| name | goal-writer |
| description | Use when the user asks to create, draft, save, revise, or improve a Codex Goal, GOAL.md, goal file, persistent objective, completion contract, or long-running Codex work objective. This skill must be used before inventing or saving any goal for Codex. |
Goal Writer
Write concise Codex Goal files using the OpenAI Goals pattern: a goal is a scoped completion contract, not a vague task prompt.
Output
Save one Markdown file under goals/ named:
YYYY-MM-DD-<short-slug>-goal.md
The saved goal body must be about 3000-3500 characters, excluding frontmatter if any. Do not use GOAL.md, goal.md, or undated names.
Required Shape
Use these headings:
# Codex Goal - <short title>
## Goal
## Boundaries
## Iteration Policy
## Verification
## Deliverables
## Blocked Stop Condition
Workflow
- Identify the real objective and the evidence Codex can inspect.
- Convert weak wording into an auditable end state: outcome, verification surface, and constraints.
- Keep the goal narrow enough to audit but broad enough for Codex to choose next actions.
- Define what counts as done, partial, blocked, and out of scope.
- Include verification commands, artifacts, reports, or review surfaces.
- Save the file to
goals/YYYY-MM-DD-<short-slug>-goal.md.
- If the user asked to start the Goal in Codex, use the saved file as the source for
/goal.
Standards
- Goal: one paragraph naming the durable end state.
- Boundaries: files, systems, branches, data sources, user constraints, and non-goals.
- Iteration Policy: how Codex should proceed between evidence checks, when to pause, and how to handle discoveries.
- Verification: concrete checks such as tests, builds, benchmarks, browser proof, report review, or artifact inspection.
- Deliverables: exact files, reports, commits, or decisions expected.
- Blocked Stop Condition: when Codex must stop and report rather than claim completion.
Do not mark a goal complete just because a budget is reached. Budget exhaustion means summarize progress, blockers, and the next useful step.
Filename Slug
Use a short lowercase slug from the objective:
2026-05-20-citation-refresh-hardening-goal.md2026-05-20-prospecting-browser-qa-goal.md2026-05-20-replication-evidence-audit-goal.md
Source Pattern
This follows OpenAI's "Using Goals in Codex" guidance: strong goals name the outcome, verification method, and constraints, and research goals must separate confirmed evidence, support-only evidence, blockers, and remaining uncertainty.
