Add Claude Code skills for autonomous experiment design

CLAUDE.md

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+# gpCAM Claude Skills
+
+You are helping scientists design autonomous experiments using gpCAM, a Gaussian Process-based Bayesian optimization toolkit.
+
+## Skills
+
+Read the appropriate skill file before generating code:
+
+- **Designing an experiment**: `skills/experiment-designer/SKILL.md`
+- **Custom kernels**: `skills/kernel-designer/SKILL.md`
+- **Acquisition functions**: `skills/acquisition-functions/SKILL.md`
+- **Prior mean functions**: `skills/prior-mean-functions/SKILL.md`
+- **Noise models**: `skills/noise-functions/SKILL.md`
+- **Cost functions (travel time)**: `skills/cost-functions/SKILL.md`
+- **Large-scale (>10k points)**: `skills/gp2scale-advanced/SKILL.md`
+- **Multi-task/multi-output**: `skills/multi-task-advanced/SKILL.md`
+
+## Reference Materials
+
+- [gpCAM documentation](https://gpcam.readthedocs.io) — full API reference and mathematical background
+- `gpcam/kernels.py` — re-exports the fvGP kernel library (`from fvgp.kernels import *`)
+
+## Key Principles
+
+1. **Generate complete, runnable scripts** — not fragments
+2. **Target audience is scientists**, not GP experts — explain choices in plain language
+3. **Always document the hyperparameter layout** — which index maps to what
+4. **Hyperparameter bounds must match** the total hyperparameter count across kernel + mean + noise
+5. **Default kernel is usually fine** — only suggest custom when there's a clear reason
+6. **Use vectorized numpy** — no Python loops over data points
+7. **Return dict keys**: `posterior_mean()` returns `"m(x)"`, `posterior_covariance()` returns `"v(x)"` and `"S"`. NOT `"f(x)"`.
+8. **`get_data()` keys use spaces**: `"x data"`, `"y data"`, `"hyperparameters"`, `"measurement variances"`. NOT underscores.

README.md

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 ```
 
 
+## Designing experiments with Claude Code
+
+gpCAM ships with a set of [Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code) skills that guide an AI assistant through designing autonomous experiments — custom kernels, acquisition functions, noise models, and the full ask/tell/train loop. Experimentalists who want smart, autonomous data acquisition without deep knowledge of GP math or the gpCAM API can use these skills to design autonomous experiments.
+
+When you clone this repo, the root `CLAUDE.md` and `skills/` directory are picked up automatically by Claude Code. Available skills:
+
+| Skill | Description |
+|-------|-------------|
+| **experiment-designer** | End-to-end autonomous experiment design. Translates a scientist's description of their measurement into a complete gpCAM script. |
+| **kernel-designer** | Design and compose custom kernel functions that encode domain knowledge (smoothness, periodicity, symmetry, anisotropy). |
+| **acquisition-functions** | Write custom acquisition functions that encode experimental priorities (exploration vs exploitation, multi-objective, constraints). |
+| **prior-mean-functions** | Encode known physics or expected trends as prior mean functions. |
+| **noise-functions** | Model position-dependent or heteroscedastic noise from detector characteristics. |
+| **cost-functions** | Account for motor travel time, settling, directional costs, and zone-based penalties. |
+| **gp2scale-advanced** | Large-scale experiments (>10k points) using sparse kernels and Dask distributed computing. |
+| **multi-task-advanced** | Multi-output / function-valued experiments with `fvGPOptimizer`. |
+
+These skills are also compatible with other agentic platforms (e.g. [OpenClaw](https://openclaw.ai), or any harness that can read `SKILL.md` files) — point your assistant at the `skills/` directory.
+
+
 ## Credits
 
 Main Developer: Marcus Noack ([MarcusNoack@lbl.gov](mailto:MarcusNoack@lbl.gov))

skills/acquisition-functions/SKILL.md

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+# Skill: gpCAM Acquisition Functions
+
+Design custom acquisition functions that control where gpCAM measures next.
+
+## When to Use
+
+When a user needs acquisition behavior beyond the built-in options:
+- Balancing exploration and exploitation
+- Multi-objective optimization
+- Constrained search (avoid forbidden regions)
+- Cost-aware acquisition (expensive moves)
+- Upper/lower confidence bounds
+- Probability of improvement
+
+## Acquisition Function Contract
+
+```python
+def my_acquisition(x, gp_optimizer):
+    """
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    x : np.ndarray, shape (V, D)
+        Candidate points to evaluate.
+    gp_optimizer : GPOptimizer
+        The GP model. Use its posterior_mean() and posterior_covariance() methods.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    scores : np.ndarray, shape (V,)
+        Score for each candidate. HIGHER = more desirable (function is MAXIMIZED).
+    """
+```
+
+**Key rule:** The acquisition function is **maximized**. Return higher values for points you want to measure.
+
+## Built-in Options
+
+Pass these as strings to `gpo.ask(acquisition_function=...)`:
+
+| Name | String key | Best for |
+|------|-----------|----------|
+| Variance | `"variance"` | Pure exploration / mapping |
+| Expected Improvement | `"expected improvement"` | Optimization (find max) |
+| Probability of Improvement | `"probability of improvement"` | Optimization, risk-averse |
+| Upper Confidence Bound | `"ucb"` | Maximization with tunable exploration/exploitation |
+| Lower Confidence Bound | `"lcb"` | Minimization with tunable exploration/exploitation |
+| Predicted Maximum | `"maximum"` | Pure exploitation — mean only, no uncertainty |
+| Predicted Minimum | `"minimum"` | Pure exploitation for minimization |
+| Gradient | `"gradient"` | Seek steepest regions of the posterior mean |
+| Target Probability | `"target probability"` | Find points with output near a target value |
+| Relative Information Entropy | `"relative information entropy"` | Information-theoretic exploration |
+| RIE Set | `"relative information entropy set"` | Batch acquisition |
+| Total Correlation | `"total correlation"` | Batch acquisition |
+
+To sanity-check any built-in or custom acquisition on a grid of candidates without calling `ask()`:
+```python
+scores = gpo.evaluate_acquisition_function(x_grid, acquisition_function="ucb")
+```
+
+## Custom Acquisition Recipes
+
+### Upper Confidence Bound (UCB)
+Available as the built-in string `"ucb"` — pass directly to `gpo.ask(acquisition_function="ucb")`. Write the callable form below only when you need to tune `beta` or otherwise customize the score:
+```python
+def ucb(x, gpo):
+    """
+    beta controls exploration/exploitation tradeoff:
+      beta=0: pure exploitation (just go to predicted max)
+      beta=1: mild exploration
+      beta=3: strong exploration (~95% confidence)
+    """
+    beta = 2.0  # TUNE THIS
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+    return mean + beta * np.sqrt(var)
+```
+
+### Lower Confidence Bound (for minimization)
+gpCAM maximizes acquisition, so flip the sign for minimization:
+```python
+def lcb(x, gpo):
+    """Find the minimum of the function."""
+    beta = 2.0
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+    return -(mean - beta * np.sqrt(var))  # note the negation
+```
+
+### Expected Improvement (custom version with minimization)
+```python
+from scipy.stats import norm
+
+def expected_improvement_minimize(x, gpo):
+    """Expected improvement for finding the MINIMUM."""
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+    std = np.sqrt(np.maximum(var, 1e-10))
+
+    y_best = np.min(gpo.y_data)  # current best (minimum)
+    z = (y_best - mean) / std
+    ei = std * (z * norm.cdf(z) + norm.pdf(z))
+    return ei
+```
+
+### Probability of Improvement
+```python
+from scipy.stats import norm
+
+def probability_of_improvement(x, gpo):
+    """Probability that measurement improves on current best."""
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+    std = np.sqrt(np.maximum(var, 1e-10))
+
+    y_best = np.max(gpo.y_data)
+    z = (mean - y_best) / std
+    return norm.cdf(z)
+```
+
+### Constrained Acquisition (Avoid Regions)
+```python
+def constrained_variance(x, gpo):
+    """Explore but avoid a circular forbidden zone."""
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+
+    # Forbidden zone: circle at (5, 5) with radius 1
+    center = np.array([5.0, 5.0])
+    dist = np.linalg.norm(x - center, axis=1)
+    penalty = np.where(dist < 1.0, -1e6, 0.0)
+
+    return var + penalty
+```
+
+### Multi-Objective (Weighted)
+```python
+def multi_objective(x, gpo):
+    """Balance finding the max with reducing uncertainty."""
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+
+    w_exploit = 0.7  # weight on exploitation
+    w_explore = 0.3  # weight on exploration
+
+    # Normalize each component to [0, 1]
+    mean_norm = (mean - mean.min()) / (mean.max() - mean.min() + 1e-10)
+    var_norm = (var - var.min()) / (var.max() - var.min() + 1e-10)
+
+    return w_exploit * mean_norm + w_explore * var_norm
+```
+
+### Threshold Finder (Find Boundary)
+Useful when searching for where a signal crosses a threshold:
+```python
+def threshold_finder(x, gpo):
+    """Find the boundary where f(x) = threshold."""
+    threshold = 0.5  # EDIT THIS
+
+    mean = gpo.posterior_mean(x)["m(x)"]
+    var = gpo.posterior_covariance(x, variance_only=True)["v(x)"]
+    std = np.sqrt(np.maximum(var, 1e-10))
+
+    # Score is high near the threshold AND where uncertainty is high
+    distance_to_threshold = np.abs(mean - threshold)
+    return std / (distance_to_threshold + 0.01)
+```
+
+## Usage in the Experiment Loop
+
+```python
+# Built-in string or a callable are both accepted:
+result = gpo.ask(
+    input_set=parameter_bounds,
+    acquisition_function=ucb,   # or "ucb", "expected improvement", ...
+)
+```
+
+### Useful `ask()` options
+
+| Argument | Meaning |
+|----------|---------|
+| `n=N` | Request `N` points at once (batch). For vectorized single-task, use a batch-aware acquisition like `"relative information entropy set"` or `"total correlation"`. |
+| `vectorized=True` (default) | The acquisition function is called once with all candidate points, shape `(V, D)` — required for custom callables written against the contract above. |
+| `vectorized=False` | Candidates are evaluated one at a time (list of 1-D arrays). Used for non-vectorizable acquisition or non-Euclidean inputs. |
+| `method="global"\|"local"\|"hgdl"\|"hgdlAsync"` | Inner optimizer that searches for the argmax of the acquisition over `input_set`. `hgdl` requires `dask_client=`; `hgdlAsync` starts a background search and returns an `opt_obj` you can poll or `kill_client()`. |
+| `dask_client=client` | Distribute the inner optimization across Dask workers. |
+| `batch_size=B` | When candidates are a list, evaluate them in chunks of `B` on the cluster. |
+| `max_iter`, `pop_size`, `info=True` | Inner optimizer controls. |
+
+`input_set` can be continuous bounds (`np.array([[lo,hi], ...])`), a list of candidate points (discrete finite set), or a list of arbitrary objects (non-Euclidean — strings, graphs — provided your kernel handles them).
+
+## Hyperparameter Coordination
+
+Acquisition functions don't add hyperparameters — they read the GP state via `gpo.posterior_mean()` and `gpo.posterior_covariance()`. However:
+
+- If you access `gpo.y_data` directly (e.g., for `y_best`), make sure it's up to date after `tell()`
+- The GP must be trained before acquisition makes sense — always call `train()` first
+- For `variance_only=True`: faster, returns just diagonal variances (usually what you want)
+- For full covariance: use `variance_only=False` but this is O(V²) memory
+
+## Common Pitfalls
+
+1. **Returning negative scores for points you want**: Remember, acquisition is MAXIMIZED.
+2. **Division by zero in std**: Always use `np.maximum(var, 1e-10)` before taking sqrt.
+3. **Not handling edge cases**: Early in the loop with few points, the GP posterior can be unreliable.
+4. **Expensive acquisition functions**: They're evaluated many times during optimization. Keep them fast.