create-rfc

name	create-rfc
description	Create OpenShell RFC proposals in rfc/ from a design request. Use when the user asks to write, draft, start, create, or update an RFC, Request for Comments, architecture proposal, API proposal, process proposal, or cross-cutting design proposal that should follow the OpenShell RFC process and template.

Create RFC

Workflow

Create RFCs by following rfc/README.md and rfc/0000-template/README.md. Keep the template as the source of truth for section guidance.

1. Read rfc/README.md to confirm when an RFC is appropriate, how to choose the RFC number, and how the lifecycle works.
2. Read rfc/0000-template/README.md before drafting. Follow its section guidance, including scope, expected detail, and suggested section length.
3. Choose the next available NNNN from the existing rfc/NNNN-* directories unless the user provided a specific number.
4. Create rfc/NNNN-short-title/README.md by copying the template and replacing placeholders. Use a short hyphenated folder title.
5. Fill in front matter with the RFC author, state: draft, and any related links the user provided. If the author is unknown, use the requesting user's GitHub handle when available or leave the template placeholder.
6. Draft each section from the user's design context. Keep Summary concise, Motivation readable by anyone, Non-goals explicit, Proposal focused on what is being proposed, and Alternatives focused on credible competing approaches.
7. Preserve uncertainty in Open questions instead of silently deciding unknowns. If a missing decision blocks a coherent RFC, ask the user for that decision.
8. Check the completed RFC against the template once more before finishing.

Writing Standards

• Prefer concrete design statements over placeholder language.
• Link to relevant issues, prior RFCs, and architecture docs when they provide needed context.
• Keep rejected or left-out designs in Alternatives, not Proposal.
• Use Mermaid diagrams for architecture or data flow when a diagram would make the proposal easier to review.
• Do not update architecture/ or published docs just because an RFC was drafted. Those updates belong with implementation or with an accepted RFC when the user asks for them.

Validation

Before handing the RFC back to the user:

• Verify the folder name and RFC number match the process in rfc/README.md.
• Verify every template section is present or intentionally marked as not applicable.
• Run a Markdown formatting or lint check only if the repo already provides one for Markdown-only changes.