codebase-singularity

name	codebase-singularity
description	Apply the codebase singularity approach: reliable codebase understanding and change with a repeatable workflow, guardrails, and verification gates. Use for repo work (feature, bugfix, refactor, migration) when you need high trust, minimal diffs, and explicit validation and exit criteria.

Codebase Singularity

Quick start

1. Collect inputs: repo path, goal, constraints, risk tolerance, and validation commands.
2. Prime: list files, read README, and inspect entry points.
3. Summarize: explain repo shape and where the change belongs; ask questions if ambiguous.
4. Plan: write a short plan with success criteria and validation steps.
5. Change: implement the smallest viable patch; avoid unrelated refactors.
6. Validate: run the requested command(s) or the closest available; record results.
7. Wrap up: report changes, evidence, risks, and next steps.

Inputs

• Repo path and task goal.
• Constraints (files to avoid, time or risk limits, API stability).
• Validation commands (tests, lint, build, or targeted checks).

Outputs

• Short plan with success criteria.
• Minimal patch.
• Evidence: commands run and results.
• Wrap-up: what changed, why, risks, and next steps.

Grades (maturity ladder)

Grade 1: Prime only

• Prime, summarize, and stop on ambiguity.

Grade 2: Specialized roles + verification

• Add role prompts (e.g., test_writer, docs_fetcher, reviewer).
• Require a verification step for each role.

Grade 3: Tooling expansion

• Declare required tools or services and expected outputs.
• Prefer tools over guessing (e.g., query schema instead of inferring).

Grade 4: Closed-loop autonomy

• Run cycles: request -> validate -> resolve.
• Add hard exits: max iterations, evidence of progress, stop after repeated failures.

Guardrails

• Keep diffs small.
• Always validate; if you cannot, say so and propose a safe next step.
• Ask before broad refactors or scope expansion.

Templates

Safe bugfix

Goal: Fix <bug> with minimal change.
Constraints: Do not modify public API; avoid touching <paths>.
Validation: Run `...` and paste output.
Exit conditions: Stop after 2 failed attempts; summarize hypotheses and logs.
Deliverables: Patch + explanation + risks.

Add a feature

Goal: Add <feature>.
Constraints: Keep scope to <module>; no new dependencies.
Validation: Run `...`.
Deliverables: Patch + tests + short doc update.

References

• Read references/video.md for a concise source summary.
• Read references/transcript.md for full context.
• Read references/visual-notes.md for a visual outline.