defaults-plus-overrideslisted
Install: claude install-skill fabioc-aloha/Alex_Skill_Mall
# Defaults Plus Overrides
**Category**: Architecture
**Time Saved**: 2+ hours avoiding configuration complexity
**Battle-tested**: Yes — user preference systems, role-based config
---
## The Problem
You're building a system with configurable behavior — user preferences, role-based permissions, or tenant-specific settings. You need sensible defaults but also flexibility. You end up with either rigid presets OR overwhelming configuration options.
## Why It's Hard
- **Too rigid**: Users can't customize what they need
- **Too flexible**: Users must configure everything
- **Presets only**: Edge cases require workarounds
- **Full config**: Decision fatigue, misconfiguration risk
## The Rule
**Provide role/archetype defaults, allow partial overrides, clamp to safe bounds.**
## The Pattern
```
Archetype Default + User Overrides + Bounds Clamping = Final Config
```
### Step 1: Define Archetypes
```javascript
const ARCHETYPES = {
developer: {
verbosity: 'detailed',
theme: 'dark',
shortcuts: true,
maxTokens: 4000,
autoSave: true,
},
executive: {
verbosity: 'concise',
theme: 'light',
shortcuts: false,
maxTokens: 1000,
autoSave: false,
},
researcher: {
verbosity: 'detailed',
theme: 'auto',
shortcuts: true,
maxTokens: 8000,
autoSave: true,
},
};
```
### Step 2: Define Bounds
```javascript
const BOUNDS = {
maxTokens: { min: 100, max: 16000 },
verbosity: ['concise', 'normal', 'detailed'],
theme: ['lig