iinit
This commit is contained in:
207
.agents/skills/triage/AGENT-BRIEF.md
Normal file
207
.agents/skills/triage/AGENT-BRIEF.md
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
|
||||
# Writing Agent Briefs
|
||||
|
||||
An agent brief is a structured comment posted on a GitHub issue or PR when it moves to `ready-for-agent`. It is the authoritative specification that an AFK agent will work from. The original body and discussion are context — the agent brief is the contract.
|
||||
|
||||
The brief states **what the agent should do**, which stretches to both surfaces: for an issue, that's building the change from nothing; for a PR, it's what's left to do *to the existing diff* — finish it, close gaps, address review points. Same principles either way; the PR example below shows the difference.
|
||||
|
||||
## Principles
|
||||
|
||||
### Durability over precision
|
||||
|
||||
The issue may sit in `ready-for-agent` for days or weeks. The codebase will change in the meantime. Write the brief so it stays useful even as files are renamed, moved, or refactored.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Do** describe interfaces, types, and behavioral contracts
|
||||
- **Do** name specific types, function signatures, or config shapes that the agent should look for or modify
|
||||
- **Don't** reference file paths — they go stale
|
||||
- **Don't** reference line numbers
|
||||
- **Don't** assume the current implementation structure will remain the same
|
||||
|
||||
### Behavioral, not procedural
|
||||
|
||||
Describe **what** the system should do, not **how** to implement it. The agent will explore the codebase fresh and make its own implementation decisions.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Good:** "The `SkillConfig` type should accept an optional `schedule` field of type `CronExpression`"
|
||||
- **Bad:** "Open src/types/skill.ts and add a schedule field on line 42"
|
||||
- **Good:** "When a user runs `/triage` with no arguments, they should see a summary of issues needing attention"
|
||||
- **Bad:** "Add a switch statement in the main handler function"
|
||||
|
||||
### Complete acceptance criteria
|
||||
|
||||
The agent needs to know when it's done. Every agent brief must have concrete, testable acceptance criteria. Each criterion should be independently verifiable.
|
||||
|
||||
- **Good:** "Running `gh issue list --label needs-triage` returns issues that have been through initial classification"
|
||||
- **Bad:** "Triage should work correctly"
|
||||
|
||||
### Explicit scope boundaries
|
||||
|
||||
State what is out of scope. This prevents the agent from gold-plating or making assumptions about adjacent features.
|
||||
|
||||
## Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Agent Brief
|
||||
|
||||
**Category:** bug / enhancement
|
||||
**Summary:** one-line description of what needs to happen
|
||||
|
||||
**Current behavior:**
|
||||
Describe what happens now. For bugs, this is the broken behavior.
|
||||
For enhancements, this is the status quo the feature builds on.
|
||||
|
||||
**Desired behavior:**
|
||||
Describe what should happen after the agent's work is complete.
|
||||
Be specific about edge cases and error conditions.
|
||||
|
||||
**Key interfaces:**
|
||||
- `TypeName` — what needs to change and why
|
||||
- `functionName()` return type — what it currently returns vs what it should return
|
||||
- Config shape — any new configuration options needed
|
||||
|
||||
**Acceptance criteria:**
|
||||
- [ ] Specific, testable criterion 1
|
||||
- [ ] Specific, testable criterion 2
|
||||
- [ ] Specific, testable criterion 3
|
||||
|
||||
**Out of scope:**
|
||||
- Thing that should NOT be changed or addressed in this issue
|
||||
- Adjacent feature that might seem related but is separate
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Examples
|
||||
|
||||
### Good agent brief (bug)
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Agent Brief
|
||||
|
||||
**Category:** bug
|
||||
**Summary:** Skill description truncation drops mid-word, producing broken output
|
||||
|
||||
**Current behavior:**
|
||||
When a skill description exceeds 1024 characters, it is truncated at exactly
|
||||
1024 characters regardless of word boundaries. This produces descriptions
|
||||
that end mid-word (e.g. "Use when the user wants to confi").
|
||||
|
||||
**Desired behavior:**
|
||||
Truncation should break at the last word boundary before 1024 characters
|
||||
and append "..." to indicate truncation.
|
||||
|
||||
**Key interfaces:**
|
||||
- The `SkillMetadata` type's `description` field — no type change needed,
|
||||
but the validation/processing logic that populates it needs to respect
|
||||
word boundaries
|
||||
- Any function that reads SKILL.md frontmatter and extracts the description
|
||||
|
||||
**Acceptance criteria:**
|
||||
- [ ] Descriptions under 1024 chars are unchanged
|
||||
- [ ] Descriptions over 1024 chars are truncated at the last word boundary
|
||||
before 1024 chars
|
||||
- [ ] Truncated descriptions end with "..."
|
||||
- [ ] The total length including "..." does not exceed 1024 chars
|
||||
|
||||
**Out of scope:**
|
||||
- Changing the 1024 char limit itself
|
||||
- Multi-line description support
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Good agent brief (enhancement)
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Agent Brief
|
||||
|
||||
**Category:** enhancement
|
||||
**Summary:** Add `.out-of-scope/` directory support for tracking rejected feature requests
|
||||
|
||||
**Current behavior:**
|
||||
When a feature request is rejected, the issue is closed with a `wontfix` label
|
||||
and a comment. There is no persistent record of the decision or reasoning.
|
||||
Future similar requests require the maintainer to recall or search for the
|
||||
prior discussion.
|
||||
|
||||
**Desired behavior:**
|
||||
Rejected feature requests should be documented in `.out-of-scope/<concept>.md`
|
||||
files that capture the decision, reasoning, and links to all issues that
|
||||
requested the feature. When triaging new issues, these files should be
|
||||
checked for matches.
|
||||
|
||||
**Key interfaces:**
|
||||
- Markdown file format in `.out-of-scope/` — each file should have a
|
||||
`# Concept Name` heading, a `**Decision:**` line, a `**Reason:**` line,
|
||||
and a `**Prior requests:**` list with issue links
|
||||
- The triage workflow should read all `.out-of-scope/*.md` files early
|
||||
and match incoming issues against them by concept similarity
|
||||
|
||||
**Acceptance criteria:**
|
||||
- [ ] Closing a feature as wontfix creates/updates a file in `.out-of-scope/`
|
||||
- [ ] The file includes the decision, reasoning, and link to the closed issue
|
||||
- [ ] If a matching `.out-of-scope/` file already exists, the new issue is
|
||||
appended to its "Prior requests" list rather than creating a duplicate
|
||||
- [ ] During triage, existing `.out-of-scope/` files are checked and surfaced
|
||||
when a new issue matches a prior rejection
|
||||
|
||||
**Out of scope:**
|
||||
- Automated matching (human confirms the match)
|
||||
- Reopening previously rejected features
|
||||
- Bug reports (only enhancement rejections go to `.out-of-scope/`)
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Good agent brief (PR)
|
||||
|
||||
For a PR, "Current behavior" describes the state of the diff, and the brief asks the agent to finish or fix it rather than build from scratch.
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Agent Brief
|
||||
|
||||
**Category:** enhancement
|
||||
**Summary:** Finish the contributor's `--json` output flag for `triage list`
|
||||
|
||||
**Current behavior:**
|
||||
The PR adds a `--json` flag that serializes the issue list to JSON. The happy
|
||||
path works and the diff matches the project's command structure. Two gaps
|
||||
remain: errors are still printed as human text (not JSON), and the new flag has
|
||||
no test coverage.
|
||||
|
||||
**Desired behavior:**
|
||||
With `--json`, all output — including errors — is well-formed JSON on stdout,
|
||||
and the command's exit codes are unchanged. The existing human-readable output
|
||||
is untouched when the flag is absent.
|
||||
|
||||
**Key interfaces:**
|
||||
- The command's error path should emit `{ "error": string }` under `--json`
|
||||
instead of the plain-text error
|
||||
- Reuse the existing serializer the PR already added; don't introduce a second
|
||||
|
||||
**Acceptance criteria:**
|
||||
- [ ] `triage list --json` emits valid JSON for both success and error cases
|
||||
- [ ] Exit codes match the non-JSON command
|
||||
- [ ] A test covers the `--json` success output and one error case
|
||||
- [ ] Default (non-JSON) output is byte-for-byte unchanged
|
||||
|
||||
**Out of scope:**
|
||||
- Adding `--json` to any other command
|
||||
- Changing the JSON shape of the success payload the PR already defined
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Bad agent brief
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Agent Brief
|
||||
|
||||
**Summary:** Fix the triage bug
|
||||
|
||||
**What to do:**
|
||||
The triage thing is broken. Look at the main file and fix it.
|
||||
The function around line 150 has the issue.
|
||||
|
||||
**Files to change:**
|
||||
- src/triage/handler.ts (line 150)
|
||||
- src/types.ts (line 42)
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
This is bad because:
|
||||
- No category
|
||||
- Vague description ("the triage thing is broken")
|
||||
- References file paths and line numbers that will go stale
|
||||
- No acceptance criteria
|
||||
- No scope boundaries
|
||||
- No description of current vs desired behavior
|
||||
105
.agents/skills/triage/OUT-OF-SCOPE.md
Normal file
105
.agents/skills/triage/OUT-OF-SCOPE.md
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
|
||||
# Out-of-Scope Knowledge Base
|
||||
|
||||
The `.out-of-scope/` directory in a repo stores persistent records of rejected feature requests. It serves two purposes:
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Institutional memory** — why a feature was rejected, so the reasoning isn't lost when the issue is closed
|
||||
2. **Deduplication** — when a new issue comes in that matches a prior rejection, the skill can surface the previous decision instead of re-litigating it
|
||||
|
||||
## Directory structure
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
.out-of-scope/
|
||||
├── dark-mode.md
|
||||
├── plugin-system.md
|
||||
└── graphql-api.md
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
One file per **concept**, not per issue. Multiple issues requesting the same thing are grouped under one file.
|
||||
|
||||
## File format
|
||||
|
||||
The file should be written in a relaxed, readable style — more like a short design document than a database entry. Use paragraphs, code samples, and examples to make the reasoning clear and useful to someone encountering it for the first time.
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
# Dark Mode
|
||||
|
||||
This project does not support dark mode or user-facing theming.
|
||||
|
||||
## Why this is out of scope
|
||||
|
||||
The rendering pipeline assumes a single color palette defined in
|
||||
`ThemeConfig`. Supporting multiple themes would require:
|
||||
|
||||
- A theme context provider wrapping the entire component tree
|
||||
- Per-component theme-aware style resolution
|
||||
- A persistence layer for user theme preferences
|
||||
|
||||
This is a significant architectural change that doesn't align with the
|
||||
project's focus on content authoring. Theming is a concern for downstream
|
||||
consumers who embed or redistribute the output.
|
||||
|
||||
```ts
|
||||
// The current ThemeConfig interface is not designed for runtime switching:
|
||||
interface ThemeConfig {
|
||||
colors: ColorPalette; // single palette, resolved at build time
|
||||
fonts: FontStack;
|
||||
}
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Prior requests
|
||||
|
||||
- #42 — "Add dark mode support"
|
||||
- #87 — "Night theme for accessibility"
|
||||
- #134 — "Dark theme option"
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Naming the file
|
||||
|
||||
Use a short, descriptive kebab-case name for the concept: `dark-mode.md`, `plugin-system.md`, `graphql-api.md`. The name should be recognizable enough that someone browsing the directory understands what was rejected without opening the file.
|
||||
|
||||
### Writing the reason
|
||||
|
||||
The reason should be substantive — not "we don't want this" but why. Good reasons reference:
|
||||
|
||||
- Project scope or philosophy ("This project focuses on X; theming is a downstream concern")
|
||||
- Technical constraints ("Supporting this would require Y, which conflicts with our Z architecture")
|
||||
- Strategic decisions ("We chose to use A instead of B because...")
|
||||
|
||||
The reason should be durable. Avoid referencing temporary circumstances ("we're too busy right now") — those aren't real rejections, they're deferrals.
|
||||
|
||||
## When to check `.out-of-scope/`
|
||||
|
||||
During triage (Step 1: Gather context), read all files in `.out-of-scope/`. When evaluating a new issue:
|
||||
|
||||
- Check if the request matches an existing out-of-scope concept
|
||||
- Matching is by concept similarity, not keyword — "night theme" matches `dark-mode.md`
|
||||
- If there's a match, surface it to the maintainer: "This is similar to `.out-of-scope/dark-mode.md` — we rejected this before because [reason]. Do you still feel the same way?"
|
||||
|
||||
The maintainer may:
|
||||
|
||||
- **Confirm** — the new issue gets added to the existing file's "Prior requests" list, then closed
|
||||
- **Reconsider** — the out-of-scope file gets deleted or updated, and the issue proceeds through normal triage
|
||||
- **Disagree** — the issues are related but distinct, proceed with normal triage
|
||||
|
||||
## When to write to `.out-of-scope/`
|
||||
|
||||
Only when an **enhancement** (not a bug) is *rejected* as `wontfix`. This applies to enhancement PRs exactly as it does to issues — a rejected PR is recorded here so the same request doesn't return as fresh code.
|
||||
|
||||
Do **not** write here when something is closed as `wontfix` because it's **already implemented**. That's a built feature, not a rejected one; recording it would poison the dedup checks with false rejections. Instead, the closing comment points to where the feature already lives.
|
||||
|
||||
The flow:
|
||||
|
||||
1. Maintainer decides a feature request is out of scope
|
||||
2. Check if a matching `.out-of-scope/` file already exists
|
||||
3. If yes: append the new issue to the "Prior requests" list
|
||||
4. If no: create a new file with the concept name, decision, reason, and first prior request
|
||||
5. Post a comment on the issue explaining the decision and mentioning the `.out-of-scope/` file
|
||||
6. Close the issue with the `wontfix` label
|
||||
|
||||
## Updating or removing out-of-scope files
|
||||
|
||||
If the maintainer changes their mind about a previously rejected concept:
|
||||
|
||||
- Delete the `.out-of-scope/` file
|
||||
- The skill does not need to reopen old issues — they're historical records
|
||||
- The new issue that triggered the reconsideration proceeds through normal triage
|
||||
112
.agents/skills/triage/SKILL.md
Normal file
112
.agents/skills/triage/SKILL.md
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
name: triage
|
||||
description: Move issues and external PRs through a state machine of triage roles — categorise, verify, grill if needed, and write agent-ready briefs.
|
||||
disable-model-invocation: true
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
# Triage
|
||||
|
||||
Move issues on the project issue tracker through a small state machine of triage roles.
|
||||
|
||||
If this repo treats external pull requests as a request surface (see the issue-tracker config), triage covers them too: **a PR is an issue with attached code** — same roles, same states, same machine, with a few deltas marked "for a PR" below. Resolve a bare `#42` to an issue or PR per the tracker config.
|
||||
|
||||
Every comment or issue posted to the issue tracker during triage **must** start with this disclaimer:
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
> *This was generated by AI during triage.*
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
## Reference docs
|
||||
|
||||
- [AGENT-BRIEF.md](AGENT-BRIEF.md) — how to write durable agent briefs
|
||||
- [OUT-OF-SCOPE.md](OUT-OF-SCOPE.md) — how the `.out-of-scope/` knowledge base works
|
||||
|
||||
## Roles
|
||||
|
||||
Two **category** roles:
|
||||
|
||||
- `bug` — something is broken
|
||||
- `enhancement` — new feature or improvement
|
||||
|
||||
Five **state** roles:
|
||||
|
||||
- `needs-triage` — maintainer needs to evaluate
|
||||
- `needs-info` — waiting on reporter for more information
|
||||
- `ready-for-agent` — fully specified, ready for an AFK agent
|
||||
- `ready-for-human` — needs human implementation
|
||||
- `wontfix` — will not be actioned
|
||||
|
||||
For a PR, the same states read against the attached code: `ready-for-agent` means a brief is attached and an agent should take the next step on the diff; `ready-for-human` means it's ready for a human to merge.
|
||||
|
||||
Every triaged issue should carry exactly one category role and one state role. If state roles conflict, flag it and ask the maintainer before doing anything else.
|
||||
|
||||
These are canonical role names — the actual label strings used in the issue tracker may differ. The mapping should have been provided to you - run `/setup-matt-pocock-skills` if not.
|
||||
|
||||
State transitions: an unlabeled issue normally goes to `needs-triage` first; from there it moves to `needs-info`, `ready-for-agent`, `ready-for-human`, or `wontfix`. `needs-info` returns to `needs-triage` once the reporter replies. The maintainer can override at any time — flag transitions that look unusual and ask before proceeding.
|
||||
|
||||
## Invocation
|
||||
|
||||
The maintainer invokes `/triage` and describes what they want in natural language. Interpret the request and act. Examples:
|
||||
|
||||
- "Show me anything that needs my attention"
|
||||
- "Let's look at #42" (issue or PR)
|
||||
- "Move #42 to ready-for-agent"
|
||||
- "What's ready for agents to pick up?"
|
||||
|
||||
## Show what needs attention
|
||||
|
||||
Query the issue tracker and present three buckets, oldest first:
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Unlabeled** — never triaged.
|
||||
2. **`needs-triage`** — evaluation in progress.
|
||||
3. **`needs-info` with reporter activity since the last triage notes** — needs re-evaluation.
|
||||
|
||||
When PRs are in scope, include external PRs in these buckets and tag each line `[PR]` or `[issue]`. Discovery surfaces only *external* PRs (the tracker config defines who counts as external) — a collaborator's in-flight PR is not triage work. This filter is discovery-only; an explicitly named PR is always triaged regardless of author.
|
||||
|
||||
Show counts and a one-line summary per item. Let the maintainer pick.
|
||||
|
||||
## Triage a specific issue or PR
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Gather context.** Read the full issue or PR (body, comments, labels, author, dates; for a PR, the diff too). Parse any prior triage notes so you don't re-ask resolved questions. Explore the codebase using the project's domain glossary, respecting ADRs in the area. Run two checks against the codebase: (a) **redundancy** — search for an existing implementation of the requested behavior by domain concept (not just the request's wording), and report where you looked. If found, it's an already-implemented `wontfix` (step 5). (b) **prior rejection** — read `.out-of-scope/*.md` and surface any that resembles this request.
|
||||
|
||||
2. **Recommend.** Tell the maintainer your category and state recommendation with reasoning, plus a brief codebase summary relevant to the request — including whether it's already implemented. Wait for direction.
|
||||
|
||||
3. **Verify the claim.** Before any grilling, check that the claim holds up. For a bug, reproduce it from the reporter's steps. For a PR, confirm the diff does what it claims — check it out, run the relevant tests or commands. Report what happened: confirmed (with code path), failed, or insufficient detail (a strong `needs-info` signal). A confirmed verification makes a much stronger agent brief.
|
||||
|
||||
4. **Grill (if needed).** If the request needs fleshing out, run the `/grilling` and `/domain-modeling` skills together — grill it into shape one question at a time, sharpening domain terms and updating `CONTEXT.md`/ADRs inline as decisions land.
|
||||
|
||||
5. **Apply the outcome:**
|
||||
- `ready-for-agent` — post an agent brief comment ([AGENT-BRIEF.md](AGENT-BRIEF.md)).
|
||||
- `ready-for-human` — same structure as an agent brief, but note why it can't be delegated (judgment calls, external access, design decisions, manual testing).
|
||||
- `needs-info` — post triage notes (template below).
|
||||
- `wontfix` — close, with the comment depending on *why*:
|
||||
- **Already implemented** — the change already exists in the codebase. Point to where it lives; do **not** write to `.out-of-scope/` (that KB is for *rejected* requests, not built ones).
|
||||
- **Rejected (bug)** — polite explanation, then close.
|
||||
- **Rejected (enhancement)** — write to `.out-of-scope/`, link to it from a comment, then close ([OUT-OF-SCOPE.md](OUT-OF-SCOPE.md)).
|
||||
- `needs-triage` — apply the role. Optional comment if there's partial progress.
|
||||
|
||||
## Quick state override
|
||||
|
||||
If the maintainer says "move #42 to ready-for-agent", trust them and apply the role directly. Confirm what you're about to do (role changes, comment, close), then act. Skip grilling. If moving to `ready-for-agent` without a grilling session, ask whether they want to write an agent brief.
|
||||
|
||||
## Needs-info template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Triage Notes
|
||||
|
||||
**What we've established so far:**
|
||||
|
||||
- point 1
|
||||
- point 2
|
||||
|
||||
**What we still need from you (@reporter):**
|
||||
|
||||
- question 1
|
||||
- question 2
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
Capture everything resolved during grilling under "established so far" so the work isn't lost. Questions must be specific and actionable, not "please provide more info".
|
||||
|
||||
## Resuming a previous session
|
||||
|
||||
If prior triage notes exist on the issue or PR, read them, check whether the reporter has answered any outstanding questions, and present an updated picture before continuing. Don't re-ask resolved questions.
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user