Use when assigning T1/T2/T3 to a feature in PM mode SHAPE, or when the user asks "should this be auto-commit or checkpoint". T1 = fully autonomous (auto-commit). T2 = checkpoint before commit. T3 = checkpoint before tests AND commit. The decision tree maps risk to tier — clear intent + no contract impact → T1; touches API or hot path → T2; identity-adjacent or contract-breaking → T3.
Use during Founder mode SCOUT to extract structured signals from public communities. The 7-signal framework (pain, frequency, severity, willingness-to-pay, competitor, trend, contradictory) applied across Reddit, G2, Hacker News, ProductHunt, Crunchbase. Verbatim quotes only. Contradictory signals mandatory. Bottom-up TAM only.
Use during PM mode BUILD or whenever the user asks "is this still on-strategy". Auto-fires every 5 completed features. Audits the last 5 against IDENTITY.md (WHO/JOB/NEVER), Architecture Constraints, contracts (if applicable), and rework patterns. Returns CONTINUE / DISCUSS / PIVOT / CONTRACT_HALT and flags STABILIZE if quality is degrading.
Use during Founder mode INTERROGATE / SYNTHESIZE, or whenever evaluating evidence quality. Weight 3 = behavioral (past actions, artifacts shown). Weight 2 = mixed. Weight 1 = stated intent ("I would use"). Confidence scoring caps: single source type → max 3, all stated intent → max 3, ≥4 requires ≥50% behavioral + ≥3 source types, 5 requires behavioral + commitments. Conservative scoring is the default.
Use when validating a startup hypothesis pre-PMF. Runs SCOUT → INTERROGATE → SYNTHESIZE → TEST cycles 3–5 times across 2–4 weeks until 12 graduation criteria are met. Mandatory Devil's Advocate after every INTERROGATE. Confidence scoring on 1–5 rubric with hard caps. Falsification-driven, not validation-driven.
Use when defining or evolving WHO / JOB / NEVER for a product, or when interpreting drift in PM mode. Identity is the spine that drift checks audit against. Evolution Log is append-only and tracks every identity change with trigger evidence and rationale. Identity-as-signal, not identity-as-requirement.
Use when shipping a product (post-PMF). Runs HARVEST → SHAPE → BUILD → SHIP cycles indefinitely. Each cycle harvests signals, proposes a release plan with kill-list (10% Delete Rule) and Devil's Advocate, runs the Ralph Loop with autonomy tiers (T1/T2/T3), audits drift every 5 features, ships, measures, recommends stabilization if quality slips.
Use during PM mode SHAPE or SHIP. Auto-detects when a release should be a stabilization release (all debt + rework, zero new features) — fires when rework_rate > 15%, blocked features ≥ 3, avg builder resets > 2, or avg quality_score < 6.0 across last 5 features. Caught early, stabilization saves a quarter; missed, it costs an eternal "we should refactor" backlog.