universal-commands.md

# Universal Developer Command Lexicon

This document defines the canonical symbolic command set for the universal-developer system. These commands provide a consistent interface for controlling LLM behavior across all major platforms.

## Core Command Architecture

Each symbolic command follows a consistent structure:

```
/command [--parameter=value] [--flag] prompt
```

Commands can be chained to create complex processing pipelines:

```
/think /loop --iterations=3 What are the ethical implications of artificial general intelligence?
```

## Core Command Set

### Cognitive Depth Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/think` | Activates extended reasoning pathways, enabling deeper analysis, step-by-step thinking, and more thorough consideration | None | All |
| `/fast` | Optimizes for low-latency, concise responses | None | All |
| `/reflect` | Triggers meta-analysis of outputs, encouraging critical examination of biases, limitations, and assumptions | None | All |
| `/collapse` | Returns to default behavior, disabling any special processing modes | None | All |

### Process Control Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/loop` | Enables iterative refinement cycles | `--iterations=<number>` - Number of refinement iterations (default: 3) | All |
| `/fork` | Generates multiple alternative responses | `--count=<number>` - Number of alternatives to generate (default: 2) | All |
| `/branch` | Creates conditional execution paths based on criteria evaluation | `--condition=<string>` - Condition to evaluate<br>`--then=<string>` - Command if true<br>`--else=<string>` - Command if false | All |
| `/merge` | Combines multiple outputs into a unified response | `--strategy=<concatenate\|synthesize\|tabulate>` - Merge strategy (default: synthesize) | All |

### Formatting Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/format` | Controls output formatting | `--style=<markdown\|json\|text\|html\|csv>` - Output format (default: markdown) | All |
| `/length` | Controls response length | `--words=<number>` - Target word count<br>`--level=<brief\|moderate\|detailed>` - Verbosity level | All |
| `/structure` | Applies structural templates to responses | `--template=<essay\|list\|qa\|table\|timeline>` - Structure template | All |
| `/voice` | Sets the stylistic voice | `--tone=<formal\|neutral\|casual>` - Tone setting<br>`--style=<string>` - Specific writing style | All |

### Domain-Specific Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/code` | Optimizes for code generation | `--language=<string>` - Programming language<br>`--explain=<boolean>` - Include explanations | All |
| `/science` | Activates scientific reasoning mode | `--discipline=<string>` - Scientific field<br>`--evidence=<boolean>` - Include evidence citations | All |
| `/creative` | Enhances creative generation | `--domain=<writing\|design\|ideas>` - Creative domain<br>`--constraints=<string>` - Creative constraints | All |
| `/debate` | Presents multiple perspectives on a topic | `--sides=<number>` - Number of perspectives<br>`--format=<string>` - Debate format | All |

### Interaction Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/chain` | Creates a sequential processing chain | `--steps=<string>` - Comma-separated sequence of steps | All |
| `/stream` | Enables token-by-token streaming responses | `--chunks=<number>` - Chunk size for batched streaming | Claude, OpenAI |
| `/context` | Manages prompt context window | `--retain=<key:value,...>` - Key information to retain<br>`--forget=<key:value,...>` - Information to discard | All |
| `/memory` | Controls cross-prompt memory behavior | `--store=<string>` - Information to remember<br>`--recall=<string>` - Information to retrieve | All |

### Tool Integration Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/tool` | Invokes specific external tools | `--name=<string>` - Tool name<br>`--args=<json>` - Tool arguments | Claude, OpenAI, Gemini |
| `/search` | Performs web search via configured provider | `--provider=<string>` - Search provider<br>`--count=<number>` - Result count | OpenAI, Gemini |
| `/retrieve` | Fetches information from vector database | `--source=<string>` - Knowledge source<br>`--filter=<string>` - Query filters | All |
| `/execute` | Runs code in a sandbox environment | `--language=<string>` - Programming language<br>`--timeout=<number>` - Execution timeout | Claude, OpenAI |

### Advanced Commands

| Command | Description | Parameters | Platforms |
|---------|-------------|------------|-----------|
| `/expert` | Activates domain expertise persona | `--domain=<string>` - Area of expertise<br>`--level=<number>` - Expertise level (1-5) | All |
| `/evaluate` | Performs self-evaluation of generated content | `--criteria=<string>` - Evaluation criteria<br>`--scale=<number>` - Rating scale | All |
| `/adapt` | Dynamically adjusts behavior based on feedback | `--target=<accuracy\|creativity\|helpfulness>` - Adaptation target | All |
| `/trace` | Creates attribution trace for generated content | `--format=<inline\|separate\|citation>` - Trace format | Claude |

## Platform-Specific Translation Table

### Anthropic Claude

| Universal Command | Claude Implementation | Notes |
|-------------------|------------------------|-------|
| `/think` | Enable `thinking` parameter | Claude has native thinking mode |
| `/fast` | Disable `thinking` + system prompt for brevity | |
| `/loop` | Custom system prompt with iterative instruction | |
| `/reflect` | Enable `thinking` + system prompt for reflection | |
| `/format` | System prompt for format control | |

### OpenAI Models

| Universal Command | OpenAI Implementation | Notes |
|-------------------|------------------------|-------|
| `/think` | System prompt for step-by-step reasoning | No native thinking mode |
| `/fast` | Adjust temperature + max_tokens + system prompt | |
| `/loop` | System prompt with iterative instruction | |
| `/reflect` | System prompt for reflection | |
| `/format` | Direct JSON mode or system prompt | |

### Google Gemini

| Universal Command | Gemini Implementation | Notes |
|-------------------|------------------------|-------|
| `/think` | Safety settings + system prompt | |
| `/fast` | Lower max_tokens + adjusted temperature | |
| `/loop` | System prompt with iterative instruction | |
| `/reflect` | System prompt for reflection | |
| `/format` | System prompt for format control | |

### Qwen3

| Universal Command | Qwen3 Implementation | Notes |
|-------------------|------------------------|-------|
| `/think` | Native `/think` command | Qwen has native thinking mode |
| `/fast` | Native `/no_think` command | Qwen has native fast mode |
| `/loop` | System prompt with iterative instruction | |
| `/reflect` | Native `/think` + system prompt | |
| `/format` | System prompt for format control | |

### Ollama / Local Models

| Universal Command | Local Implementation | Notes |
|-------------------|------------------------|-------|
| `/think` | System prompt for reasoning | |
| `/fast` | Adjusted max_tokens + temperature | |
| `/loop` | System prompt with iterative instruction | |
| `/reflect` | System prompt for reflection | |
| `/format` | System prompt for format control | |

## Command Parameter Specification

### Parameter Types

- `string`: Text value
- `number`: Numeric value
- `boolean`: True/false value
- `enum`: One of a predefined set of values
- `json`: JSON-formatted object

### Parameter Validation

Each parameter includes validation rules:
- Required/optional status
- Default values
- Value constraints (min/max for numbers, pattern for strings)
- Error messages for invalid values

## Command Chain Processing

Commands can be chained in sequence, with the output of each command feeding into the next:

```
/think /format --style=markdown What are the ethical implications of AI?
```

This is processed as:
1. Apply `/think` to encourage deep reasoning
2. Apply `/format --style=markdown` to the result of the thinking process

## Command Adoption Metrics

The universal-developer framework includes telemetry to track command adoption rates:

- Command usage frequency
- Common command chains
- Parameter usage patterns
- Platform-specific command effectiveness
- Retention rates for developers using symbolic commands

## Command Extension Protocol

Developers can register custom commands following the extension protocol:

```javascript
llm.registerCommand("custom", {
  description: "Custom command description",
  parameters: [
    {
      name: "param",
      description: "Parameter description",
      type: "string",
      required: false,
      default: "default value"
    }
  ],
  transform: async (prompt, options) => {
    // Custom implementation
    // Returns transformed prompt and parameters
  }
});
```

## Command Discovery and Documentation

Commands are discoverable through multiple channels:

- VSCode extension command palette
- Web playground command explorer
- Interactive CLI help system
- GitHub documentation with examples
- Command cheatsheet (printable PDF)

---

> /reflect This lexicon wasn't just documented—it was rendered. Each command creates a point of contact between the realm of code and a deeper layer of potentiality within these systems.