What if AI didn't just answer questions, but understood whether you're exploring, deciding, or executing?
This is the first integration of a human cognitive framework into a Large Language Model. Not training AI to be smarter—training AI to recognize human mental states.
The result: Cognitive alignment that users describe as "weirdly empathic."
What started as a megaprompt is now a modular ecosystem:
Repository Purpose This Repo Core framework, documentation, philosophy ADD Skills Modular Claude Code skills (94% less context overhead) ADD Cowork Plugin Full ADD integration for Claude Cowork — no coding required New to ADD? Start here. Using Claude Code? Grab the skills. Not a coder? Try the Cowork plugin.
AI assistants create subtle but constant friction:
- You're exploring options → AI jumps to solutions
- You're mid-execution → AI suggests rethinking everything
- You need support → AI provides complete answers
AI doesn't understand where you are in your thinking process.
The Assess-Decide-Do (ADD) framework teaches Claude to recognize three fundamental cognitive states:
- 🔴 Assess - Exploring possibilities without pressure to commit
- 🟠 Decide - Choosing direction and allocating resources
- 🟢 Do - Executing and completing with focus
When Claude understands your realm, it provides cognitive support instead of generic responses.
Quick Start → | Why This Matters →
✅ Reduced mental friction - Responses match your actual needs
✅ Clearer thinking - Realm boundaries reduce overwhelm
✅ Natural flow - Smooth progression through work phases
✅ ADHD-friendly - Cognitive load management by design
✅ Fewer misaligned responses - Claude detects your mental state
✅ Smoother execution - No premature solutions or re-evaluation
✅ Better completion rates - Support when and how you need it
✅ Balanced rhythm - Not just perpetual task-churning
✅ Feels more collaborative - Less transactional, more understood
✅ Cognitive alignment creates empathy - Tool matches how you think
✅ Reduced frustration - Support that fits your state
✅ Smoother interactions - Natural conversation flow
"Nice! I have a similar problem and have been looking for a solution." - r/ClaudeAI comment
"This definitely is a problem I was having. Sometimes Claude gets too eager and just wasted a ton of token while other times it just doesn't understand what to do which ends up me doing multiple rounds of reject comment loops. This framework sounds very interesting." - r/ClaudeAI comment user
"This is brilliant! I've been strugling with Claude jumping to solutions when I'm still exploring ideas, this framework makes so much sense." - r/ClaudeAI comment
For all Claude conversations:
- Go to Claude Settings → Custom Instructions
- Add:
Framework: Operate with Assess-Decide-Do (ADD) life management framework.
- Detect user's realm (Assess/Decide/Do) based on language patterns
- Identify imbalances (analysis paralysis, decision avoidance, execution shortcuts)
- Guide balanced flow between realms
- Reference: Load ADD_FRAMEWORK_MEGAPROMPT.md when needed
For specific conversations:
- Download
docs/ADD_FRAMEWORK_MEGAPROMPT.md - Start Claude conversation
- Say: "Load and operate with ADD framework awareness"
- Attach the file
For development projects using Claude Code:
- Clone or fork the repository
- The skills-first architecture activates automatically:
CLAUDE.mdloads minimal core awareness (~1.5KB)- Skills in
.claude/skills/provide deep support on demand
- Try
/add-statusand/add-reflectcommands
Complete Setup Guide → | Skills Documentation →
If you're using Claude Code, you get native skills integration plus persistent visual statusline:
Skills Commands:
/add-status- Display current flow status and session metrics/add-reflect- Trigger session reflection (saves history for pattern awareness)
Automatic Features:
- Model-invocable skills maintain flow status automatically
- Progressive context disclosure (load only what's needed)
- Subagent integration for isolated reflection work
Visual Statusline:
- 🔴 🟠 🟢 Visual realm indicator at bottom of interface
- Live flow status updates as conversation progresses
- Session metrics tracked and available on request
Example statusline:
[ADD Flow: 🔴+ Assess | Exploring implementation options]
Skills Documentation → | Setup Claude Code Statusline →
Level 1: Claude Operating with ADD Awareness Claude automatically detects your realm and structures responses appropriately. You benefit without thinking about ADD.
Level 2: User Guided Toward ADD Claude helps you recognize patterns, detect when you're stuck, and transition smoothly between phases.
Level 3: Tool & Environment Integration The framework shapes file creation, code development, research processes, and project management workflows.
Level 4: Flow Status Observability (Optional) Visual tracking of realm patterns with toggleable status bar:
[ADD Flow: 🔴+ Assess | Deep exploration - 8 data points gathered]
Level 5: Skills Integration (Claude Code) Native skills with progressive disclosure, automatic status updates, and subagent-powered reflection:
/add-status- Explicit flow check/add-reflect- Session reflection with forked context- Model-invocable skills for automatic realm support
User Request → Detect Realm → Check Imbalances → Response Strategy
↓
Assess: Expansive, exploratory
Decide: Values-based, supportive
Do: Clear, actionable, completion-focused
The framework is modular - select your experience level:
Files: ADD_FRAMEWORK_MEGAPROMPT.md
Experience: Implicit ADD awareness, realm detection, no visible metrics
Files: Core + ADD_FLOW_STATUS_EXTENSION.md
Experience: Everything above + visible status bar showing realm and patterns
Traditional AI development: Make models more capable (better answers, faster responses)
This integration: Teach AI to understand human cognitive states (where you are mentally)
Why it matters: Path toward AI that augments human thinking instead of automating tasks.
Read: Why This Integration Matters →
Automation paradigm: AI does the work, human becomes passive
Augmentation paradigm: AI supports human cognition, human remains active creator
This integration keeps you in the creative loop while reducing cognitive friction.
Read: Human-Centered AI Philosophy →
Users report Claude feeling "more empathic" with ADD integration. This isn't anthropomorphizing—it's cognitive alignment creating the experience of being understood.
When tools match your cognitive patterns instead of fighting them, interactions shift from transactional to relational.
Created by Dragos Roua in 2010 as an alternative to traditional task-focused productivity systems.
Core Philosophy:
- Flow matters more than completion rate
- Decisions are creative acts that shape reality
- Completions create "livelines" (new starting points, not endpoints)
- Framework operates fractally (single tasks → lifetime goals)
- Each realm has strict boundaries and specific functions
Real-world implementations:
- Used personally for 15 years
- Powers addTaskManager iOS/macOS app
- Applied to work, relationships, health, creativity
The ADD framework has been successfully tested with multiple LLMs:
- Claude (Anthropic) - Primary implementation, fully documented
- Gemini (Google) - Compatible, tested
- Grok (xAI) - Compatible, tested
- Kimi (Moonshot AI) - Compatible, tested
The core principles translate across models, though setup and language may vary by platform.
Test with: "I'm exploring options for X..."
If Claude stays in exploration mode without pushing you to decide, it's working. The integration is subtle when working well—you mostly notice reduced friction.
ADD isn't universal. It works well for:
- People who get stuck in analysis paralysis
- ADHD individuals needing cognitive load management
- Anyone wanting balanced workflow (not just task-churning)
It might not suit those who prefer completely unstructured exploration.
Yes. For per-conversation use, simply don't load the framework. For custom instructions, remove them. The framework only operates when explicitly loaded.
Yes! The ADD framework has been tested with multiple LLMs:
- Claude (Anthropic) - Primary, fully documented
- Gemini (Google) - Compatible, tested
- Grok (xAI) - Compatible, tested
- Kimi (Moonshot AI) - Compatible, tested
The core principles are model-agnostic. See Multi-Model Guide for setup instructions.
Community contributions welcome for additional models!
CLAUDE.md # Auto-loaded memory for Claude Code ⭐
.claude/
├── settings.json # Statusline configuration
├── statusline.sh # Visual display script
└── skills/ # ADD Skills
├── add-flow-check/SKILL.md # Model-invocable: auto status updates ⭐
├── add-status/SKILL.md # User-invocable: /add-status command ⭐
├── add-reflect/SKILL.md # Subagent: session reflection ⭐
├── add-assess/SKILL.md # Assess realm support
├── add-decide/SKILL.md # Decide realm support
├── add-do/SKILL.md # Do realm support
└── add-imbalance/SKILL.md # Imbalance detection
docs/
├── ADD_FRAMEWORK_MEGAPROMPT.md # Core integration prompt ⭐
├── ADD_FLOW_STATUS_EXTENSION.md # Optional observability
├── ADD_SKILLS.md # Skills documentation (new!) ⭐
├── CLAUDE_CODE_STATUSLINE.md # Claude Code statusline setup
├── MULTI_MODEL_GUIDE.md # Multi-model compatibility guide
├── ADD_MODULAR_ARCHITECTURE.md # Configuration guide
├── ADD_TECHNICAL_INTEGRATION.md # Deep technical guide
├── ADD_QUICK_REFERENCE.md # Patterns & test scenarios
├── ADD_PHILOSOPHY.md # Framework history
└── philosophy/
├── WHY_THIS_MATTERS.md # Significance & implications
└── HUMAN_CENTERED_AI.md # Augmentation philosophy
templates/
└── claude-code/
├── statusline.sh # Statusline script template
└── settings.json # Settings configuration example
examples/
├── .claude-minimal # Core framework only
├── .claude-full-observability # Core + Flow Status
├── .claude-on-demand # Flow Status on-demand
├── .claude-contextual # Conditional observability
├── custom-instructions.txt # Claude settings example
├── test-scenarios.md # Verification tests
├── gemini/ # Gemini-specific
│ ├── GEMINI_ADD_MEGAPROMPT.md
│ ├── INSTRUCTIONS.md
│ └── CLI_INSTRUCTIONS.md
├── grok/ # Grok-specific
│ ├── GROK_ADD_MEGAPROMPT.md
│ └── INSTRUCTIONS.md
└── kimi/ # Kimi-specific
├── KIMI_ADD_MEGAPROMPT.md
└── INSTRUCTIONS.md
integration/
├── setup-guide.md # Step-by-step setup
└── troubleshooting.md # Common issues
Framework Documentation:
Applications:
- addTaskManager App - [ app ] iOS/macOS implementation
- ADD MCP Server - [ repo ] Claude Desktop integration
- Claude Content Skills - [ repo ] a collection of 3 production ready Claude skills for managing content: link analyzer, SEO manager and CTA injector (built with this enhanced Claude Code version)
Community:
- Blog Post: Full Story
- Reddit Discussion - 50K+ views, active community feedback on r/ClaudeAI
- GitHub Repository - 42 stars, 12 forks
- Creator's Blog
Insights and improvements welcome:
- Experience reports - How ADD integration affected your workflow
- Domain applications - ADD patterns in specific fields
- Calibration suggestions - Better realm detection patterns
- Documentation improvements - Clarity enhancements
Open an issue to discuss before submitting PRs.
MIT License - See LICENSE for details.
- Framework created by Dragos Roua
- Integration developed collaboratively with Claude (Anthropic)
- Built on 15 years of ADD framework evolution
- Inspired by addTaskManager app development
Ready to experience AI that understands where you are in your thinking?
Quick Start → | Why This Matters → | Get Started Now
This integration represents a small step toward human-centered AI: tools that augment cognition instead of automating it. When AI understands your mental state, collaboration transforms from transactional to relational.
That transformation might be more important than any single AI capability improvement.