docs-update

name	docs-update
version	3.3.0
description	[Documentation] Use when updating impacted documentation after code, spec, or test changes.

[BLOCKING] Execute skill steps in declared order. NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval. [BLOCKING] Before each step or sub-skill call, update task tracking: set in_progress when step starts, set completed when step ends. [BLOCKING] Every completed/skipped step MUST include brief evidence or explicit skip reason. [BLOCKING] If Task tools are unavailable, create and maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with the same status transitions.

Quick Summary

Goal: Detect impacted docs from code changes and orchestrate updates across all doc types so every code/spec/test change leaves documentation in sync — impacted Feature Specs, §8 TCs, test-code links, and derived indexes all reflect the shipped behavior, with zero drift left silent.

Summary:

• This skill is a ROUTER, not an author — start with Phase 0 triage (git diff → categorize → dedup modules) and delegate each doc type to its owner (/spec, /spec [mode=tests], /spec [mode=sync], /spec-index); NEVER write §8 or docs/specs/ content directly.
• Create ALL 8 tasks via TaskCreate before touching any file; run the fixed phase order 0 → 1 → 2 → 2.5 → 3 → 4 → 5 → final review and mark every skipped phase completed with a reason — fast-exit is a decision, never a silent omission.
• The final pass (Step 2.4) is the workflow's last gate: per touched module verify the shipped code against §3 ACs, §4 BRs, and §8 TCs — a removed/weakened [HARD] BR is a code-vs-spec contradiction that BLOCKS completion.
• Output is tech-agnostic prose (no framework/product names outside evidence fields) and traceability-first (update FR-/BR-/OP-/TC- logical IDs before prose); ALWAYS write the Phase 5 summary report as the audit trail.

Orchestration Model:

git diff → Triage → Phase 1: Project Docs (inline)
                  → Phase 2: /spec (business feature docs)
                  → Phase 2.5: /spec-index (derived index/ERD refresh) [optional]
                  → Phase 3: /spec [mode=tests] (§8 test specifications)
                  → Phase 4: /spec [mode=sync] (§8 ↔ test code sync)
                  → Phase 5: Summary Report

Key Rules:

• Router only — NEVER duplicate sub-skill logic or write Section 8 / docs/specs/ content
• Each phase checks whether needed before invoking — skip phases with no impact
• Step-to-skill order is fixed — run phases sequentially, never out of order
• ALWAYS report what was checked, even if nothing needed updating
• Pass triage context (changed files, detected modules, impacted sections) to each sub-skill via $ARGUMENTS
• MUST ATTENTION dedup module list — backend + frontend changes for same module = ONE entry
• MUST ATTENTION track step state live: in_progress -> execute -> completed (or completed with skip reason)
• For .claude skills/hooks/workflows/sync tooling changes, flag generated mirror sync status (npm run codex:sync completed or explicit N/A). docs-update routes and reports this check; it does not edit generated mirrors directly.
• [BLOCKING] Tech-agnostic output: when updating spec/specs/README/INDEX, do NOT introduce framework/product/language/design-pattern names into prose or headings — preserve the evidence-field exception (**Evidence**, IntegrationTest, [Source:], frontmatter, Mermaid). Authority: docs/project-reference/spec-principles.md §3.
• [BLOCKING] M3 Traceability Update: See .claude/skills/shared/sdd-artifact-contract.md → "AI-SDD Mandates (M1-M6)" for BLOCKING criteria. When syncing docs after code changes, update the logical-ID mappings (FR-/BR-/OP-/TC-) FIRST, then the prose. The [Source: namespace/service/id] abstract-anchor evidence is re-resolved ONLY if the logical artifact was renamed/split — a file move or stack change does NOT change the anchor (physical coords live only in the provenance sidecar) — and the logical-ID spine stays stable across the change — never drop or renumber a logical ID just because the code moved. Keep all synced prose M1/M2-clean.

Be skeptical. Apply critical thinking, sequential thinking. Every claim needs traced proof, confidence >80%.

---

Mandatory Task Creation (ZERO TOLERANCE)

[BLOCKING] Create ALL 8 tasks via TaskCreate BEFORE touching any file. NEVER consolidate, rename, omit. Conditional tasks skipped: mark completed immediately with reason — NEVER silently omit.

#	Task Subject	Conditional?
1	[docs-update] Phase 0 — Triage: collect git diff, categorize files, detect modules, check existing docs	No — always first
2	[docs-update] Phase 1 — Update project docs (project-structure-reference.md, README.md)	Yes — only if configured framework/shared source paths or architectural changes are in diff
3	[docs-update] Phase 2 — Invoke /spec: update business feature docs	Yes — service/frontend files changed AND module has existing feature docs
4	[docs-update] Phase 2.5 — Invoke /spec-index [mode=index]: refresh derived bucket INDEX/ERD	Yes — a Feature Spec changed AND the bucket maintains a derived index/ERD
5	[docs-update] Phase 3 — Invoke /spec [mode=tests]: update/add §8 test specifications	Yes — new functionality added OR existing behavior changed
6	[docs-update] Phase 4 — Invoke /spec [mode=sync]: sync §8 ↔ test code	Yes — Phase 3 changed §8 TCs
7	[docs-update] Phase 5 — Write summary report to plans/reports/docs-update-{YYMMDD}-{HHMM}.md	No — always
8	[docs-update] Final review — verify all impacted docs updated, no phases skipped without justification, AND run the Step 2.4 code↔spec sync-verify (AC/BR/TC drift) for every touched module	No — always

Execution rules:

• Mark each task in_progress when starting, completed when done — one active at a time
• Multiple modules → add one subtask per module for Phase 2/3 invocations
• NEVER batch-complete — each sub-skill invocation tracked individually
• Phase 0 fast-exit (tooling-only changes) → mark tasks 2-8 completed with reason "Skipped — no business code changed"
• NEVER execute a phase step until matching task status is in_progress
• After each phase/skill call, write one-line evidence in task update (what ran, what changed, why skipped)
• If TaskCreate/task updates unavailable, maintain equivalent 8-task plan tracker with same status transitions

---

Step-Skill Call Order (Do Not Reorder)

Order	Task ID	Step / Phase	Skill Call	Tracking Rule
1	1	Phase 0: Triage	Inline triage logic in this skill	Set Task 1 in_progress before diff scan; set completed after module + impact map recorded
2	2	Phase 1: Project Docs	docs-manager sub-agent (if impacted)	Set Task 2 in_progress before spawn/update; completed with updated docs or skip reason
3	3	Phase 2: Business Feature Docs	/spec	Set Task 3 in_progress before invocation; completed after output review
4	4	Phase 2.5: Derived Index Refresh	/spec-index [mode=index]	Set Task 4 in_progress before invocation; completed after INDEX rows match Feature Specs
5	5	Phase 3: §8 Test Specs	/spec [mode=tests]	Set Task 5 in_progress before invocation; completed after TC review
6	6	Phase 4: §8 ↔ Test Code Sync	/spec [mode=sync]	Set Task 6 in_progress before invocation; completed after sync validation
7	7	Phase 5: Summary Report	Inline report write	Set Task 7 in_progress before report write; completed after file path confirmed
8	8	Final Review	Inline verification gate	Set Task 8 in_progress before final audit; completed after all phases justified

Enforcement: If a required step cannot run, STOP and ask user before adapting order. Never continue with untracked steps.

---

Phase 0: Triage — Detect Impacted Documentation

Step 0.1: Collect Changed Files

1. Run git diff --name-only HEAD (staged + unstaged changes)
2. No uncommitted changes → git diff --name-only HEAD~1 (last commit)
3. Still empty → git diff --name-only origin/develop...HEAD (branch changes)

Step 0.2: Categorize Changes

Changed File Pattern	Impact Category	Phases to Run
{backend-source-paths}/** from docs/project-config.json	spec + spec [mode=tests] + project-docs	1 + 2 + 3 + 4
{frontend-apps-dir}/**, {frontend-libs-dir}/{domain-lib}/**	spec + spec [mode=tests] + project-docs	1 + 2 + 3 + 4
{legacy-frontend-dir}/**Client/**	spec + spec [mode=tests] + project-docs	1 + 2 + 3 + 4
{configured-framework-source-paths}/**	project-docs only	1 only
docs/**	project-docs only	1 only
.claude/**, config files only	none	Fast exit
{frontend-libs-dir}/{framework-core-lib}/**, {frontend-libs-dir}/{common-lib}/**	project-docs only	1 only

Step 0.3: Fast Exit Check

ALL changed files in none category (only .claude/, .github/, root config):

• Report: "No documentation impacted by current changes (config/tooling only)."
• Mark tasks 2-8 completed with reason "Skipped — no business code changed"
• Exit early.

Step 0.4: Auto-Detect Affected Modules

Extract unique module names from changed paths. MUST ATTENTION dedup: unique() before passing to any sub-skill — backend + frontend same module = ONE entry. Prevents duplicate /spec invocations.

Changed File Path Pattern	Detected Module
{backend-module-path}/{Module}/**	{Module}
{frontend-apps-dir}/{app-name}/**	{Module} (map app to module)
{frontend-libs-dir}/{domain-lib}/{configured-feature-path}/**	{Module} (map feature to module)
{legacy-frontend-dir}/{Module}Client/**	{Module}

Build project-specific mapping from docs/project-config.json and project reference docs, not from hard-coded skill paths:

node -e "const cfg=require('./docs/project-config.json'); console.log(JSON.stringify({sourcePaths: cfg.codebaseHealth?.sourcePaths, contextGroups: cfg.contextGroups?.map(g => ({name:g.name,pathRegexes:g.pathRegexes})), specRoot: 'docs/specs/'}, null, 2))"
node -e "process.stdout.write('docs/specs/')"

Step 0.5: Check Existing Docs for Each Module

For each detected module:

1. Check the matching bucket directory exists under docs/specs/
2. Check that the bucket contains README.*.md Feature Specs, or use the project reference doc's feature-doc layout
3. Check the matching bucket directory under docs/specs/ exists using project reference docs
4. Record: hasFeatureSpec (§1–§7 present), hasTestSpecs (§8 present), hasDerivedIndex (bucket INDEX.md present)

---

Phase 1: Project Documentation Update (Inline)

When to run: Diff includes configured framework/shared source paths, docs/**, or architectural changes.

When to skip: Only service-layer or frontend feature files changed. Skip → proceed to Phase 2.

Step 1.1: Spawn Scouts (standalone invocation only)

Standalone (not workflow step): spawn 2-4 scout-external (preferred) or scout (fallback) via Task. Merge results into context.

Workflow step: skip — use Phase 0 git diff context.

Step 1.2: Update Project Docs

Pass context to docs-manager sub-agent (subagent_type="docs-manager") for project doc updates:

• docs/project-reference/project-structure-reference.md — update if service architecture or cross-service patterns changed
• README.md — update if project scope or setup changed (keep under 300 lines)

NEVER regenerate all docs — only update docs directly impacted by changes.

---

Phase 2: Business Feature Documentation — Invoke /spec

When to run: Triage detected modules with hasFeatureDocs = true AND service/frontend files changed.

When to skip: No service/frontend feature files changed. Report: "No business feature docs impacted."

Step 2.1: Determine Create vs Update

Scenario	Action
Module has existing feature docs	Invoke /spec — auto-detect triggers update flow
Module has NO feature docs AND change adds/changes a feature (new endpoint, command/query, entity, business rule, user-facing behavior)	BLOCK — Report: "Module {Module} has NO Feature Spec but this change introduces feature behavior. Create the tech-free 8-section Feature Spec FIRST via /spec, then re-run docs-update." Do NOT skip. This is the doc-first gate.
Module has NO feature docs AND change is tooling/style/config-only (no behavioral impact)	Skip with reason "No feature behavior changed — no Feature Spec required." (matches Phase 0 fast-exit at :113-120).
User explicitly asked for full doc creation	Invoke /spec with explicit module name

Step 2.2: Invoke /spec

/spec Update feature docs for modules: {detected modules}.
Changed files: {list from triage}.
Impacted sections based on change types: {section impact from triage}.
Mode: update (existing docs only, do not create from scratch).

What /spec handles (DO NOT duplicate here):

• 8-section tech-free structure enforcement
• Diff analysis → section impact mapping
• Codebase analysis (entities, commands, queries, controllers)
• Update impacted sections with evidence
• Bucket INDEX.md catalog row update
• 3-pass verification (evidence audit, domain model, cross-reference)
• Tech-free principles (no implementation details in §1–§7; evidence carriers in §8 + [Source:] only)

Step 2.3: Review /spec Output

1. Updated sections align with triage's section impact mapping
2. No sections missed that triage flagged as impacted
3. Gaps found → re-invoke /spec for missed sections

Step 2.4: Code↔Spec Sync-Verify (final pass — runs because docs-update is last in every sequence)

Purpose: docs-update already runs LAST in feature/bugfix/big-feature, so this is the workflow's final gate. It is the order-time partner of the Phase 4 commit hook (this step guides; the hook enforces). Verify the SHIPPED code actually matches the mapped tech-free 8-section Feature Spec before the workflow completes.

For each module touched in this run, diff the changed code against its Feature Spec and check three sets:

Spec set (Feature Spec section)	Sync check against changed code	On drift
§3 Acceptance Criteria (AC-{FC}-NN)	Every changed user-facing behavior maps to an AC; new behavior with no AC = missing AC.	Report drift; re-invoke /spec to add the AC.
§4 Business Rules (BR-{FC}-NNN, [HARD]/[SOFT])	Each changed validation/invariant matches a BR; a [HARD] rule whose code path was removed/weakened = regression.	BLOCK — surface as a code-vs-spec contradiction for the author to resolve.
§8 Test Specifications (TC-{FC}-NNN + IntegrationTest:)	Each new/changed behavior has a TC; each Tested TC's IntegrationTest: {File}::{Method} still resolves.	Report; route to /spec [mode=sync].

Output: a short sync-verify table (module · AC drift · BR drift/contradiction · TC drift) appended to the docs-update report. Clean = no drift across all three. A [HARD]-BR contradiction blocks workflow completion until resolved or explicitly accepted by the owner.

Scope: business code↔spec drift only. Technical contracts (API routes/DTOs, bus/job mechanics) are code-canonical and intentionally NOT re-verified against prose. No new sequence step and no verify-sync mode is added — this responsibility lives inside docs-update's existing final pass.

---

Phase 2.5: Derived Index / ERD Refresh (OPTIONAL — spec-index)

[SINGLE-HOME] There is no separate "engineering spec bundle". The canonical artifact is the 8-section Feature Spec updated in Phase 2. spec-index is repurposed to regenerate only the DERIVED bucket INDEX.md / cross-capability ERD from those Feature Specs — it never re-extracts an A-E tree. Run this phase only if the bucket maintains a derived index/ERD that the Phase 2 change made stale.

When to run: Phase 2 changed one or more Feature Specs AND the bucket maintains a derived INDEX.md / ERD aid that now lags.

When to skip:

• Only docs/, .claude/, or config files changed
• No Feature Spec under docs/specs/{Bucket}/ was touched
• Phase 2 was skipped (no feature impact)
• The bucket maintains no derived index/ERD, OR project-config.json contains "spec_discovery_update": false
• spec already refreshed INDEX.md in Phase 2 (no separate refresh needed)

Step 2.5.1: Resolve the Bucket

• Map the changed services to an App Bucket using the canonical table in docs/project-reference/spec-system-reference.md → App Bucket Mapping.
• Confirm docs/specs/{Bucket}/ holds the updated Feature Spec(s).

Step 2.5.2: Invoke spec-index (Derived Index Mode)

/spec-index mode=index bucket={Bucket} artifacts=INDEX[,ERD]
Source: the canonical Feature Specs in docs/specs/{Bucket}/.
Output: regenerated DERIVED docs/specs/{Bucket}/INDEX.md (+ {Bucket}.erd.md if maintained), each carrying the DERIVED banner.

Step 2.5.3: Verify Refresh Complete

• Confirm INDEX.md rows match the current set of Feature Specs (no dangling links, no missing capabilities).
• Confirm the DERIVED banner + regenerate date are present.
• Report: "Derived index refreshed: {Bucket} — {N} capabilities catalogued".

Separation of concerns: docs-update orchestrates — passes the bucket scope to spec-index. NEVER hand-edits the derived index, and NEVER recreates M##/A-E artifacts (retired).

---

Phase 3: Test Specifications — Invoke /spec [mode=tests]

When to run: New functionality added (commands, queries, endpoints, components) OR existing behavior changed.

When to skip: Changes purely cosmetic (styling, comments, docs-only) with no behavioral impact.

Step 3.1: Determine TC Mode

Context	TC Mode
New feature code, no existing TCs	implement-first
PBI/story exists, code not yet written	TDD-first
Existing TCs + code changes / bugfix	update
User says "sync test specs"	sync
Tests exist with annotations, no docs	from-integration-tests

PBI/idea artifact route: when changed artifacts match configured PBI/idea artifact roots from docs/project-config.json or project reference docs, docs-update performs detection/delegation only. It may identify affected module, feature doc, and TC scope, then route to /spec, /spec [mode=tests], or /spec [mode=sync]. It must not generate TC content directly from PBI/idea artifacts or edit Section 8 itself. If artifact roots are not configured, ask the user to initialize project config/reference docs before assuming a path.

Step 3.2: Invoke /spec [mode=tests]

/spec [mode=tests] Mode: {detected mode}.
Modules: {detected modules}.
Changed files: {list from triage}.
New functionality detected: {new commands/queries/endpoints from diff analysis}.

What /spec [mode=tests] handles (DO NOT duplicate here):

• 5 modes: TDD-first, implement-first, update, sync, from-integration-tests
• TC-{FEATURE}-{NNN} format with decade-based numbering
• Interactive TC review (AskUserQuestion)
• Cross-cutting categories: authorization, seed data, performance, data migration
• Phase-mapped coverage (plan phases → TCs)
• Graph context analysis for cross-service impact
• Evidence verification per TC
• Write to feature doc Section 8 (canonical TC registry)

Step 3.3: Review /spec [mode=tests] Output

1. New TCs cover all new functionality from triage
2. TC IDs don't collide with existing ones
3. Evidence fields populated (not template placeholders)

---

Phase 4: Test Spec ↔ Test Code Sync — Invoke /spec [mode=sync]

When to run: Phase 3 produced new/updated TCs in §8 of a Feature Spec.

When to skip: No §8 test-spec changes.

Step 4.1: Invoke /spec [mode=sync]

/spec [mode=sync] Sync test specs for capabilities: {detected features}.
Direction: forward (Feature Spec §8 Test Specifications → integration test code).
Updated TCs from Phase 3: {list of new/changed TC IDs}.

What /spec [mode=sync] handles (DO NOT duplicate here):

• Forward/reverse sync: §8 Test Specifications ↔ integration test code
• 2-way comparison: Feature Spec §8 vs test code (code is the technical source of truth)
• Integration test cross-reference (configured test-spec annotation key TestSpec and the per-TC IntegrationTest: field)

The retired QA dashboards (docs/specs/README.md, docs/specs/PRIORITY-INDEX.md) and the A-E/M## engineering tree no longer exist — §8 is the canonical TC registry. The only derived TC roll-up is the bucket INDEX.md count, refreshed in Phase 2.5.

Step 4.2: Review Sync Results

1. All new TCs from Phase 3 are reflected in test code (or flagged Untested with rationale).
2. No orphaned TCs (referenced by test code's TestSpec annotation but absent from §8).

---

Section Ownership Reference

Which skill owns which doc sections — docs-update delegates only, NEVER writes directly:

Section	Owner Skill	docs-update Role
§1–§7 (Feature Spec, tech-free)	/spec	Pass triage context; review output
§8 (Test Specifications)	/spec [mode=tests]	Pass TC mode + changed files; NEVER write TCs here
§8 ↔ test code sync	/spec [mode=sync]	Pass capability list + direction; NEVER edit directly
Derived bucket INDEX.md / ERD	/spec-index (optional)	Pass bucket scope; NEVER hand-edit the derived index

---

Phase 5: Summary Report

ALWAYS write full report to plans/reports/docs-update-{YYMMDD}-{HHMM}.md:

### Documentation Update Summary

**Triage:** {N} files changed → {categories detected}
**Modules detected:** {module list}
**Generated mirror sync:** {Completed / N/A / Required before close}

**Phase 1 — Project Docs:**

- {Updated/Skipped}: {reason}

**Phase 2 — Feature Specs (/spec):**

- {Capability X}: {Updated §1–§7 / No existing Feature Spec / Not impacted}
- {Capability Y}: {Updated §4 Business Rules, §5 Domain Model / Skipped: no Feature Spec}

**Phase 2.5 — Derived Index Refresh (/spec-index, optional):**

- {Refreshed {Bucket} INDEX.md ({N} capabilities) / Skipped: no derived index maintained / Skipped: spec_discovery_update=false}

**Phase 3 — Test Specifications §8 (/spec [mode=tests]):**

- Mode: {mode used}
- New TCs: {list of TC IDs added}
- Updated TCs: {list of TC IDs modified}
- Skipped: {reason if skipped}

**Phase 4 — Test Spec ↔ Test Code Sync (/spec [mode=sync]):**

- {Synced N TCs to test code / Skipped: no §8 changes}
- Discrepancies: {§8-vs-test-code comparison issues}

**Recommendations:**

- {New docs that should be created}
- {Stale docs flagged but not auto-fixed}
- {TCs flagged as Untested}

---

Decision Matrix: When to Use docs-update vs Direct Skill

Scenario	Use docs-update?	Use skill directly?
Post-implementation doc sync (any code change)	Yes — full orchestration	—
Create new feature docs from scratch	No	/spec
Generate TCs for specific PBI (TDD-first)	No	/spec [mode=tests]
Route PBI/idea artifact changes	Yes — detection/delegation	/spec + /spec [mode=tests] owner skills
Sync dashboard only (no code changes)	No	/spec [mode=sync]
Workflow step after /plan-execute or /fix	Yes — full orchestration	—
User asks "update docs after my changes"	Yes — full orchestration	—

---

Additional Requests

Pass caller context via $ARGUMENTS to skip redundant triage or narrow scope:

Key	Example	Effect
modules	modules=ModuleA,ModuleB	Skip auto-detect; use provided list
changed_files	changed_files=<configured-source-path>/ModuleA/...	Skip git diff; use provided file list
phases	phases=2,3	Run only specified phases
mode	mode=update	Override spec mode detection
tc_mode	tc_mode=implement-first	Override spec [mode=tests] mode detection
skip_phases	skip_phases=1,2.5	Skip specific phases

<additional_requests> $ARGUMENTS </additional_requests>

---

Escalation: When docs-update Is Not Enough

Situation	What to do instead
Feature Spec missing but capability exists	Run /spec [mode=init] to author the 8-section Feature Spec, then docs-update
Derived bucket INDEX.md/ERD missing	Run /spec-index mode=index bucket={Bucket} to (re)generate it
Integration tests don't match TCs	Run /integration-test-review to diagnose, then /integration-test to fix
Bug caused by wrong spec	Run /spec [mode=update] (fix the canonical spec) BEFORE docs-update; optionally /spec-index mode=index to re-derive the bucket index

---

[BLOCKING] Create ALL 8 tasks via TaskCreate BEFORE any action — see Mandatory Task Creation table. NEVER skip, batch-complete, or mark done without invoking sub-skill. [BLOCKING] Follow fixed step-skill order: Phase 0 -> Phase 1 -> Phase 2 -> Phase 2.5 -> Phase 3 -> Phase 4 -> Phase 5 -> Final review. NEVER reorder, merge, or skip without explicit user approval. [BLOCKING] Per-step task lock: BEFORE each step, mark task in_progress; AFTER each step, mark task completed with evidence or explicit skip reason. [BLOCKING] If Task tool unavailable, create equivalent 8-step plan tracker and keep statuses synced for every step.

Critical Purpose: Single orchestrator for ALL documentation sync after code changes. Triages impact, delegates to specialized skills.

Evidence Gate: [BLOCKING] — every claim requires file:line proof or traced evidence, confidence >80% to act.

Critical Thinking Mindset — Apply critical thinking, sequential thinking. Every claim needs traced proof, confidence >80% to act. Anti-hallucination: Never present guess as fact — cite sources for every claim, admit uncertainty freely, self-check output for errors, cross-reference independently, stay skeptical of own confidence — certainty without evidence root of all hallucination.

Sub-Agent Return Contract — When this skill spawns a sub-agent, the sub-agent MUST return ONLY this structure. Main agent reads only this summary — NEVER requests full sub-agent output inline.

## Sub-Agent Result: [skill-name]

Status: ✅ PASS | ⚠️ PARTIAL | ❌ FAIL
Confidence: [0-100]%

### Findings (Critical/High only — max 10 bullets)

- [severity] [file:line] [finding]

### Actions Taken

- [file changed] [what changed]

### Blockers (if any)

- [blocker description]

Full report: plans/reports/[skill-name]-[date]-[slug].md

Main agent reads Full report file ONLY when: (a) resolving a specific blocker, or (b) building a fix plan. Sub-agent writes full report incrementally (per SYNC:incremental-persistence) — not held in memory.

Context budget — the return payload is a SUMMARY, not a transcript: ≤10 finding bullets, no raw file contents / full diffs / verbatim logs inline, no re-pasted source. Everything beyond the summary lives in the Full report on disk. A sub-agent that would exceed the summary shape MUST write the detail to its report and return only the pointer — the orchestrator's context is the scarce resource the whole map-reduce protects.

Cross-Service Check — Microservices/event-driven: MANDATORY before concluding investigation, plan, spec, or feature doc. Missing downstream consumer = silent regression.

Boundary	Grep terms
Event producers	Publish, Dispatch, Send, emit, EventBus, outbox, IntegrationEvent
Event consumers	Consumer, EventHandler, Subscribe, @EventListener, inbox
Sagas/orchestration	Saga, ProcessManager, Choreography, Workflow, Orchestrator
Sync service calls	HTTP/gRPC calls to/from other services
Shared contracts	OpenAPI spec, proto, shared DTO — flag breaking changes
Data ownership	Other service reads/writes same table/collection → Shared-DB anti-pattern

Per touchpoint: owner service · message name · consumers · risk (NONE / ADDITIVE / BREAKING).

BLOCKED until: Producers scanned · Consumers scanned · Sagas checked · Contracts reviewed · Breaking-change risk flagged

AI Mistake Prevention — Failure modes to avoid on every task:

Re-read files after context changes. Context compaction, resume, or long-running work can make memory stale; verify current files before acting. Verify generated content against source evidence. AI hallucinates APIs, names, claims, and document facts. Check the relevant source before documenting or referencing. Check downstream references before deleting or renaming. Removing an artifact can stale docs, generated mirrors, configs, and callers; map references first. Trace the full impact chain after edits. Changing a definition can miss derived outputs and consumers. Follow the affected chain before declaring done. Verify ALL affected outputs, not just the first. One green check is not all green checks; validate every output surface the change can affect. Assume existing values are intentional — ask WHY before changing. Before changing a constant, limit, flag, wording, or pattern, read nearby context and history. Surface ambiguity before acting — don't pick silently. Multiple valid interpretations require an explicit question or stated assumption with risk. Keep shared guidance role-relevant. Universal guidance must help every receiving skill or agent; code-specific obligations belong only in code-specific protocols.

Nested Task Expansion Contract — For workflow-step invocation, the [Workflow] ... row is only a parent container; the child skill still creates visible phase tasks.

1. Call TaskList first. If a matching active parent workflow row exists, set nested=true and record parentTaskId; otherwise run standalone.
2. Create one task per declared phase before phase work. When nested, prefix subjects [N.M] $skill-name — phase.
3. When nested, link the parent with TaskUpdate(parentTaskId, addBlockedBy: [childIds]).
4. Orchestrators must pre-expand a child skill's phase list and link the workflow row before invoking that child skill or sub-agent.
5. Mark exactly one child in_progress before work and completed immediately after evidence is written.
6. Complete the parent only after all child tasks are completed or explicitly cancelled with reason.

Blocked until: TaskList done, child phases created, parent linked when nested, first child marked in_progress.

Project Reference Docs Gate — Run after task-tracking bootstrap and before target/source file reads, grep, edits, or analysis. Project docs override generic framework assumptions.

1. Identify scope: file types, domain area, and operation.
2. Required docs by trigger: always docs/project-reference/lessons.md; doc lookup docs-index-reference.md; review code-review-rules.md; backend/CQRS/API backend-patterns-reference.md; domain/entity domain-entities-reference.md; frontend/UI frontend-patterns-reference.md; styles/design scss-styling-guide.md + design-system/design-system-canonical.md; integration tests integration-test-reference.md; E2E e2e-test-reference.md; feature docs/specs feature-spec-reference.md + spec-system-reference.md + spec-principles.md; behavior/public-contract/spec-test-code sync workflow-spec-test-code-cycle-reference.md; derived spec index/ERD/reimplementation guides spec-system-reference.md + source Feature Specs under docs/specs/; architecture/new area project-structure-reference.md.
3. Read every required doc. If docs/project-config.json, the docs index, lessons.md, CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, or any task-required reference doc is missing or stale, auto-run /project-init or the narrow lower-level route (/project-config, /docs-init, /scan-all, /scan --target=<key>, /claude-md-init) before ordinary project-specific work. If Codex mirrors or AGENTS.md are missing/stale, ask the user to run /sync-codex; do not auto-run it.
4. Before target work, state: Reference docs read: ... | Not applicable: ....

Ready when: scope evaluated, required docs checked/read or setup route completed, lessons.md confirmed, citation emitted.

Task Tracking & External Report Persistence — Bootstrap this before execution; then run project-reference doc prefetch before target/source work.

1. Create a small task breakdown before target file reads, grep, edits, or analysis. On context loss, inspect the current task list first.
2. Mark one task in_progress before work and completed immediately after evidence; never batch transitions.
3. For plan/review work, create plans/reports/{skill}-{YYMMDD}-{HHmm}-{slug}.md before first finding.
4. Append findings after each file/section/decision and synthesize from the report file at the end.
5. Final output cites Full report: plans/reports/{filename}.

Blocked until: task breakdown exists, report path declared for plan/review work, first finding persisted before the next finding.

MUST ATTENTION apply critical + sequential thinking — every claim needs appropriate traced evidence (file:line for repo/code claims; source URL or artifact section for research, product, content, and docs claims); confidence >80% to act, <60% DO NOT recommend. Anti-hallucination: never present guess as fact, admit uncertainty freely, cross-reference independently, stay skeptical of own confidence.

MUST ATTENTION apply AI mistake prevention — verify generated content against evidence, trace downstream references before deleting or renaming, verify all affected outputs, re-read files after context loss, and surface ambiguity before acting.

• MANDATORY Bootstrap task tracking before target work; transition one task at a time.
• MANDATORY Persist plan/review findings to plans/reports/ incrementally and synthesize from disk.

• MANDATORY After task-tracking bootstrap and before target/source work, read required project-reference docs and cite Reference docs read: ....
• MANDATORY Always include lessons.md; project conventions override generic defaults.
• MANDATORY If project config, root instruction files, or any required reference doc is missing or stale, auto-run /project-init or the narrow lower-level route before ordinary project-specific work.

• MANDATORY Parent workflow rows do not replace child phase tracking; expand phases and link the parent when nested.
• MANDATORY Orchestrators pre-expand child skill phases before invocation; use [N.M] $skill-name — phase prefixes and one-in_progress discipline.

Prompt-Enhance Closing Anchors

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION follow declared step order for this skill; NEVER skip, reorder, or merge steps without explicit user approval IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION for every step/sub-skill call: set in_progress before execution, set completed after execution IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION every skipped step MUST include explicit reason; every completed step MUST include concise evidence IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION if Task tools unavailable, maintain an equivalent step-by-step plan tracker with synchronized statuses

Closing Reminders

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION Goal: Every code/spec/test change leaves documentation in sync — impacted Feature Specs, §8 TCs, test-code links, and derived indexes all reflect the shipped behavior, with zero drift left silent.

Protocols in force (concise digest of the SYNC/shared blocks this skill carries) — MUST ATTENTION honor every block below:

• Critical Thinking: Apply critical + sequential thinking; every claim needs file:line proof, confidence >80%.
• Sub-Agent Return: Spawned sub-agents return ONLY the summary contract; full detail to disk.
• Cross-Service Check: Scan producers/consumers/sagas/contracts; missing consumer = silent regression.
• AI Mistake Prevention: verify generated content against evidence, trace downstream references, verify all affected outputs, re-read after context loss, surface ambiguity.
• Nested Task Creation: When nested, still expand child phase tasks and link the parent workflow row.
• Project Reference Docs: Read required project-reference docs (always lessons.md) before target work.
• Task Tracking: Bootstrap tasks, one active, persist findings to plans/reports/ incrementally.

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION create ALL 8 tasks via TaskCreate BEFORE any action, then run the FIXED order 0 -> 1 -> 2 -> 2.5 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> final review — NEVER reorder, merge, or skip without explicit user approval — why: phase order is the gate that catches drift; a skipped phase ships silent staleness IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION docs-update is a ROUTER ONLY — delegate to /spec, /spec [mode=tests], /spec [mode=sync], /spec-index; NEVER write §8 content, edit Feature Spec / derived-index files, or duplicate sub-skill logic — why: dual authorship causes the two sources to diverge IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION every skip is a DECISION with evidence — mark the task completed with a file:line-backed reason; NEVER silently omit a phase — why: an unjustified skip is indistinguishable from a missed update MUST ATTENTION Nested Task Expansion Contract — when invoked inside a workflow, STILL expand internal phases via TaskCreate with [N.M] $skill-name — phase prefix and TaskUpdate(parentTaskId, addBlockedBy: [childIds]) linkage — why: the workflow row is a container, not a substitute for phase tracking MUST ATTENTION for EVERY step: set task in_progress BEFORE execution, set completed AFTER execution with evidence or skip reason — never batch transitions, keep exactly one active MUST ATTENTION if task tooling unavailable, use an equivalent 8-step plan tracker and keep statuses synced per step MUST ATTENTION evidence gate — every claim, detected module, and impact mapping needs file:line / git-diff proof, confidence >80% to act, <60% DO NOT act; "Module unchanged" without proof is NOT a valid skip — why: speculation routes the wrong docs and misses real drift MUST ATTENTION search-existing-patterns BEFORE asserting a doc shape — read the bucket's existing Feature Spec / INDEX layout and project-reference docs; build the module map from docs/project-config.json, NEVER from hard-coded skill paths — why: local doc conventions override generic assumptions MUST ATTENTION evaluate fit before reusing a nearby pattern — a module with backend + frontend changes is ONE deduped entry, not two; verify the change actually alters behavior before routing to /spec — why: duplicate or behavior-free invocations waste passes and corrupt the audit MUST ATTENTION validate ambiguous routing decisions with the user via — surface the options, NEVER silently auto-decide which phases run tech-agnostic output — when updating spec/specs/README/INDEX, introduce NO framework/product/language/pattern names in prose or headings; update logical IDs (///) FIRST, then prose; preserve the evidence-field exception — why: prose is the portable contract, evidence carriers hold the physical coords (spec-principles §3) Step 2.4 final code↔spec sync-verify per touched module — a removed/weakened [HARD] BR is a code-vs-spec contradiction that BLOCKS completion until resolved or owner-accepted; AC drift re-invokes , TC drift routes to Phase 2.5 OPTIONALLY refreshes the derived bucket INDEX/ERD from Feature Specs (never re-extracts an A-E tree); Phase 3 syncs §8 TCs; Phase 4 syncs §8 TCs ↔ integration test code (no QA dashboard exists) for skills/hooks/workflows/sync-tooling changes, flag generated-mirror sync status ( completed or explicit N/A) — routes/reports this check, NEVER edits generated mirrors directly ALWAYS write the Phase 5 summary report to and the final review task (#8) — the report is the audit trail, the review verifies all impacted docs updated with no unjustified skips

Anti-Rationalization:

Evasion	Rebuttal
"Only docs/config changed — skip all phases"	Run Phase 0 triage anyway — fast-exit is a DECISION, not an assumption
"No feature docs exist — skip Phase 2"	Mark task completed with reason. NEVER silently omit
"Module unchanged — skip sub-skill"	Show file:line evidence. No proof = no skip
"Already know what changed"	Still run git diff — partial knowledge causes missed updates
"Phase 5 report not needed"	ALWAYS write summary report — it's the audit trail
"I will update tasks later"	Invalid. Task status must change before/after each step in real time.
"I'll run skills first then create tasks"	Invalid. Create/track tasks first, then execute step-skill calls.
"I'll write the §8 TC myself, faster"	Invalid. Router only — delegate to /spec [mode=tests]; dual authors diverge.
"[HARD] BR weakened but tests pass"	BLOCK — code-vs-spec contradiction; resolve or owner-accept, never wave through.

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION create ALL 8 tasks via TaskCreate (or equivalent tracker) BEFORE any action and track each step live — in_progress before, completed after with evidence. IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION router ONLY — delegate every §8 / Feature Spec / derived-index write; NEVER author them here — why: dual authorship diverges the spec from its index. IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION every skip needs file:line evidence and a completed task with reason; run the fixed phase order — NEVER silently omit a phase.