Shaping

Steps

1. Gate.
   • First invoke every installed non-exo: skill matching the request.
   • Spec always ends on a brief; with no open decision the brief still gets written.
   • An open decision is one the user would notice that neither request nor code settles.
   • Diff fits one sentence or code settles every point → no question, exo closes each choice; ask only what to build.
   • Asked for options → per references/architecture-sketch.md, no file.
2. Sort each point.
   • Answerable by running or reading → record, never ask.
   • Each open decision is a question, root first.
   • A decision the user left open stays open despite code.
   • Name the owning layer, a smaller alternative.
3. Ask one at a time.
   • Ask per ../route-skills/references/question.md; decide nothing silently.
   • Recommend a loaded skill's pattern over an option it rules out.
   • Land: → plan approval approves only its mode; ask only if ship is ask.
   • No git repo or origin → Land: local, no question.
   • Last answer → brief now, no recap, no yes question.
4. Map, then locate.
   • Run node "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/repo-map.mjs", plan mode too.
   • Unmapped range → exo:locate-code, at most eight, read none located; outside facts → one exo:fetch-docs round, no gap-fill; both foreground, one message.
   • Never cat, head or sed: dumps cost context.
5. List tasks per references/task-list.md and references/brief.md.
6. Store it per references/brief.md.
7. Check it. Run node "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/plan-check.mjs" --plan <brief file> --root <checkout root> --loop; fix flagged lines, any missing heading, Data:, Success criterion or ## Manual checks; read its output, never its source.
8. Find open points per references/brief.md ## Open points step; rerun step 7, leaving flagged ## Open points unfixed.
9. Hand off per references/hand-off.md.

References

File	Read it when
references/stored-brief.md	Request names or extends a brief, issue or plan.
../route-skills/references/question.md	Each question and reply.
references/brief.md	Before writing the brief; step 8.
references/task-list.md	Before writing the task list.
references/example-plan.md	Once, before the first task.
../build/references/data-migration.md	When its first line applies.
../build/references/test-design.md	When its first line applies.
../build/references/security.md	When its first line applies.
references/brief-in-an-issue.md	specs is issues or both.
../file-issues/references/fields.md	Before creating that issue.
references/architecture-sketch.md	Two or more structural shapes compete.
../../docs/principles/README.md	Request adds or changes an AI agent or LLM worker, its prompt, tools or loop.
references/hand-off.md	Step 9.
references/watching.md	Step 9, run started.
references/measured-goal.md	Goal is a measured score, cost or time on a task set.

Report: brief location and next stage, or question.