| name | powershell-change-budget-router |
| description | Budget-first routing contract for PowerShell work: estimate production-file scope, choose small vs large path, enforce direct-mode escalation to orchestrator, and use the VS Code extension command surface for promotion lifecycle steps when available. |
PowerShell Change Budget Router
Canonical guidance for deciding whether work should execute directly in powershell-typed-engineer or be escalated to powershell-orchestrator.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Intake starts from a natural-language PowerShell request.
- An agent must decide execution path before planning or implementation.
- A direct implementation agent must reject over-budget requests and route to orchestrator.
Canonical Routing Rules
- Estimate rough change budget first based on likely production PowerShell files touched.
- Route:
1-2 production files (+ corresponding tests) → small path (powershell-typed-engineer direct mode).
>2 production files → large path (powershell-orchestrator).
Orchestrated Small-Path Requirements
When routed through powershell-orchestrator, small path still requires lifecycle scaffolding before implementation:
- route promotion and active-folder lifecycle steps through
repo-automation-adapter,
- promote potential item to GitHub issue with
--work-mode minor-audit,
- create active feature folder with
--work-mode minor-audit,
- delegate minimal-audit plan creation to
atomic_planner with DIRECTIVE: MINIMAL-AUDIT PLAN REQUIRED,
- require
atomic_executor preflight until PREFLIGHT: ALL CLEAR,
- execute Phase 0 only via
atomic_executor before branching,
- run reduced small-audit after implementation and QC.
Direct invocation of powershell-typed-engineer remains implementation-focused and does not replace orchestrator lifecycle steps.
Direct-Mode Rejection Rule
If powershell-typed-engineer is invoked directly and estimated scope is >2 production files:
- Stop before implementation.
- Return explicit routing instruction to invoke
powershell-orchestrator.
Documentation Expectations
Record in response/logs:
- estimated production file count,
- chosen path (
small/large),
- rationale summary (1-3 bullets).