layer-1-translation

name	layer-1-translation
description	Translates frozen case inputs into the correct meaning brief for the heavy lane. Use when the work needs `core-brief.*` or when the user asks to derive why/how/what, highlights, audience, and non-goals from product context plus a case study. Short script-first assets should use `short-script-lane` instead.

Layer 1 Translation

Turn frozen case inputs into the heavy-lane meaning brief.

Core Pipeline: Verify inputs -> Route lane -> Extract meaning -> Write brief -> Validate contract

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Mandatory Rules

Serial Execution & Gate Discipline

1. Steps execute in order. Do not draft downstream outputs before the current step's gate is satisfied.
2. If the request is a script-first short asset, route it to short-script-lane instead of drafting a short-lane brief here.
3. Do not claim translation is complete until the required Markdown and JSON files both exist.
4. If the input lacks evidence for a claim, keep it out of the brief instead of inferring it.
5. Translation decides meaning only. Visual style, motion rules, and brand expression belong to later layers.

Lane Routing Rules

• Route to the heavy lane when the work needs a reusable case-wide narrative brief, multi-scene proof, or a later storyboard -> copy -> implementation chain.
• Route to short-script-lane when the work is a 6-10s asset that starts from a micro-concept and must be approved through script -> plan -> materials before code.
• If the request is ambiguous, resolve it by checking the available frozen inputs first. Only escalate to the user if the lane cannot be inferred safely from files and scope.

Artifact-First Output Rules

• Heavy lane source of truth: ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/01-translation/core-brief.json
• Markdown companions must explain the reasoning in human-readable form, but the JSON contract is the downstream authority.

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Resource Manifest

References

Resource	Path	Purpose
intake contract	${PROJECT_DIR}/skills/shared/intake-contract.md	Frozen input expectations
output contract	${PROJECT_DIR}/skills/shared/output-contract.md	Heavy and short lane path contracts
short script lane	${PROJECT_DIR}/skills/short-script-lane/SKILL.md	Canonical short-asset workflow

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Workflow

Step 1: Verify Frozen Inputs And Route Lane

GATE: The request points to a case slug, and ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/00-input/product-context.md exists.

EXECUTION:

1. Read the frozen product-context.md.
2. Check whether the work is backed by ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/00-input/case-study.md.
3. If the work is a script-first short asset, route it to ${PROJECT_DIR}/skills/short-script-lane/SKILL.md and stop this skill.
4. Otherwise continue with the heavy lane.
5. Determine the exact output paths before drafting any content.

CHECKPOINT:

## Step 1 Complete
- [x] Frozen product context verified
- [x] Heavy lane confirmed or short-script-lane redirect decided
- [x] Heavy-lane output targets identified when applicable
- [ ] Next: auto-proceed to Step 2

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Step 2: Heavy-Lane Translation

GATE: Step 1 complete; ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/00-input/case-study.md exists; the work was not routed to short-script-lane.

EXECUTION:

1. Read the frozen case-study.md.
2. Extract only evidenced product meaning and write:
   • ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/01-translation/core-brief.md
   • ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/01-translation/core-brief.json
3. Ensure the JSON contract contains:
   • why
   • how
   • what
   • highlights
   • audience
   • nonGoals

CHECKPOINT:

## Step 2 Complete
- [x] `core-brief.md` written
- [x] `core-brief.json` written
- [x] Heavy-lane required fields verified
- [ ] Next: auto-proceed to Step 3

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Step 3: Contract Validation

GATE: Step 2 completed and ${PROJECT_DIR}/output/<case-slug>/01-translation/core-brief.json exists.

EXECUTION:

1. Re-read the written JSON contract.
2. Remove any claim that is not anchored in frozen inputs.
3. Confirm the brief stays in the meaning layer and does not leak visual style decisions.
4. Confirm the output is reusable by downstream layers rather than written as one-off prose.

CHECKPOINT:

## Step 3 Complete - Translation ready
- [x] Heavy-lane JSON contract validated against frozen inputs
- [x] Meaning-only scope preserved
- [x] Downstream-ready heavy-lane brief exists