secretzero-handle

name	secretzero-handle
description	Use when the task touches `.env`, dotenv/json/yaml secret files, local `file` targets, or any workflow where secret material could enter agent context. Enforces `SZ_AGENT_MODE=true` spill-safe CLI usage, ingest preseed, strict manifest validation, and safe discovery patterns alongside `secretzero-agent` / `secretzero-author`.

SecretZero Handle (spill-safe context)

Enforces skills/secretzero/SKILL.md absolute rule: SecretZero only for secrets; never load values into agent context.

Use this skill together with skills/secretzero-agent/SKILL.md and skills/secretzero-author/SKILL.md whenever:

• The manifest references .env, *.env, or local / file targets that read or write environment files.
• You are asked to pre-seed or import values from disk into the lockfile.
• The agent might otherwise run secretzero render, list variables, get --reveal, or terraform --include-static-secrets.

Set spill-safe mode

export SZ_AGENT_MODE=true

With this set:

• secretzero validate also enforces no plaintext static-like payloads in the merged manifest (same rules as --strict-manifest-plaintext).
• secretzero render is blocked (full interpolated manifest may contain secrets).
• secretzero list variables --format json returns names only (values_redacted).
• secretzero list targets redacts non-structural target config fields in JSON and text summaries.
• secretzero get --reveal is blocked.
• secretzero backup create without --encrypted is blocked; backup restore --print is blocked.
• secretzero agent adopt / agent list are safe under spill mode (metadata-only JSON). Use --preseed-lockfile to hash present credentials without printing values. agent backup is an alias of agent adopt (not value-export backup).
• secretzero terraform with --include-static-secrets is blocked.

Unset SZ_AGENT_MODE only on trusted local shells when you intentionally need full dumps.

SZ_AGENT (Vector 3 automation) and SZ_AGENT_MODE can both be set; spill guards apply when either is true.

MCP server spill mode

The first-party MCP server (secretzero-mcp, see docs/mcp-setup.md) sets SZ_AGENT_MODE=true on startup when the variable is unset — same spill contract as CLI above.

• MCP tools (sz_status, sz_sync, sz_discover, sz_rotate, sz_drift_check) return metadata only and reject reveal parameters.
• Set SZ_WORKSPACE (or pass tool workspace) to the repository root so lockfile/Secretfile resolution matches the project.
• MCP does not replace agent sync --web or ingest preseed — use CLI for human seeding and lockfile import from disk.
• Co-load this skill whenever MCP is used for authoring or operations alongside secretzero-author / secretzero-agent.

Pre-seed lockfile from a secrets file (no values on stdout)

1. Ensure Secretfile.yml defines each secret with a local / file target whose config.path matches the on-disk file (e.g. .env).
2. Use placeholders / null leaves for static-like secrets—no literals in YAML when SZ_AGENT_MODE is on.
3. Run:

secretzero ingest preseed --source ./.env --file Secretfile.yml --format json

Stdout is metadata only (counts, per-secret status, matched secret names)—same contract as secretzero import.

For broader key discovery when authoring manifests:

secretzero detect . --all-keys --format json

That lists variable names from dotenv-style files (no values).

Authoring rules under agent handle

• Never read_file on .env, .env.*, *.pem, or lane .szvar files that may contain secrets.
• Prefer secretzero ingest preseed + secretzero validate instead of copying values into chat or YAML.
• Use secretzero agent sync --web for human entry when ingest cannot cover a secret.

Install / verify

Same as other SecretZero skills (uv tool install "secretzero[all]", then secretzero --help, secretzero ingest preseed --help).