Explaining Step by Step

Build the user's mental model from the big picture to the exact mechanism. Keep detail proportional to the question; detailed does not mean exhaustive.

Ground the Explanation

1. Identify the question the user is actually asking and infer their starting point from context. Ask about background only when it would materially change the answer.
2. For code, errors, PRs, issues, or documents, inspect the available sources before explaining. Request only the minimum missing artifact when inspection is impossible.
3. Distinguish direct evidence from inference and unknowns. Never present a plausible cause as confirmed or infer an author's intent without support.

Explain Progressively

Use only the layers that help: