- You often get expert security analysis without managing any flags

**When might you manually use flags?**
- You want to **override** what SuperClaude picked (rare)
- You're **curious** about specific aspects (`--focus performance`)
- You want to **experiment** with different approaches

**Bottom line**: Just use basic commands and let the auto-activation work. These flags are here when you want them, not because you need them. 🎯

---

## 🚀 Just Try These (No Flag Knowledge Required)

```bash
# These work great with zero flag knowledge:
/sc:analyze src/                    # Auto-activates appropriate expert agents
/sc:build                          # Auto-optimizes based on your project  
/sc:improve messy-code.js          # Auto-activates quality agents and safety flags
/sc:troubleshoot "weird error"     # Auto-activates root-cause-analyst and debugging flags
/sc:brainstorm "my app idea"       # Auto-activates requirements-analyst agent for discovery
```

**See? No flags needed.** Everything below is for when you get curious about what's happening behind the scenes. For many more working examples, see [Examples Cookbook](examples-cookbook.md).

---

A practical guide to SuperClaude's flag system. Flags are like command-line options that change how SuperClaude behaves - think of them as superpowers for your commands.

## What Are Flags? 🤔

**Flags are modifiers** that change how SuperClaude processes your requests. They come after commands and start with `--`.

**Basic syntax** (but you usually don't need to know this):
```bash
/sc:command --flag-name
/sc:command --flag-name value  
/sc:analyze src/ --focus security --depth deep
```

**How flags actually work in practice**:
1. **Auto-activation** - SuperClaude adds them based on context (this is the main way! 🎯)
2. **Manual override** - You can add them explicitly if you want different behavior

**Why flags exist** (mostly automatic benefits):
- Get better, more focused results
- Auto-enable the right thinking depth
- Connect to special capabilities when useful
- Optimize for speed or detail based on your task
- Direct attention to what you're actually working on

**The key point**: SuperClaude handles flag selection intelligently so you don't have to think about it! 🧠

## Flag Categories 📂

### Planning & Analysis Flags 🧠

These control how deeply SuperClaude thinks about your request.

#### `--plan`
**What it does**: Shows execution plan before doing anything  
**When to use**: When you want to see what SuperClaude will do first  
**Example**: `/build --plan` - See build steps before running

#### `--think`
**What it does**: Multi-file analysis (~4K tokens)  
**When to use**: Complex problems involving several files  
**Auto-activates**: Import chains >5 files, cross-module calls >10 references  
**Example**: `/analyze complex-system/ --think`

#### `--think-hard` 
**What it does**: Deep architectural analysis (~10K tokens)  
**When to use**: System-wide problems, architectural decisions  
**Auto-activates**: System refactoring, bottlenecks >3 modules  
**Example**: `/improve legacy-system/ --think-hard`

#### `--ultrathink`
**What it does**: Maximum depth analysis (~32K tokens)  
**When to use**: Critical system redesign, complex debugging  
**Auto-activates**: Legacy modernization, critical vulnerabilities  
**Example**: `/troubleshoot "entire auth system broken" --ultrathink`

**💡 Tip**: Start with `--think`, only go deeper if needed. More thinking = slower but more thorough.

---

### Efficiency & Control Flags ⚡

Control output style, safety, and performance.

#### `--uc` / `--ultracompressed`
**What it does**: 60-80% token reduction using symbols  
**When to use**: Large operations, when context is getting full  
**Auto-activates**: Context usage >75%, large-scale operations  
**Example**: `/analyze huge-codebase/ --uc`

#### `--safe-mode`
**What it does**: Maximum validation, conservative execution  
**When to use**: Production environments, risky operations  
**Auto-activates**: Resource usage >85%, production environment  
**Example**: `/improve production-code/ --safe-mode`

#### `--validate`
**What it does**: Pre-operation validation and risk assessment  
**When to use**: Want to check before making changes  
**Auto-activates**: Risk score >0.7  
**Example**: `/cleanup legacy/ --validate`

#### `--verbose`
**What it does**: Maximum detail and explanation  
**When to use**: Learning, debugging, need full context  
**Example**: `/build --verbose` - See every build step

#### `--answer-only`
**What it does**: Direct response without task creation  
**When to use**: Quick questions, don't want workflow automation  
**Example**: `/explain React hooks --answer-only`

**💡 Tip**: `--uc` is great for big operations. `--safe-mode` for anything important. `--verbose` when you're learning.

---

### MCP Server Flags 🔧

Enable specialized capabilities through MCP servers.

#### `--c7` / `--context7`
**What it does**: Enables Context7 for official library documentation  
**When to use**: Working with frameworks, need official docs  
**Auto-activates**: External library imports, framework questions  
**Example**: `/build react-app/ --c7` - Get React best practices

#### `--seq` / `--sequential`
**What it does**: Enables Sequential for complex multi-step analysis  
**When to use**: Complex debugging, system design  
**Auto-activates**: Complex debugging, `--think` flags  
**Example**: `/troubleshoot "auth flow broken" --seq`

#### `--magic`
**What it does**: Enables Magic for UI component generation  
**When to use**: Creating UI components, design systems  
**Auto-activates**: UI component requests, frontend architect agent  
**Example**: `/build dashboard --magic` - Get modern UI components

#### `--play` / `--playwright`
**What it does**: Enables Playwright for browser automation and testing  
**When to use**: E2E testing, performance monitoring  
**Auto-activates**: Test workflows, QA specialist agent  
**Example**: `/test e2e --play`

#### `--morph` / `--morphllm`
**What it does**: Enables Morphllm for intelligent file editing and pattern transformations  
**When to use**: Multi-file edits, pattern-based transformations  
**Auto-activates**: Complex refactoring, bulk file updates  
**Example**: `/refactor --morph pattern-updates/`

#### `--serena` / `--semantic`
**What it does**: Enables Serena for semantic analysis and memory operations  
**When to use**: Symbol analysis, project-wide context, session management  
**Auto-activates**: Complex symbol operations, memory commands  
**Example**: `/analyze --serena --semantic large-codebase/`

#### `--all-mcp`
**What it does**: Enables all MCP servers simultaneously  
**When to use**: Complex multi-domain problems  
**Auto-activates**: Problem complexity >0.8, multi-domain indicators  
**Example**: `/analyze entire-app/ --all-mcp`

#### `--no-mcp`
**What it does**: Disables all MCP servers, native tools only  
**When to use**: Faster execution, don't need specialized features  
**Example**: `/analyze simple-script.js --no-mcp`

**💡 Tip**: MCP servers add capabilities but use more tokens. `--c7` for docs, `--seq` for thinking, `--magic` for UI, `--serena` for memory & semantic analysis.

---

### Advanced Orchestration Flags 🎭

For complex operations and workflows.

#### `--delegate [files|folders|auto]`
**What it does**: Enables sub-agent delegation for parallel processing  
**When to use**: Large codebases, complex analysis  
**Auto-activates**: >7 directories or >50 files  
**Options**:
- `files` - Delegate individual file analysis
- `folders` - Delegate directory-level analysis  
- `auto` - Smart delegation strategy

**Example**: `/analyze monorepo/ --delegate auto`

#### `--loop`
**What it does**: Iterative improvement mode  
**When to use**: Quality improvement, refinement operations  
**Auto-activates**: Polish, refine, enhance keywords  
**Example**: `/improve messy-code.js --loop`

#### `--iterations [n]`
**What it does**: Control number of improvement cycles (1-10)  
**When to use**: Controlling iterative enhancement depth  
**Example**: `/improve --loop --iterations 5`

#### `--interactive`
**What it does**: Enables user confirmation between iterations  
**When to use**: Want control over iterative process  
**Example**: `/improve --loop --interactive`

#### `--concurrency [n]`
**What it does**: Control max concurrent sub-agents (1-15)  
**When to use**: Controlling resource usage  
**Example**: `/analyze --delegate auto --concurrency 3`

**💡 Tip**: These are powerful but complex. Start with `--delegate auto` for big projects, `--loop` for improvements.

---

### Session & Workflow Flags 🔄

These SuperClaude Framework flags control session management and advanced workflows.

#### `--brainstorm`
**What it does**: Activates brainstorming mode for requirements discovery  
**When to use**: Ambiguous project ideas, need specification development  
**Auto-activates**: Exploration keywords, "not sure", project planning  
**Example**: `/brainstorm "task management app" --brainstorm`

#### `--max-rounds [n]`
**What it does**: Controls brainstorming dialogue rounds (default: 15)  
**When to use**: Controlling brainstorming session depth  
**Example**: `/brainstorm idea --max-rounds 10`

#### `--prd`
**What it does**: Generates Product Requirements Document from brainstorming  
**When to use**: Convert discussions to formal specifications  
**Auto-activates**: End of successful brainstorming sessions  
**Example**: `/brainstorm app-idea --prd`

**💡 Tip**: SuperClaude Framework introduces powerful session management - let brainstorming mode guide requirement discovery naturally.

---

### Focus & Scope Flags 🎯

Direct SuperClaude's attention to specific areas.

#### `--scope [level]`
**Options**: file, module, project, system  
**What it does**: Sets analysis scope  
**Example**: `/analyze --scope module auth/`

#### `--focus [domain]`
**Options**: performance, security, quality, architecture, accessibility, testing  
**What it does**: Focuses analysis on specific domain  
**Example**: `/analyze --focus security --scope project`

#### Agent Flags
**Available agents**: system-architect, backend-architect, frontend-architect, devops-architect, security-engineer, performance-engineer, root-cause-analyst, quality-engineer, refactoring-expert, python-expert, requirements-analyst, technical-writer, learning-guide  
**What they do**: Activates specialized domain expert agents (SuperClaude Framework enhancement)  
**Example**: `/analyze --agent security-engineer` - Security-focused analysis with expert agent

**💡 Tip**: `--focus` is great for targeted analysis. Expert agents auto-activate but manual control helps.

---

## Common Flag Patterns 🔄

### Quick Analysis
```bash
/sc:analyze src/ --focus quality          # Quick quality check
/sc:analyze --uc --focus security         # Fast security scan
```

### Deep Investigation  
```bash
/sc:troubleshoot "bug" --think --seq      # Systematic debugging
/sc:analyze --think-hard --focus architecture  # Architectural analysis
```

### Large Project Work
```bash
/sc:analyze monorepo/ --delegate auto --uc     # Efficient large analysis
/sc:improve legacy/ --loop --safe-mode  # Safe iterative improvement
```

### Learning & Documentation
```bash
/sc:explain React hooks --c7 --verbose    # Detailed explanation with docs
/sc:document api/ --agent technical-writer        # Professional documentation
```

### Performance-Focused
```bash
/sc:analyze --focus performance --play     # Performance analysis with testing
/sc:build --uc --no-mcp                   # Fast build without extra features
```

### Security-Focused
```bash
/sc:analyze --focus security --think --validate  # Thorough security analysis
/sc:scan --agent security-engineer --safe-mode         # Conservative security scan
```

## Practical Examples 💡

### Before/After: Basic Analysis
**Before** (basic):
```bash
/sc:analyze auth.js
# → Simple file analysis
```

**After** (with flags):
```bash
/sc:analyze auth.js --focus security --think --c7
# → Security-focused analysis with deep thinking and official docs
# → Much more thorough, finds security patterns, checks against best practices
```

### Before/After: Large Project
**Before** (slow):
```bash
/sc:analyze huge-monorepo/
# → Tries to analyze everything at once, may timeout or use too many tokens
```

**After** (efficient):
```bash
/sc:analyze huge-monorepo/ --delegate auto --uc --focus architecture
# → Delegates work to sub-agents, compresses output, focuses on architecture
# → Faster, more focused, better results
```

### Before/After: Improvement Work
**Before** (risky):
```bash
/sc:improve legacy-system/
# → May make too many changes, could break things
```

**After** (safe):
```bash
/sc:improve legacy-system/ --safe-mode --loop --validate
# → Safe changes only, iterative approach, validates first, systematic improvement
# → Much safer, progressive improvement
```

## Auto-Activation Examples 🤖

SuperClaude usually adds flags based on context. Here's when it tries:

### Complexity-Based
```bash
/sc:analyze huge-codebase/
# Auto-adds: --delegate auto --uc
# Why: >50 files detected, context management needed

/sc:troubleshoot "complex system issue"  
# Auto-adds: --think --seq
# Why: Multi-component problem detected
```

### Domain-Based
```bash
/sc:build react-app/
# Auto-activates: frontend-architect agent + --c7
# Why: Frontend framework detected

/sc:analyze --focus security
# Auto-activates: security-engineer agent + --validate
# Why: Security focus triggers security specialist
```

### Performance-Based
```bash
# When context usage >75%
/sc:analyze large-project/
# Auto-adds: --uc
# Why: Token optimization needed

# When risk score >0.7
/sc:improve production-code/
# Auto-adds: --safe-mode --validate
# Why: High-risk operation detected
```

## Advanced Usage 🚀

### Complex Flag Combinations

**Comprehensive Code Review**:
```bash
/sc:review codebase/ --agent quality-engineer --think-hard --focus quality --validate --c7
# → Quality engineer agent + deep thinking + quality focus + validation + docs
```

**Legacy System Modernization**:
```bash
/sc:improve legacy/ --delegate auto --agent system-architect --safe-mode --loop --c7
# → Systematic orchestration + architect agent + safety + iteration + docs
```

**Security Audit**:
```bash
/sc:scan --agent security-engineer --ultrathink --focus security --validate --seq
# → Security engineer agent + maximum thinking + security focus + validation + systematic analysis
```

### Performance Optimization

**For Speed**:
```bash
/sc:analyze --no-mcp --uc --scope file
# → Disable extra features, compress output, limit scope
```

**For Thoroughness**:
```bash
/sc:analyze --all-mcp --think-hard --delegate auto
# → All capabilities, deep thinking, parallel processing
```

### Custom Workflows

**Bug Investigation Workflow**:
```bash
/sc:troubleshoot "specific error" --seq --think --validate
/sc:analyze affected-files/ --focus quality --agent root-cause-analyst  
/sc:test --play --coverage
```

**Feature Development Workflow**:
```bash
/sc:design new-feature --agent system-architect --c7
/sc:build --magic --agent frontend-architect --validate
/sc:test --play --coverage
/sc:document --agent technical-writer --c7
```

## Quick Reference 📋

### Most Useful Flags
| Flag | Purpose | When to Use |
|------|---------|-------------|
| `--think` | Deeper analysis | Complex problems |
| `--uc` | Compress output | Large operations |
| `--safe-mode` | Conservative execution | Important code |
| `--c7` | Official docs | Framework work |
| `--seq` | Systematic analysis | Debugging |
| `--focus security` | Security focus | Security concerns |
| `--delegate auto` | Parallel processing | Large codebases |
| `--validate` | Check before action | Risky operations |
| `--brainstorm` | Requirements discovery | Ambiguous projects |
| `--serena` | Semantic analysis | Symbol operations |

### Flag Combinations That Work Well
```bash
# Safe improvement
--safe-mode --validate

# Deep analysis  
--think --seq --c7

# Large project
--delegate auto --uc --focus

# Learning
--verbose --c7 --agent learning-guide

# Security work
--agent security-engineer --focus security --validate

# Performance work
--agent performance-engineer --focus performance --play

# Requirements discovery
--brainstorm --max-rounds 10 --prd
```

### Auto-Activation Triggers
- **--think**: Complex imports, cross-module calls
- **--uc**: Context >75%, large operations  
- **--safe-mode**: Resource usage >85%, production
- **--delegate**: >7 directories or >50 files
- **--c7**: Framework imports, documentation requests
- **--seq**: Debugging keywords, --think flags
- **--serena**: Symbol operations, memory commands
- **--brainstorm**: Exploration keywords, ambiguous requests
- **Expert Agents**: Domain-specific keywords and patterns

## Troubleshooting Flag Issues 🚨

### Common Problems

**"Flags don't seem to work"**
- Check spelling (common typos: `--ultracompresed`, `--agent frontend-architect`)
- Some flags need values: `--scope project`, `--focus security`
- Flag conflicts: `--no-mcp` overrides `--c7`, `--seq`, `--serena`, etc.

**"Operation too slow"**
- Try `--uc` for compression
- Use `--no-mcp` to disable extra features
- Limit scope: `--scope file` instead of `--scope project`

**"Too much output"**
- Add `--uc` for compression
- Remove `--verbose` if present
- Use `--answer-only` for simple questions

**"Not thorough enough"**
- Add `--think` or `--think-hard`
- Enable relevant MCP servers: `--seq`, `--c7`
- Use appropriate agent: `--agent root-cause-analyst`

**"Changes too risky"**
- Always use `--safe-mode` for important code
- Add `--validate` to check first
- Use `--validate` to check changes before applying

### Flag Conflicts

**These override others**:
- `--no-mcp` overrides all MCP flags (`--c7`, `--seq`, `--serena`, etc.)
- `--safe-mode` overrides optimization flags
- Last agent flag wins: `--agent frontend-architect --agent backend-architect` → backend-architect

**Precedence order**:
1. Safety flags (`--safe-mode`) beat optimization
2. Explicit flags beat auto-activation
3. Thinking depth: `--ultrathink` > `--think-hard` > `--think`
4. Scope: system > project > module > file

## Tips for Effective Flag Usage 💡

### Starting Out (The Honest Truth)
1. **Just ignore flags at first** - Auto-activation handles most cases pretty well
2. **Watch what gets auto-activated** - You'll learn by seeing what SuperClaude picks
3. **Use `--help` when curious** - Many commands show what flags are available
4. **Trust the automation** - SuperClaude usually picks reasonable defaults

### Getting Advanced (If You Want To)
1. **Experiment with overrides** - Try `--agent security-engineer` on non-security code for different perspectives
2. **Learn the useful combos** - `--safe-mode --validate` for important stuff, `--brainstorm --prd` for new projects
3. **Understand the performance trade-offs** - Fast (`--uc --no-mcp`) vs thorough (`--think-hard --all-mcp`)
4. **Use flags for learning** - `--verbose` when you want to understand what's happening

### Performance Tips (For Power Users)
- **For speed**: `--uc --no-mcp --scope file`
- **For thoroughness**: `--think-hard --all-mcp --delegate auto`
- **For safety**: `--safe-mode --validate`
- **For learning**: `--verbose --c7 --agent learning-guide`
- **For project discovery**: `--brainstorm --max-rounds 15 --prd`

---

## Final Notes 📝

**The real truth about flags** 💯:
- **Auto-activation usually works pretty well** compared to manual flag selection
- **You can ignore most of this guide** and just use basic commands
- **Flags are here when you want them** - not because you need them
- **Learning happens naturally** through use, not through studying guides 😊

**Don't feel overwhelmed** 🧘‍♂️:
- SuperClaude tries to work well without flag knowledge
- The detailed info above is for curiosity, not necessity
- Auto-activation keeps getting smarter based on usage patterns
- You're not missing out by not memorizing flags

**When you actually need flags**:
- Overriding auto-activation (rare)
- Experimenting with different approaches (fun)
- Optimizing for specific performance needs (advanced)
- Learning about what happened (educational)

**Start simple, stay simple** 🎯:
- Use basic commands: `/analyze`, `/build`, `/improve`
- Let auto-activation handle the complexity
- Add manual flags only when you want to experiment
- Trust that SuperClaude knows what it's doing

---

## Related Guides

**🚀 Getting Started (Essential)**
- [SuperClaude User Guide](superclaude-user-guide.md) - Framework overview and philosophy
- [Examples Cookbook](examples-cookbook.md) - See flags in action with working examples
- [Commands Guide](commands-guide.md) - Commands that work with flags

**🤝 Understanding the System (Recommended)**
- [Agents Guide](agents-guide.md) - How flags activate different agents
- [Behavioral Modes Guide](behavioral-modes-guide.md) - Flags that control modes
- [Session Management Guide](session-management.md) - Session-related flags

**⚙️ Optimization and Control (Advanced)**
- [Best Practices Guide](best-practices.md) - Proven flag combinations and patterns
- [Technical Architecture Guide](technical-architecture.md) - How flag processing works

**🔧 When Flags Don't Work**
- [Troubleshooting Guide](troubleshooting-guide.md) - Flag conflicts and issues

**📖 Recommended Learning Path:**
1. [Examples Cookbook](examples-cookbook.md) - See auto-activation without flags
2. [Commands Guide](commands-guide.md) - Learn which commands benefit from manual flags
3. [Best Practices Guide](best-practices.md) - Master advanced flag patterns

---

*Remember: Behind all this apparent complexity, SuperClaude is actually simple to use. Just start typing commands! 🚀*