TreeListy Skill
TreeListy is your hierarchical decomposition engine. When you need to break down a complex topic, plan a project, or structure information in a tree format, use TreeListy.
When to Use This Skill
Use TreeListy when:
- Decomposing complex tasks โ Break a large goal into phases, items, and actionable tasks
- Project planning โ Create WBS, roadmaps, or strategic plans with proper hierarchy
- Structuring analysis โ Organize arguments (philosophy), dialogues, or knowledge bases
- Content organization โ Plan books, courses, theses, or event schedules
- Visual documentation โ Generate Mermaid diagrams for any hierarchical structure
Quick Start
# List available patterns
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js patterns
# Create a structured decomposition
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js decompose --pattern wbs --input "Build a mobile app"
# Export to Mermaid diagram
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input tree.json --format mermaid
The 21 Patterns
| Pattern | Icon | Best For |
|---|---|---|
generic |
๐ | General projects, default structure |
sales |
๐ผ | Sales pipelines, quarterly deals |
thesis |
๐ | Academic papers, dissertations |
roadmap |
๐ | Product roadmaps, feature planning |
book |
๐ | Books, novels, screenplay structure |
event |
๐ | Event planning, conferences |
fitness |
๐ช | Training programs, workout plans |
strategy |
๐ | Business strategy, OKRs |
course |
๐ | Curricula, lesson plans |
film |
๐ฌ | AI video production (Sora, Veo) |
veo3 |
๐ฅ | Google Veo 3 workflows |
sora2 |
๐ฌ | OpenAI Sora 2 workflows |
philosophy |
๐ค | Philosophical arguments, dialogues |
prompting |
๐ง | Prompt engineering libraries |
familytree |
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ | Genealogy, family history |
dialogue |
๐ฌ | Debate analysis, rhetoric |
filesystem |
๐พ | File/folder organization |
gmail |
๐ง | Email workflows |
knowledge-base |
๐ | Document corpora, RAG prep |
capex |
๐ฐ | Capital expenditure, investor pitches |
freespeech |
๐๏ธ | Voice capture pattern analysis |
lifetree |
๐ณ | Biographical timelines |
custom |
โ๏ธ | Define your own level names |
Commands
patterns โ Discover available patterns
# List all patterns
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js patterns
# Get details for a specific pattern
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js patterns --name philosophy
# Get full JSON schema
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js patterns --name philosophy --detail
decompose โ Create structured trees
Takes text input (topic, outline, or structured text) and applies a pattern template.
# Simple topic
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js decompose \
--pattern roadmap \
--input "Q1 Product Roadmap for AI Assistant" \
--format json
# From structured input (markdown headers, indented lists)
echo "# Marketing Campaign
## Research Phase
- Market analysis
- Competitor review
## Execution Phase
- Content creation
- Launch ads" | node scripts/treelisty-cli.js decompose --pattern strategy --format json
# Output as Mermaid
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js decompose \
--pattern wbs \
--input "Website Redesign Project" \
--format mermaid
Options:
--pattern <key>โ Pattern to apply (default: generic)--input <text|file>โ Topic text, file path, or stdin--name <name>โ Override root node name--depth <1-4>โ Maximum tree depth--format <fmt>โ Output: json, markdown, mermaid
export โ Convert trees to other formats
# To Markdown
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input tree.json --format markdown
# To Mermaid diagram
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input tree.json --format mermaid
# To CSV
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input tree.json --format csv
# To checklist
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input tree.json --format checklist
Formats: json, markdown, mermaid, csv, checklist, html
validate โ Check tree quality
# Human-readable report
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js validate --input tree.json
# JSON report
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js validate --input tree.json --format json
Returns:
- Quality score (0-100)
- Structure analysis (node counts, depth, balance)
- Issues (errors, warnings, suggestions)
- Pattern compliance check
push โ Send to live TreeListy (optional)
If the user has TreeListy open in their browser with MCP bridge enabled:
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js push \
--input tree.json \
--port 3456
This displays the tree in TreeListy's visual canvas for interactive exploration.
Tree Data Model
Trees follow this structure:
{
"id": "n_abc12345",
"treeId": "tree_xyz78901",
"name": "Project Name",
"type": "root",
"pattern": "roadmap",
"icon": "๐",
"description": "Optional description",
"expanded": true,
"children": [
{
"name": "Phase 1",
"type": "phase",
"items": [
{
"name": "Feature A",
"type": "item",
"patternType": "Core Feature",
"subtasks": [
{
"name": "Implement login",
"type": "subtask"
}
]
}
]
}
]
}
Hierarchy: Root โ Phases (children) โ Items (items) โ Subtasks (subtasks)
Each pattern adds custom fields. For example, roadmap adds storyPoints, userImpact, technicalRisk.
Workflow Example
Agent receives complex task from user
Decompose with appropriate pattern:
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js decompose \ --pattern wbs \ --input "Build an e-commerce platform with user auth, product catalog, shopping cart, and checkout" \ --format json > project.jsonValidate the structure:
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js validate --input project.jsonExport for user consumption:
node scripts/treelisty-cli.js export --input project.json --format mermaidShare the Mermaid diagram in response to user.
No AI Tokens Used
All TreeListy operations are local pattern transformations. Zero API calls, zero token cost. The skill structures your content using 21 battle-tested hierarchical templates.
Learn More
- Full pattern reference:
references/PATTERNS.md - TreeListy visual app: https://treelisty.com
- Source: https://github.com/prairie2cloud/treelisty