| name | mk-autobuild |
| description | Runs autonomous multi-hour green-field builds: planner, contract, generator/evaluator loop, scaffolding density per model tier. NOT for scoped tasks (mk:cook); NOT for scaffolding only (mk:bootstrap). |
mk:autobuild — Autonomous Multi-Hour Build Orchestration
Step-file workflow that runs the complete generator/evaluator harness pipeline as an autonomous build. Handles green-field product builds (planner stage → contract stage → evaluator loop → ship decision) with adaptive scaffolding density based on detected model tier.
When to Use
Activate when:
- User runs
the autobuild skill "build a X" (or any green-field product description)
- Existing kit detection routes a green-field "build me an app" intent here instead of
mk:cook
- A multi-hour autonomous build is requested with no manual handholding
Skip when:
- The task is a single feature, bug fix, or refactor → use
the cook skill instead
- The task is a doc update → use the existing doc skills
- The request is "explain X" or "review Y" → use the appropriate single-shot skill
Hard Constraints
- Adaptive density — picks scaffolding density via
mk:scale-routing (or density-select.sh); honors MEOWKIT_AUTOBUILD_MODE env override
- Budget caps — warns at $30 spent, requires explicit approval at $100, hard-blocks at user-set
--budget value
- 6-hour wall-clock timeout — hard limit per Anthropic's observed runs ; checkpoints every step for resumability
- Max 3 iteration rounds between generator and evaluator before escalating to human (configurable via
--max-iter)
- Run report mandatory — every autobuild run produces
tasks/autobuild-runs/YYMMDD-{slug}/run.md with full audit trail
- Coexists with
mk:cook — does not replace it; both route through Gate 1 + Gate 2
- TDD opt-in (parallel to cook): autobuild respects
--tdd like other flows. Default: no RED-phase gate. With --tdd: writes the .codex/session-state/tdd-mode sentinel and the developer waits on tester before each generator iteration. Active-verification HARD GATE (Rule 8 of harness-rules.md) is independent of TDD mode and always applies.
Workflow
Execute via workflow.md. Step-file architecture — load one step at a time.
Step 0: Tier Detection → call mk:scale-routing; pick density (MINIMAL|FULL|LEAN)
Step 1: Plan → invoke mk:plan-creator --product-level
Step 2: Contract → invoke mk:sprint-contract (skipped if LEAN + small)
Step 3: Generate → spawn developer sub-task w/ 4-subphase pattern
Step 4: Evaluate → invoke mk:evaluate
Step 5: Iterate or Ship → PASS → shipper; FAIL → loop to step-3 (max --max-iter)
Step 6: Run Report → write the audit trail
Density Modes
| Mode | Tier | Planner | Contract | Iteration Loop | Context Reset |
|---|
| MINIMAL | TRIVIAL (Haiku) | Skip (use plan-creator --fast) | Skip | Skip | Skip |
| FULL | STANDARD (Sonnet) / COMPLEX (Opus 4.5) | Required | Required | 1–3 rounds | Optional |
| LEAN | COMPLEX (Opus 4.6+) | Required | Optional | 0–1 rounds | Skip (auto-compact) |
Run Report Schema
Every run writes tasks/autobuild-runs/YYMMDD-{slug}/run.md:
---
run_id: 260408-1450-build-todo
density: LEAN
model: opus-4-6
budget_cap: 50
budget_spent: 12.40
iterations: 1
status: PASS | WARN | FAIL | ESCALATED | TIMED_OUT
started: 2026-04-08T14:50:00Z
ended: 2026-04-08T15:18:00Z
---
# Autobuild Run — {task description}
## Density Decision
- Detected tier: {tier}
- Detected model: {model-id}
- Density: {MINIMAL|FULL|LEAN}
- Source: scale-routing | env-override | --tier flag
## Per-Step Artifacts
- step-00: {tier-detection result}
- step-01: tasks/plans/{plan-dir}/plan.md
- step-02: tasks/contracts/{contract}.md (or "skipped — LEAN small sprint")
- step-03: handoff at tasks/handoff/{slug}-sprint-1.md
- step-04: verdict at tasks/reviews/{slug}-evalverdict.md
- step-05: iteration count + final action
- step-06: this file
## Budget Trail
| Step | Spent | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| ... | ... | ... |
## Final Verdict
{PASS/FAIL/ESCALATED summary + next action}
Gotchas
- Don't run on a non-green-field task. Use
mk:cook for single features, bug fixes, refactors. The autobuild workflow is for "build me an app" scope.
- Density override stays in scope.
MEOWKIT_AUTOBUILD_MODE=LEAN does NOT skip Gate 2. Review verdict is still mandatory before ship.
- Iteration loops are bounded. Max 3 by default. After round 3, escalate — don't keep iterating blindly.
- Budget check is authoritative. If
budget-tracker.sh says block, the autobuild workflow halts even mid-iteration.
- Run reports are append-only. Don't edit prior steps' entries — the report is the audit trail.
- Resumable. If the autobuild workflow is killed mid-run,
the autobuild skill --resume {run-id} picks up at the last completed step.
References
| File | Purpose |
|---|
workflow.md | Step sequence + variable table |
step-00-tier-detection.md | Density selection via scale-routing |
step-01-plan.md | Product-level planning |
step-02-contract.md | Sprint contract negotiation |
step-03-generate.md | Developer sub-task dispatch with 4-subphase pattern |
step-04-evaluate.md | Evaluator dispatch |
step-05-iterate-or-ship.md | PASS/FAIL routing + iteration loop |
step-06-run-report.md | Audit trail writer |
references/adaptive-density-matrix.md | Full decision table per tier × model |
references/agent-teams-vs-sub-task.md | When to use teams vs file-based sub-task |
scripts/density-select.sh | Standalone density selector for scriptable use |
scripts/budget-tracker.sh | Cost-log reader; threshold warnings + hard block |
../plan-creator/ | Planner stage (Step 1) — product-level planner |
../sprint-contract/ | Contract stage (Step 2) — contract negotiation |
../rubric/ | Rubric stage (Step 2/4) — rubric library |
../evaluate/ | Evaluator stage (Step 4) — behavioral evaluator |
../scale-routing/ | Tier + density emission |
Start
Read and follow workflow.md.
