sw-adopt

name	sw-adopt
description	Explicitly adopt an existing work into the current worktree after validating live ownership, stale sessions, and branch consistency.
argument-hint	<work-id>
allowed-tools	["Read","Write","Bash","Glob"]

Specwright Adopt

Goal

Attach an existing work to the current worktree without creating split-brain ownership. This skill attaches only the current worktree session.

Inputs

• target work ID from the argument, or the current worktree session's attachedWorkId when re-adopting the already-selected work
• {worktreeStateRoot}/session.json for the current worktree
• {repoStateRoot}/work/{workId}/workflow.json
• repo-wide session.json files discovered via git worktree list --porcelain

Outputs

• updated {worktreeStateRoot}/session.json for the current worktree only
• updated selected work workflow.json.attachment pointing at the current worktree when adoption succeeds
• concise outcome explaining whether the work was adopted, blocked by a live owner, or blocked by branch mismatch

Constraints

Scope (LOW freedom):

• /sw-adopt is the explicit same-work adoption flow. It must not silently run during /sw-design, /sw-plan, /sw-build, /sw-verify, or /sw-ship.
• /sw-adopt never rewrites another worktree's session.json.
• Subordinate sessions must not run /sw-adopt.

Target resolution (LOW freedom):

• Resolve the target work from the argument first, then the current worktree's session.json.attachedWorkId as a fallback.
• Validate that the target work exists under {repoStateRoot}/work/{workId}.
• If no target work resolves, STOP and tell the operator to pass a work ID or run /sw-design.

Ownership validation (LOW freedom):

• Use live-versus-dead session state as the adoption authority.
• Inspect repo-wide session.json files to determine live-versus-dead session state for the target work.
• Treat live top-level sessions as authoritative owners.
• Treat dead top-level sessions as stale attachments that may be superseded.
• Treat subordinate sessions as non-owners even when they reference the same workId.
• If another live top-level worktree owns the target work, STOP and tell the operator to continue there or make that owner stale first. /sw-adopt does not perform remote session surgery.

Branch consistency (LOW freedom):

• When the target work is already in building, verifying, or shipping, validate branch consistency against workflow.json.branch.
• Matching the recorded branch is necessary for in-flight adoption, but it is never sufficient to seize ownership on its own.
• If the current worktree branch is inconsistent with the recorded branch, STOP and tell the operator to check out the recorded branch first.

Mutation boundary (LOW freedom):

• On success, mutate only the current worktree's session.json and the target work's workflow.json.
• Update the target work's workflow.json.attachment to the current worktree, refresh workflow.json.branch from the current worktree branch, and refresh liveness timestamps.
• Never clear or rewrite another worktree's session file as part of adoption.

Protocol References

• protocols/state.md -- live ownership, attachment validation, subordinate rules
• protocols/context.md -- logical roots and session discovery
• protocols/git.md -- recorded branch context

Failure Modes

Condition	Action
No target work resolves	STOP: "Pass a work ID or run /sw-design first."
Target work does not exist	STOP with a missing-work error
Current session is subordinate	STOP: "Subordinate helper sessions cannot adopt work."
Another live top-level worktree owns the target work	STOP with live-owner guidance
Recorded branch mismatch for in-flight work	STOP with branch-consistency guidance