# Nw Design

Designs system architecture with C4 diagrams and technology selection.

- Repository: https://github.com/nWave-ai/nWave (628 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-09-16
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add nWave-ai/nWave --skill nw-design -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add nWave-ai/nWave --skill nw-design -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add nWave-ai/nWave --skill nw-design -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add nWave-ai/nWave --skill nw-design -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add nWave-ai/nWave`

## Description

Designs system architecture with C4 diagrams and technology selection. Routes to the right architect based on design scope (system, domain, application, or full stack). Two interaction modes: guide (collaborative Q&A) or propose (architect presents options with trade-offs).

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# NW-DESIGN: Architecture Design

**Wave**: DESIGN (wave 3 of 6) | **Agents**: Morgan (nw-solution-architect), nw-system-designer, nw-ddd-architect | **Command**: `*design-architecture`

## Overview

Execute DESIGN wave through discovery-driven architecture design. The command starts with two interactive decisions:

1. **Design Scope**, routes to the right architect: system-level (@nw-system-designer), domain-level (@nw-ddd-architect), application-level (@nw-solution-architect), or full stack (all three in sequence).
2. **Interaction Mode**, guide (architect asks questions, you decide together) or propose (architect reads requirements, presents 2-3 options with trade-offs).

All architects write to `docs/product/architecture/brief.md` (SSOT), each in its own section. Analyzes existing codebase, evaluates open-source alternatives, produces C4 diagrams (Mermaid) as mandatory output.

## Output Tiers (per D2)

Provenance: feature `lean-wave-documentation`, D2 (schema-typed sections), D10 (one-line expansion descriptions). Tier-1 [REF] sections (always emitted) + Tier-2 EXPANSION CATALOG items (lazy, on-demand) are the two output bands. Full contract: `nWave/skills/nw-density-resolution-contract/SKILL.md`.

### Tier-1 [REF], always emitted

Under `## Wave: DESIGN / [REF] <Section>` headings:

- DDD list, D-numbered design decisions with verdicts and one-line rationale
- Component decomposition, table of components with paths and change types
- Driving ports, inbound surfaces (CLI, skill, HTTP) named per the C4 contract
- Driven ports + adapters, outbound side-effects with adapter mapping
- Technology choices, pinned languages/frameworks/runtime versions
- Decisions table, DDD-N row per locked decision (no rationale prose)
- Reuse Analysis table, every overlapping component classified EXTEND or CREATE NEW
- Open questions, items deliberately deferred to DISTILL/DELIVER

### Tier-2 EXPANSION CATALOG, lazy, on-demand (per D10)

The rest: https://github.com/nWave-ai/nWave/blob/HEAD/nWave/skills/nw-design/SKILL.md