source-grounded-decisions

name	source-grounded-decisions
description	Use before a version- or spec-sensitive decision — framework or library code, a CLI flag, a config schema field, or a named standard/edition — when correctness depends on the exact version. Detect the version, ground the decision in the authoritative source, and cite it; flag the assumption when no source is available.
metadata	{"short-description":"Ground version- and spec-sensitive decisions in cited sources"}

Source-Grounded Decisions

Do not implement version- or spec-sensitive details from memory — training data goes stale and APIs, flags, and schemas change. Ground the decision in an authoritative source the user can check, and cite it. Composes with research-verification-gate and claim-preserving-writing.

When to use

• writing framework or library code where the version determines the correct pattern
• a CLI flag, environment variable, or config field whose name or behavior is version-specific
• a named standard, schema, or data edition (an API field, a format, a regulation)
• a research step whose correctness depends on the exact tool or data version

When not to use

• version-agnostic logic (loops, data structures, renames, moving files)
• the user explicitly wants speed over verification

Method

1. Detect the version. Read the authority pointer for the task: the dependency file (package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Cargo.toml, Gemfile) for code; --version or the man page for a CLI; the named edition for a standard. State it explicitly, e.g. DETECTED: React 19.1, Vite 6.2. If it is missing or ambiguous, ask rather than guess — the version determines which pattern is right.
2. Fetch the authoritative source for the specific feature: the relevant official doc page, spec section, or man entry, pinned to the detected version. Prefer official docs, then the primary spec, then maintainer source, over blog posts or memory.
3. Ground the decision in what the source actually says; do not pattern-match from memory or carry a pattern across versions.
4. Cite or flag. Cite the source (page or section, and version) next to the decision. If no authoritative source is reachable, mark the decision UNVERIFIED — assumed rather than presenting it as established.

Output contract

Next to each version-sensitive decision, show the detected version and the cited source, or an explicit UNVERIFIED — assumed flag.

Guardrails

• ask for the version rather than guess when it is ambiguous
• one authoritative source beats three blog posts
• never present an unverified version-sensitive choice as established — flag it

Recommended templates

When this skill is involved, consider these workflow templates (install via the workflow-templates artifact profile, or --with-deps to pull backing skills):

• reversible-decision-memo -- Evidence-grounded decision record with named alternatives, source-cited rationale, reversibility class and trip-wires, and a fresh-context adversarial confirmation before the decision stands.