scaffold Skill | Agent Skills

Codex compatibility note:

Invoke repository skills with $skill-name in Codex; this mirrored copy rewrites legacy Claude /skill-name references.

Task tracker mandate: BEFORE executing any workflow or skill step, create/update task tracking for all steps and keep it synchronized as progress changes.

User-question prompts mean to ask the user directly in Codex.

Ignore Claude-specific mode-switch instructions when they appear.

Strict execution contract: when a user explicitly invokes a skill, execute that skill protocol as written.

Subagent authorization: when a skill is user-invoked or AI-detected and its protocol requires subagents, that skill activation authorizes use of the required spawn_agent subagent(s) for that task.

Do not skip, reorder, or merge protocol steps unless the user explicitly approves the deviation first.

For workflow skills, execute each listed child-skill step explicitly and report step-by-step evidence.

If a required step/tool cannot run in this environment, stop and ask the user before adapting.

Codex Project-Reference Loading (No Hooks)

Codex uses static project-reference loading instead of runtime-injected project docs. When coding, planning, debugging, testing, or reviewing, open project docs explicitly using this routing.

Always read:

docs/project-config.json (project-specific paths, commands, modules, and workflow/test settings)
docs/project-reference/docs-index-reference.md (routes to the full docs/project-reference/* catalog)
docs/project-reference/lessons.md (always-on guardrails and anti-patterns)

Missing/stale context route: 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 $project-init or the narrow setup route ($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.

Situation-based docs:

Backend/CQRS/API/domain/entity changes: backend-patterns-reference.md, domain-entities-reference.md, project-structure-reference.md
Frontend/UI/styling/design-system: frontend-patterns-reference.md, scss-styling-guide.md, design-system/README.md
Spec authoring, docs/specs/ pathing, or TC format: feature-spec-reference.md, spec-system-reference.md, spec-principles.md
Behavior/public-contract changes or spec-test-code sync: workflow-spec-test-code-cycle-reference.md plus the spec docs above
Derived spec indexes/ERDs/reimplementation guides: spec-system-reference.md and source Feature Specs under docs/specs/
Integration test implementation/review: integration-test-reference.md
E2E test implementation/review: e2e-test-reference.md
Code review/audit work: code-review-rules.md plus domain docs above based on changed files

Do not read all docs blindly. Start from docs-index-reference.md, then open only relevant files for the task.

[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: Generate and validate the project's architecture scaffolding — all base classes, interfaces, infrastructure abstractions, and reusable foundation code — BEFORE any feature story implementation begins, producing a copy-ready, OOP/SOLID-compliant architecture foundation with quality-gate tooling that every feature story reuses before implementation starts.

Summary:

Gate-first skill: check Activation Guards before any work — proceed ONLY in workflow-greenfield-init / workflow-big-feature AND when grep finds NO existing base/abstract/infrastructure scaffolding; otherwise SKIP and mark the step completed.
Scope is architecture-infrastructure creation (base classes, interfaces, DI, repos, cross-cutting), NOT feature implementation — read the plan, adapt the Backend/Frontend/UI checklists to the detected tech stack, and confirm the final checklist via a direct user question before generating code.
Stand up the production-readiness foundations (code-quality tooling, error handling, loading state, Docker, integration points) and delegate ALL sensor setup to $linter-setup then $harness-setup — never hand-configure linters/hooks here.
Enforce OOP/SOLID on every base class and HARD-BLOCK the handoff to $feature-implement until the Verification Gate passes — all 5 foundations verified plus $linter-setup and $harness-setup complete.

Purpose: Scaffolded project copy-ready as starter template. All base code, utilities, interfaces, infrastructure services created — best-practice setup, generic functions any feature story reuses.

Key distinction: Architecture infrastructure creation, NOT feature implementation — the foundation layer all stories build upon.

Be skeptical. Apply critical thinking, sequential thinking. Every claim needs traced proof, confidence percentages (Idea should be more than 80%).

Activation Guards (MANDATORY — Check Before Executing)

ALL conditions must be true to proceed:

Workflow check: Active workflow is workflow-greenfield-init OR workflow-big-feature. If not → SKIP this skill entirely, mark step as completed.
Existing scaffolding check: AI MUST ATTENTION self-investigate for existing base/foundational abstractions:
- Abstract/base classes: grep abstract class.*Base|Base[A-Z]\w+|Abstract[A-Z]\w+
- Generic interfaces: grep interface I\w+<|IGeneric|IBase
- Infrastructure abstractions: grep IRepository|IUnitOfWork|IService|IHandler
- Utility/extension layers: grep Extensions|Helpers|Utils|Common (directories or classes)
- Frontend foundations: grep base.*component|base.*service|base.*store|abstract.*component (case-insensitive)
- DI/IoC registration: grep AddScoped|AddSingleton|providers:|NgModule|@Injectable
If existing scaffolding found → SKIP. Log: "Existing scaffolding detected at {file:line}. Skipping $scaffold step." Mark step as completed.
If NO foundational abstractions found → PROCEED with full scaffolding workflow below.

When to Use

After the second $plan + $plan-review in greenfield-init or big-feature workflows
Before $feature-implement begins implementing feature stories
When a new service/module needs its own base architecture within an existing project
NOT when the project already has established base classes and infrastructure

Workflow

Read Plan — Parse the implementation plan for architecture decisions, tech stack, and domain model
Generate Scaffolding Checklist — Produce a checklist of all required base classes and infrastructure from the Backend + Frontend checklists below
Validate Against Plan — Ensure every architecture decision in the plan has corresponding scaffolding items
Present to User — Use a direct user question to confirm checklist before generating code
Scaffold — Create all base classes, interfaces, abstractions, and infrastructure code
Verify — Compile/build to ensure no syntax errors; validate OOP/SOLID compliance

Backend Scaffolding Categories

AI must self-investigate the chosen tech stack and produce a checklist covering these categories. Names below are illustrative — adapt to match the project's language, framework conventions, and actual needs.

Domain Layer

[ ] Base entity interface + abstract class (Id, timestamps, audit fields)
[ ] Value object base (equality by value)
[ ] Domain event interface

Application Layer

[ ] Command/query handler abstractions (CQRS if applicable)
[ ] Validation result pattern
[ ] Base DTO with mapping protocol
[ ] Pagination wrapper
[ ] Operation result pattern (success/failure)

Infrastructure Layer

[ ] Generic repository interface + one concrete implementation
[ ] Unit of work interface (if applicable)
[ ] Messaging/event bus abstraction
[ ] External service abstractions (cache, storage, email — only if plan requires them)
[ ] Database context / connection setup
[ ] DI/IoC registration module

Cross-Cutting

[ ] Current user context abstraction
[ ] Testable date/time provider
[ ] Exception hierarchy (domain, validation, not-found)
[ ] Error handling middleware
[ ] Strongly-typed configuration models

Frontend Scaffolding Categories

Core Architecture

[ ] Base component with lifecycle/destroy cleanup
[ ] Base form component with validation, dirty tracking
[ ] Base list component with pagination, sorting, filtering

State & API

[ ] Base state store with loading/error/data pattern
[ ] Base API service with interceptors, error handling
[ ] Auth interceptor + environment config

Shared Utilities

[ ] Base model with serialization helpers
[ ] Common utility functions (date, validation, formatting)

UI Foundation

Skip if: Backend-only project, no frontend component. Apply if: Project has ANY frontend.

Design Token Files

[ ] Create design token file(s) per chosen format (CSS custom properties / SCSS variables / JSON)
[ ] Define minimum token set: colors (primary, secondary, surface, bg, text, error, success, warning), spacing (xs-xl), typography (heading/body/caption families + sizes), breakpoints, shadows, z-index
[ ] Create theme file(s) if theming required (light/dark CSS classes or theme provider)

Base Layout & Responsive

[ ] Base layout component (app shell: header, sidebar/nav, main content, footer)
[ ] Responsive container/grid utility
[ ] Responsive mixin/utility for breakpoints
[ ] Mobile-first media query definitions

Base UI Components

[ ] Loading indicator component (spinner or skeleton)
[ ] Error display component (inline + page-level)
[ ] Empty state component (message + action)
[ ] Notification/toast component
[ ] Base button component with variants (primary, secondary, ghost, danger)
[ ] Base input component with validation display

Design System Documentation

[ ] Create docs/project-reference/design-system/README.md skeleton with: token naming conventions, component tier classification (Common/Domain-Shared/Page), usage examples

Code Quality Gate Tooling (MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION — Setup Before Any Feature Code)

MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION scaffold ALL code quality enforcement tools as part of project infrastructure — code that passes without quality gates is technical debt from day one.

Static Analysis & Linting

[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION configure language-appropriate linter with strict ruleset (zero warnings policy on new code)
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION configure static code analyzer with quality gate thresholds (complexity, duplication) — treat line-coverage as a reported DIAGNOSTIC, NOT a build-failing threshold
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION enable compiler/transpiler strict mode and treat warnings as errors on build
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION add code style formatter with shared config (enforce consistent formatting across team)

Build-Time Quality Enforcement

[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION configure pre-commit hooks to run linter + formatter automatically
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION configure CI pipeline to fail on any linter violation, analyzer warning, or test failure
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION do NOT gate the build on a line-coverage %; report line-coverage as a diagnostic only (low = useful untested-area signal, high ≠ quality). If a test-strength gate is wanted, gate on mutation score (surviving mutant = missing/weak assertion) with line-coverage as the diagnostic. Keep behavior/change-coverage (each behavior-changing file has a test asserting the changed outcome) as the meaningful coverage notion
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION enable security vulnerability scanning in dependency management

Code Rules & Standards

[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION create shared linter config file at project root (team-wide consistency)
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION create shared formatter config file at project root
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION create .editorconfig for cross-IDE consistency (indentation, encoding, line endings)
[ ] MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION document code quality standards in project README or contributing guide

Harness Integration (MANDATORY — Do Not Skip)

MANDATORY MUST ATTENTION delegate ALL computational sensor setup to $linter-setup:

Do NOT manually configure linters, formatters, or pre-commit hooks in this skill
$linter-setup handles: tool research → install → configure → pre-commit hooks → CI gates
$harness-setup handles: full harness inventory (feedforward guides + all feedback types)

WHY: Code quality tooling is part of the project's outer agent harness. A checklist of installs is not a harness. A harness is a system of guides and sensors where each control fires at the right lifecycle stage and produces signals the agent can consume.

After scaffold, invoke (in order):

$linter-setup — computational feedback sensors (deterministic, fast, always-on)
$harness-setup — full harness inventory (all feedforward guides + all feedback sensors)

Do NOT proceed to $feature-implement until both complete. ($scaffold verification gate enforces this)

Production Readiness Scaffolding (MANDATORY)

Scaffold Production Readiness — See  block above for full inline protocol.

Every scaffolded project MUST ATTENTION include these 5 foundations. AI must detect the tech stack from the plan/architecture report and present 2-3 options per concern via a direct user question.

1. Code Quality Tooling

Handled by $linter-setup skill — do NOT duplicate here. Verify completion: check that .editorconfig, linter config, and pre-commit hook config files exist. If missing → block scaffold completion, invoke $linter-setup.

2. Error Handling Foundation

Detect frontend framework → select from protocol's framework patterns
Generate: error types, HTTP interceptor, notification service, global error handler
Minimum 4 files for frontend, 3 for backend-only
Run protocol's verification checklist

3. Loading State Management

Detect frontend framework → select from protocol's framework patterns
Generate: loading service, HTTP loading interceptor, loading indicator component
Counter-based tracking, 300ms display delay, skip token mechanism
Run protocol's verification checklist

4. Docker Development Environment

Always scaffold (unless user explicitly opts out)
Generate: docker-compose.yml (with profiles), Dockerfile (multi-stage), .dockerignore, .env.example
Use 127.0.0.1 binding, health checks on all services, non-root user in prod
Run protocol's verification checklist

5. Integration Points

Document each outbound boundary (downstream service, queue, third-party API, shared DB)
Configure retry + circuit breaker + timeout per outbound dependency
Generate integration tests for both the happy path and the failure path
Run protocol's verification checklist

Scaffold Handoff from Architecture-Design

If an architecture report exists (from $architecture-design), read the "Scaffold Handoff — Tool Choices" table and use those selections instead of re-asking the user.

OOP/SOLID Compliance Rules (ENFORCE)

Single Responsibility — Each base class handles ONE concern
Open/Closed — Base classes are extensible via inheritance, closed for modification
Liskov Substitution — Concrete implementations are substitutable for their base
Interface Segregation — Small, focused interfaces (not one giant IService)
Dependency Inversion — All infrastructure behind interfaces, injected via DI

Anti-patterns to prevent:

God classes combining multiple concerns
Concrete dependencies (always depend on abstractions)
Base classes with unused methods that subclasses must override
Missing generic type parameters where applicable

Adaptation Protocol

The checklists above are templates. Before scaffolding:

Read the plan — What tech stack was chosen?
Adapt naming — Match target framework and language conventions
Skip irrelevant items — Not every project needs every item (e.g., skip IFileStorageService if no file uploads)
Add project-specific items — The plan may require additional base classes not in the template
Use a direct user question — Confirm final checklist with user before generating code

Output

After scaffolding is complete:

Scaffolding Report — List of all created files with brief descriptions
Build Verification — Compilation/type-check passes
Architecture Diagram — Optional: generate diagram showing the base class hierarchy
Production Readiness Verification — All 5 concern areas verified via protocol checklists
Config Files Generated — Linter, formatter, pre-commit, Docker configs all created

Verification Gate (MANDATORY before proceeding to $feature-implement)

Run ALL verification checklists from the production readiness protocol:

[ ] Code quality tooling verified (Section 1)
[ ] Error handling foundation verified (Section 2)
[ ] Loading state management verified (Section 3)
[ ] Docker development environment verified (Section 4)
[ ] Integration points verified (Section 5)
[ ] $linter-setup completed (linter + formatter + pre-commit + CI gate configured)
[ ] $harness-setup completed (harness-inventory.md produced, feedforward guides in place)

BLOCK proceeding to $feature-implement if ANY verification item fails. Fix issues first, then re-verify.

Next Steps

MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION — NO EXCEPTIONS after completing this skill, you MUST ATTENTION use a direct user question to present these options. Do NOT skip because the task seems "simple" or "obvious" — the user decides:

"$feature-implement (Recommended)" — Begin implementing feature stories on top of the scaffolding
"$workflow-review-changes" — Review scaffolding code before proceeding
"Skip, continue manually" — user decides

[IMPORTANT] Use task tracking to break ALL work into small tasks BEFORE starting — including tasks for each file read. This prevents context loss from long files. For simple tasks, AI MUST ATTENTION ask user whether to skip.

Evidence Gate: MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION — every claim, finding, and recommendation requires file:line proof or traced evidence with confidence percentage (>80% to act, <80% must verify first).

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

Call the current task list first. If a matching active parent workflow row exists, set nested=true and record parentTaskId; otherwise run standalone.

Create one task per declared phase before phase work. When nested, prefix subjects [N.M] $skill-name — phase.

When nested, link the parent with TaskUpdate(parentTaskId, addBlockedBy: [childIds]).

Orchestrators must pre-expand a child skill's phase list and link the workflow row before invoking that child skill or sub-agent.

Mark exactly one child in_progress before work and completed immediately after evidence is written.

Complete the parent only after all child tasks are completed or explicitly cancelled with reason.

Blocked until: the current task list 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.

Identify scope: file types, domain area, and operation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Understand Code First — HARD-GATE: Do NOT write, plan, or fix until you READ existing code.

Search 3+ similar patterns (grep/glob) — cite file:line evidence

Read existing files in target area — understand structure, base classes, conventions

Run python .claude/scripts/code_graph trace <file> --direction both --json when .code-graph/graph.db exists

Map dependencies via connections or callers_of — know what depends on your target

Write investigation to .ai/workspace/analysis/ for non-trivial tasks (3+ files)

Re-read analysis file before implementing — never work from memory alone. — why: long context drifts from the file; the file is ground truth

NEVER invent new patterns when existing ones work — match exactly or document deviation. — why: divergent patterns fragment the codebase and slow every future reader

BLOCKED until: - [ ] Read target files - [ ] Grep 3+ patterns - [ ] Graph trace (if graph.db exists) - [ ] Assumptions verified with evidence

Scaffold Production Readiness — Every scaffolded project MUST ATTENTION include 5 foundations:

Code Quality Tooling — linting, formatting, pre-commit hooks, CI gates. Specific tool choices → docs/project-reference/ or project-config.json.

Error Handling Foundation — HTTP interceptor, error classification (4xx/5xx taxonomy), user notification, global uncaught handler.

Loading State Management — counter-based tracker (not boolean toggle), skip-token for background requests, 300ms flicker guard.

Docker Development Environment — compose profiles (dev/test/infra), multi-stage Dockerfile, health checks on all services, non-root production user.

Integration Points — document each outbound boundary; configure retry + circuit breaker + timeout; integration tests for happy path and failure path.

BLOCK $feature-implement if any foundation is unchecked. Present 2-3 options per concern via a direct user question before implementing.

Harness Engineering — An outer agent harness has two jobs: raise first-attempt quality + provide self-correction feedback loops before human review.

Controls split:

| Axis | Type | Examples | Frequency | | ----------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | | Feedforward | Computational | .editorconfig, strict compiler flags, enforced module boundaries | Always-on | | Feedforward | Inferential | CLAUDE.md conventions, skill prompts, architecture notes, pattern catalogs | Always-on | | Feedback | Computational | Linters, type checks, pre-commit hooks, ArchUnit/arch-fitness tests, mutation-score gate, CI gates | Pre-commit → CI | | Feedback | Inferential | $code-review skill, $production-readiness-review, $security-review, LLM-as-judge passes | Post-commit → CI |

Test-strength sensor — gate on mutation score, NOT line coverage. Line coverage is a DIAGNOSTIC only: low coverage is a useful NEGATIVE signal (something is untested); high coverage is NOT evidence of quality (tests can execute lines without asserting intent) — NEVER fail a build on a line-coverage %. The real test-strength metric is mutation score (inject faults into changed code; surviving mutant = a missing/weak assertion = write the killing test); gate the build on it where a mutation tool exists. Add property coverage as a second sensor — each [HARD] §4 rule / §5 invariant guarded by ≥1 property/metamorphic test. The property tests themselves are REQUIRED for invariant-owning behaviors (spec [mode=tests] + integration-test force them, not opt-in); what is optional is only wiring property coverage as an automated CI sensor on top. Keep behavior/change-coverage (does each behavior-changing file have a test that asserts the changed outcome) — that notion is meaningful and stays.

Three harness types:

Maintainability — Complexity, duplication, line-coverage (diagnostic only — never a gate), style. Easiest: rich deterministic tooling.

Architecture fitness — Module boundaries, dependency direction, performance budgets, observability conventions.

Behaviour — Functional correctness. Hardest: gate on mutation score + property coverage; line coverage stays a diagnostic.

Keep quality left: pre-commit sensors fire first (cheap), CI sensors fire second, post-review last (expensive).

Research-driven: Never hardcode tool choices. Detect tech stack → research ecosystem → present top 2-3 options → user decides. Enforce strictest defaults; loosen only with explicit approval.

Harnessability signals: Strong typing, explicit module boundaries, opinionated frameworks = easier to harness. Treat these as greenfield architectural choices, not just style preferences.

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.

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION search 3+ existing patterns and read code BEFORE any modification. Run graph trace when graph.db exists.

MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION cite file:line evidence for every claim. Confidence >80% to act, <60% = do NOT recommend.

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION verify all 5 production-readiness foundations (code quality, error handling, loading state, Docker, integration points) before marking scaffold complete.

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 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: Produce a copy-ready, OOP/SOLID-compliant architecture foundation — base classes, infrastructure abstractions, and quality-gate tooling — that every feature story reuses before implementation starts.

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

Nested Task Creation: Expand child phases; link parent when nested.
Project Reference Docs Guide: Read required project docs; ALWAYS include lessons.md.
Critical Thinking Mindset: Traced proof per claim; confidence >80% to act.
Understand Code First: Grep 3+ patterns, read code before modifying.
Scaffold Production Readiness: Verify 5 foundations before scaffold complete.
Harness Setup: Gate on mutation score; NEVER gate on line coverage.
AI Mistake Prevention: verify generated content against evidence, trace downstream references, verify all affected outputs, re-read after context loss, surface ambiguity.

MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION check Activation Guards FIRST — proceed ONLY in workflow-greenfield-init/workflow-big-feature AND when grep finds NO existing base/abstract/infrastructure scaffolding; otherwise SKIP and mark step completed — why: re-scaffolding an established project duplicates foundations and corrupts existing abstractions. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION grep 3+ existing base/abstract/infra patterns (abstract class.*Base, interface I\w+<, IRepository, base.*component, DI registration) and cite file:line BEFORE generating any scaffolding — existing scaffolding found = SKIP — why: scaffolding over real foundations is the failure the Activation Guards exist to prevent. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION BLOCK $feature-implement until the Verification Gate passes — all 5 production-readiness foundations verified AND both $linter-setup and $harness-setup complete — why: code shipped without quality gates is technical debt from day one. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION delegate ALL sensor setup to $linter-setup then $harness-setup — NEVER hand-configure linters/formatters/pre-commit hooks in this skill — why: a checklist of installs is not a harness; the harness skills wire each control to its lifecycle stage. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION enforce OOP/SOLID on EVERY base class (SRP per concern, depend on abstractions, small focused interfaces, no unused methods subclasses must override) — why: a god/concrete base class propagates its design flaw into every feature story that inherits it. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION the checklists are TEMPLATES — self-investigate the chosen tech stack, adapt naming to framework conventions, skip irrelevant items, and confirm the final checklist via a direct user question before generating code — NEVER auto-decide scope — why: scaffolding the wrong stack's idioms forces a costly rewrite before any feature lands. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION evaluate fit before copying a nearby pattern — closest example ≠ matching preconditions; verify the new context shares the same base classes, scope, and lifetime — why: a foundation lifted from a mismatched context fails silently. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION gate the build on mutation score, NOT a line-coverage % — line coverage is a DIAGNOSTIC only (low = useful untested signal, high ≠ quality) — why: tests can execute lines without asserting intent, so a coverage gate rewards hollow tests. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION cite file:line proof + confidence % for EVERY claim (>80% to act, <60% DO NOT recommend) — NEVER present a guess as fact — why: speculation without evidence is the root of hallucinated foundations. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION break work into small todo tasks using task tracking BEFORE starting, mark one in_progress, mark completed immediately after evidence lands, and add a final review todo — why: external task state survives context compaction; memory does not. MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION after scaffold, present $feature-implement vs $workflow-review-changes vs skip via a direct user question — the user decides; do NOT skip because it "seems obvious" — why: the user owns the handoff decision.

Anti-Rationalization (Closing — reject these excuses):

| Excuse the model tells itself | Reality | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | "It's a new feature, just scaffold it" | Check Activation Guards first — wrong workflow OR existing scaffolding = SKIP and mark completed. | | "Already searched for base classes" | Show file:line grep evidence for all 6 guard patterns. No proof = no search. | | "I'll just configure the linter inline, it's quick" | NEVER hand-configure sensors — delegate to $linter-setup then $harness-setup. Installs ≠ harness. | | "Coverage is high, the foundation is well-tested" | Line coverage is a diagnostic, not a gate. Gate on mutation score; high coverage ≠ asserted intent. | | "The stack is obvious, skip the ask the user directly" | Checklists are templates — confirm the adapted final checklist with the user before generating code. | | "Found a nearby base class, just copy it" | Evaluate fit first — same base classes/scope/lifetime? Closest ≠ matching. Verify before reusing. | | "Scaffold's done, jump straight to $feature-implement" | BLOCKED until the Verification Gate passes — all 5 foundations + $linter-setup + $harness-setup. |

IMPORTANT MUST ATTENTION check Activation Guards FIRST (SKIP if existing scaffolding or wrong workflow) · BLOCK $feature-implement until the Verification Gate passes · cite file:line + confidence >80% for every claim.

[TASK-PLANNING] Before acting, analyze task scope and systematically break it into small todo tasks and sub-tasks using task tracking.

Hookless Prompt Protocol Mirror (Auto-Synced)

Source: .claude/.ck.json + .claude/skills/shared/sync-inline-versions.md (:full blocks) + .claude/scripts/lib/hookless-prompt-protocol.cjs

[WORKFLOW-EXECUTION-PROTOCOL] [BLOCKING] Workflow Execution Protocol — MANDATORY IMPORTANT MUST CRITICAL. Do not skip for any reason.

Generic portability boundary: Reusable skills and protocol text stay project-neutral; project-specific conventions are discovered from docs/project-config.json and docs/project-reference/. Apply shared AI-SDD from shared/sdd-artifact-contract.md. Read docs/project-config.json and docs/project-reference/docs-index-reference.md, then open the project reference docs named there. For spec, test-case, behavior-change, public-contract, or docs/specs/ work, route through the local spec docs named by the docs index: feature-spec-reference.md, spec-system-reference.md, spec-principles.md, and workflow-spec-test-code-cycle-reference.md when specs/tests/code must stay synchronized. If either file or a required reference doc is missing or stale, auto-run $project-init (or the narrow lower-level route such as $project-config, $docs-init, $scan-all, or $scan --target=<key>) before ordinary project-specific work. Any supported AI tool may execute when this shared context and local docs are available.

DETECT: If the prompt starts with an explicit slash skill/workflow command, execute it directly. Otherwise match the prompt against the workflow catalog and skill list.
ANALYZE: Choose the best option: execute directly, invoke a skill, activate a standard workflow, or compose a custom step combination.
AUTO-SELECT: Pick the best option yourself. Do not ask the user to choose between direct execution, skill, standard workflow, or custom workflow.
ACTIVATE: For a selected workflow, call $start-workflow <workflowId>; for a selected skill, invoke that skill; for a custom workflow, sequence custom steps directly; for direct execution, proceed with the task.
CREATE TASKS: task tracking for ALL workflow/skill/custom steps before execution when the selected path has multiple steps.
EXECUTE: Advance per the Workflow Step Advancement & Parallel Phases rule in your context instructions — model-driven; a sub-agent completion advances a step identically to an inline call; a parallel-phase group is an all-return barrier (advance only after ALL members return, never serialize it)

Shared AI-SDD Protocol Markers

Source: .claude/skills/shared/sync-inline-versions.md

SYNC:ai-sdd-artifact-contract

AI-SDD Artifact Contract — Shared spec-driven development rules stay portable and source-owned.

Keep reusable AI-SDD principles in .claude; put repository-specific paths, commands, owners, products, and formats in project config/reference docs.

Preserve cycle: spec -> plan -> tasks -> implement -> verify -> update spec/docs.

Trace every requirement or invariant through decision, task, TC/test, source evidence, and docs/spec update.

Treat code-to-spec extraction as reference-only until accepted by the canonical spec owner.

Any supported AI tool may plan, implement, review, or verify with synced context; using multiple tools is optional.

Update .claude source first, then sync generated mirrors; do not manually edit .agents, .codex, or AGENTS.md. — why: mirrors are generated artifacts; hand-edits are overwritten on the next sync

If docs/project-config.json, root instruction files, or a required project-reference doc is missing or stale, auto-run $project-init or the narrow lower-level route before ordinary project-specific work.

Active reference: shared/sdd-artifact-contract.md in the active skills root.

SYNC:ai-sdd-artifact-contract:reminder

MANDATORY Apply shared/sdd-artifact-contract.md; keep reusable AI-SDD in .claude and local rules in project docs.
MANDATORY Code-to-spec extraction is reference-only until canonical acceptance; any supported AI tool may execute with synced context.
MANDATORY Update .claude source before syncing generated mirrors; do not manually edit .agents, .codex, or AGENTS.md.
MANDATORY Missing or stale project config, root instruction files, or required reference docs route project-specific work through $project-init or the narrow setup route automatically. [TASK-PLANNING] [MANDATORY] BEFORE executing any workflow or skill step, create/update task tracking for all planned steps, then keep it synchronized as each step starts/completes.

[LESSON-LEARNED-REMINDER] [BLOCKING] Task Planning & Continuous Improvement — MANDATORY. Do not skip.

Break work into small tasks (task tracking) before starting. Add final task: "Analyze AI mistakes & lessons learned".

Extract lessons — ROOT CAUSE ONLY, not symptom fixes:

Name the FAILURE MODE (reasoning/assumption failure), not symptom — "assumed API existed without reading source" not "used wrong enum value".
Generality test: does this failure mode apply to ≥3 contexts/codebases? If not, abstract one level up.
Write as a universal rule — strip project-specific names/paths/classes. Useful on any codebase.
Consolidate: multiple mistakes sharing one failure mode → ONE lesson.
Recurrence gate: "Would this recur in future session WITHOUT this reminder?" — No → skip $learn.
Auto-fix gate: "Could $code-review/$code-simplifier/$security-review/$lint catch this?" — Yes → improve review skill instead.
BOTH gates pass → ask user to run $learn. [CRITICAL-THINKING-MINDSET] Apply critical thinking, sequential thinking. Every claim needs traced proof, confidence >80% to act. Anti-hallucination principle: 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. AI Attention principle (Primacy-Recency): Put the 3 most critical rules at both top and bottom of long prompts/protocols so instruction adherence survives long context windows. Goal-driven execution: Define success criteria first, loop until verified, and stop only when observable checks pass. Tests verify intent: Tests must protect business rules/invariants and fail when the protected intent breaks, not only mirror current behavior.

Common AI Mistake Prevention (System Lessons)

Re-read files after context compaction. Edit requires prior Read in same context; compaction wipes read state. Re-read before editing.
Grep for old terms after bulk replacements. AI over-trusts find/replace completeness. Grep full repo after bulk edits for missed refs in docs/configs/catalogs.
Check downstream references before deleting. Deletions cascade doc/code staleness. Map referencing files before removal.
After memory loss, check existing state before creating new. Compaction wipes prior-work memory. Query current state to resume — never blindly duplicate.
Verify AI-generated content against actual code. AI hallucinates APIs, class names, method signatures. Grep to confirm existence before documenting/referencing.
Trace full dependency chain after edits. Changing a definition misses downstream consumers. Trace the full chain.
When renaming, grep ALL consumer file types. Some file types silently ignore missing refs (no compile error). Search code, templates, configs, generated files.
Trace ALL code paths when verifying correctness. Code existing ≠ code executing. Trace early exits, error branches, conditional skips — not just happy path.
Update docs that embed canonical data when source changes. Docs inlining derived data (workflows, schemas, configs) go stale silently. Update all embedding docs alongside source.
Verify sub-agent results after context recovery. Background agents may finish while parent compacted — grep-verify output, don't trust assumed completion.
Cross-check full target list against sub-agent assignments. Parallel sub-agents by category miss boundary items. Reconcile union of assignments against target list before proceeding.
Sub-agents inherit knowledge only from their agent .md definition — use custom agent types, not built-in Explore. Tool adoption = permission + knowledge + enforcement (numbered workflow step).
Persist sub-agent findings incrementally, not as a final batch. Long sub-agents hit cutoffs before final write — findings lost. Instruct append-per-section to report file.
When debugging, ask "whose responsibility?" before fixing. Trace caller (wrong data) vs callee (wrong handling). Fix at responsible layer — never patch symptom site.
Grep ALL removed names after extraction/refactoring. Primary file "done" ≠ secondary files clean. Grep entire scope for every removed symbol before declaring complete.
Assume existing values are intentional — ask WHY before changing. Pattern-matching as "wrong" skips context. Before changing any constant/limit/flag: read comments, git blame, surrounding code.
Verify ALL affected outputs, not just the first. One build green ≠ all green. Multi-stack changes (backend/frontend/tests/docs) require verifying EVERY output.
Evaluate fit before copying a nearby pattern. Closest example ≠ matching preconditions — verify the new context shares the same constraints, base classes, scope, lifetime.
Holistic-first debugging — resist nearest-attention trap. Don't dive into first plausible cause. List EVERY precondition (config, env vars, paths, DB, endpoints, creds, versions, DI, data). Verify each against evidence (grep/query — not reasoning). Ask "what would falsify this?" — if nothing, it's not a hypothesis. Most expensive failure: going deeper in "obvious" layer while bug sits in layer never questioned.
Surgical changes — apply the diff test (context-aware). Two modes: (1) Bug fix → every line traces to the bug; no restyling; orphan cleanup only for imports YOUR changes made unused. (2) Review/enhancement → implement improvements AND announce as "Enhancement beyond main request: [what]". Never silently scope-creep. Diff test: "Would this line exist if I wasn't asked to do X?" — if no, delete or announce.
Surface ambiguity before coding — don't pick silently. Multiple valid interpretations → present each with effort: "[Request] could mean (1) [N h], (2) [N h]. Which matters?" List scope/format/volume/constraints assumptions first. If simpler path exists, say so. Never silently pick.
[MANDATORY FIRST ACTION] ALWAYS activate a suitable skill or workflow BEFORE responding. Match task against workflow catalog + skill list; invoke via skill invocation or $start-workflow <workflowId>. NEVER answer or write code before checking. Skip = protocol violation.
Why-Review adversarial mindset — apply when reviewing any plan, decision, or design. Default SKEPTIC not VALIDATOR: steel-man a rejected alternative, invert each stated reason ("what does it sacrifice?"), stress-test top 2-3 assumptions, run pre-mortem ("ships, fails in 3 months — what breaks?"), surface 1-2 alternatives author missed. Section presence ≠ quality; quality = causal reasoning + concrete mitigations + evidence, not "it's better" or "monitor closely".
Front-load report-write in sub-agent prompts for large reviews. Many-file sub-agents hit budget before final write — findings lost. Design prompts so: (1) report-write is first explicit deliverable, (2) append per-file/section (not batched), (3) scope bounded so reads don't exhaust budget. Truncated mid-sentence with no report file → spawn narrower scope, don't retry same prompt.
After context compaction, re-verify all prior phase outcomes before continuing. Summaries describe intent, not environment state (git index, filesystem, processes). On resume, FIRST audit: git status, re-read modified files, verify filesystem. Every "completed" claim is an untested hypothesis until evidence confirms.
OOM/memory: check row count before row size. Triage: (1) Unbounded query — no DB filter for trigger? Push filter to DB; eliminates OOM. (2) Large rows? Projection reduces proportionally. Row reduction > projection in ROI.
Keep domain concepts out of generic/shared/infrastructure layers. Reusable layer (shared library, framework, infra module) must reference NO consumer-specific domain concept — tenant/customer/product IDs, business entities, feature rules. Leak compiles + runs → passes review silently while coupling the "reusable" layer to one consumer. Keep shared type domain-free; push domain fields/logic down into the consumer via subclass/composition. — why: a layer coupled to one consumer's domain is no longer reusable.

Agent Skills: scaffold

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