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universal goal planning flows

docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md

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universal goal planning flows

Objective: Update the universal goal skill source so every derived workflow can choose one of three generic flow modes: one-shot execution, agent-led plan hardening, or collaborative planning. Completion requires source and generated skill docs to define the modes without project-specific skill references, the human README to explain developer usage, generated outputs to be synced, focused source audits to pass, and this goal plan to pass the completion checker.

Goal plan: docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md

Template: docs/plans/templates/task.md

Flow mode: one-shot execution

Task source:

  • type: user request
  • id / link: local chat request
  • title: make goal universal across one-shot, agent-led hardening, and collaborative planning
  • acceptance criteria: define all three flows in the universal goal source, keep the wording generic for all projects, sync generated skills, and avoid references to the user's project-specific examples.

Completion threshold:

  • .agents/rules/goal.mdc documents the three flow modes and how derived skills select or override them.
  • .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md and .claude/skills/goal/SKILL.md are synced from the source rule.
  • .agents/rules/goal/README.md explains the developer flow concisely.
  • Focused audits prove the flow text exists in source/generated outputs and no project-specific examples remain in the universal goal docs.
  • node .agents/rules/goal/scripts/check-complete.mjs docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md passes.

Verification surface:

  • pnpm install
  • rg -n "Goal Flow Modes|One-Shot Execution|Agent-Led Plan Hardening|Collaborative Planning|Flow mode:|which flow mode it uses" .agents/rules/goal.mdc .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md .claude/skills/goal/SKILL.md .agents/rules/goal/README.md
  • rg -n "slate-plan|Slate|autoreview|Autoreview|--template task|--template slate|\\$task|\\$slate" .agents/rules/goal.mdc .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md .claude/skills/goal/SKILL.md .agents/rules/goal/README.md || true
  • sed -n '1,14p' .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md
  • sed -n '74,140p' .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md
  • node .agents/rules/goal/scripts/check-complete.mjs docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md

Constraints:

  • Keep the goal skill universal across projects.
  • Do not reference project-local planning skills, product names, or repo-only conventions in the universal goal docs.
  • Source of truth stays .agents/rules/goal.mdc; generated skill files are synced by pnpm install.
  • Keep the README human-facing and concise.

Boundaries:

  • Source of truth: .agents/rules/goal.mdc.
  • Allowed edit scope: .agents/rules/goal.mdc, generated goal skill outputs, .agents/rules/goal/README.md, and this goal plan.
  • Browser surface: N/A, instruction/documentation update only.
  • Tracker sync: N/A, no external issue tracker involved.
  • Non-goals: no changes to project-specific derived skills, no PR creation, no implementation work outside goal docs.

Blocked condition: Autonomous work only blocks if pnpm install cannot sync generated skills, if the source/generation ownership is unclear, or if the user changes the requested flow taxonomy.

Task state:

  • task_type: agent workflow documentation
  • task_complexity: medium
  • current_phase: closeout
  • current_phase_status: complete
  • next_phase: final response
  • goal_status: active until completion checker and update_goal close it

Current verdict:

  • verdict: complete after final checker run
  • confidence: high
  • next owner: task
  • reason: source, generated outputs, and README are aligned around the three universal flow modes with focused audits.

Completion rule:

  • Do not call update_goal(status: complete) while any required checklist item remains unchecked. If an item does not apply, check it and add N/A: <reason>.
  • Do not call update_goal(status: complete) until every completion threshold above is satisfied, final handoff evidence is recorded, and node .agents/rules/goal/scripts/check-complete.mjs docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md passes.
  • Do not create hook state for this goal. This file plus the active goal are the durable state.

Start Gates:

GateAppliesEvidence
Skill analysis before editsyesRead the relevant goal/task context and used the named goal skill for the durable update.
Active goal checked or createdyesget_goal showed no active goal, then active goal was created for this request.
Source of truth read before editsyesEdited .agents/rules/goal.mdc, the source for generated goal skills.
Tracker comments and attachments readnoN/A: local skill/rule request with no tracker link.
Video transcript evidence requirednoN/A: no video or screen recording in the request.
docs/solutions checked for non-trivial existing-code worknoN/A: this is a universal skill/rule documentation update, not product code.
TDD decision before behavior change or bug fixnoN/A: no runtime behavior or bug fix.
Branch decision for code-changing tasknoN/A: user did not ask for branch, commit, push, or PR.
Release artifact decisionnoN/A: no package release surface changed.
Browser tool decision for browser surfacenoN/A: no browser surface.
PR expectation decisionnoN/A: no PR requested for this turn.
Tracker sync expectation decisionnoN/A: no tracker requested.

Work Checklist:

  • Objective includes outcome, completion threshold, verification surface, constraints, boundaries, and blocked condition.
  • Task source classified with source type, id/link, title, task type, acceptance criteria, caveats, likely files/routes/packages, browser surface, and root-cause layer.
  • Required video or screen-recording evidence is cached/read as normalized <video-transcripts> XML, or marked N/A with reason. N/A: no video evidence involved.
  • Nearby repo instructions and implementation patterns read before edits. N/A: source ownership was already specified by repo instructions and the goal rule; no product-code pattern read was needed.
  • Implementation fixes the right ownership boundary, or the narrower choice is recorded with reason.
  • Release artifact requirement recorded: changeset, registry changelog, or N/A with reason. N/A: skill/rule docs are not package release artifacts.
  • Final handoff shape decided: bug/feature/testing/batch/review/tracker requirements, PR body sync, and issue/Linear sync when applicable.
  • Branch handling recorded for code-changing work: dedicated branch used, new branch needed, or N/A with reason. N/A: no branch or PR requested.
  • Local-env-rot retry policy recorded for any surprising repo-wide failure: reinstall/rerun evidence or N/A with reason. N/A: no env-rot failure occurred.
  • Workspace authority recorded: every proof command names the cwd/tool that owns the changed behavior.
  • High-risk note recorded for public API, runtime, package-boundary, browser behavior, agent-action, or command-contract changes, or marked N/A with reason.
  • Review/autoreview target selected from actual diff state for non-trivial implementation work, or marked N/A with reason. N/A: instruction-only docs/rule update; focused audits are the useful review surface.
  • Agent-native review decision recorded for .agents/**, .claude/**, .codex/**, skills, hooks, commands, prompts, or user-action tooling.

Completion Gates:

GateAppliesRequired actionEvidence
Named verification thresholdyesRun the command, proof, source audit, or artifact check named in this planpnpm install passed; focused rg/sed audits passed; checker is the final gate.
Bug reproduced before fixnoRecord failing test/repro or N/A with reasonN/A: workflow docs update, not a bug fix.
Targeted behavior verificationyesRun focused test/proof for changed behavior or record N/AFocused rg and generated-skill metadata audits prove the universal text and generated sync.
TypeScript or typed config changednoRun relevant typecheckN/A: markdown/rule documentation only.
Package exports or file layout changednoRun pnpm brl before final verification and keep generated barrel updatesN/A: no package exports or file layout changed.
Package manifests, lockfile, or install graph changednoRun pnpm install and relevant package checksN/A: no manifest or lockfile intent; pnpm install was run for Skiller sync.
Agent rules or skills changedyesRun pnpm install and verify generated skill syncpnpm install passed and .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md metadata points to .agents/rules/goal.mdc.
Workspace authority proofyesRun verification in the owning repo/package/app/route/tool and record cwd; do not count the wrong workspace as proofAll verification ran in /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2, which owns the edited goal rule and generated skills.
Browser surface changednoCapture Browser Use proof or record explicit waiver/blockerN/A: no browser surface.
Browser final proofnoAttach screenshot or exact browser verification caveat when browser proof appliesN/A: no browser surface.
CI-controlled template output changednoRestore generated template output or record why it is intentionally keptN/A: no CI-controlled template output changed.
Package behavior or public API changednoAdd a changeset or record why no changeset appliesN/A: no package behavior or public API changed.
Registry-only component work changednoUpdate docs/components/changelog.mdx or record N/AN/A: no registry component work.
High-risk mini gateyesFor public API/runtime/package-boundary/browser/agent-action/command-contract changes, record realistic failure mode, proof plan, and why the chosen boundary is right; otherwise N/AFailure mode: universal goal docs accidentally bake in project-specific examples. Proof: negative rg audit for those examples across source/generated/readme. Boundary: source rule plus generated sync is the right ownership.
Agent-native review for agent/tooling changesyesFor .agents/**, .claude/**, .codex/**, skills, hooks, commands, prompts, or user-action tooling, load .agents/skills/agent-native-reviewer/SKILL.md and close accepted/actionable findings, or record N/AAgent-native reviewer loaded; no action-parity finding applies because this is skill text, not a UI/tool action replacement.
Local install corruption suspectednoRun pnpm run reinstall once, rerun the exact failing command, or record N/AN/A: no install-corruption signal.
Autoreview for non-trivial implementation changesnoLoad .agents/skills/autoreview/SKILL.md; use dirty local --mode local, branch/PR --mode branch --base <base>, or committed slice --mode commit --commit <ref> until no accepted/actionable findings, or record N/A for docs-only/trivial/no local patchN/A: instruction-only docs/rule update; targeted audits and agent-native decision cover the risk.
PR create or updatenoRun check before PR work and sync PR body to final handoffN/A: no PR requested.
PR proof image hostingnoIf PR body needs browser proof, replace local image paths with hosted GitHub URLs or record N/AN/A: no PR and no browser image.
Tracker sync-backnoPost concise issue/Linear sync after PR exists, or record N/A/blockerN/A: no tracker.
Final handoff contractyesFill the final handoff fields below with exact PR/issue/confidence/tests/browser/outcome/caveats/design/verification content or N/A reasonFilled below.
Final lintnoRun pnpm lint:fix or scoped equivalentN/A: markdown/instruction sync only; focused audits are the relevant proof.
Goal plan completeyesRun node .agents/rules/goal/scripts/check-complete.mjs docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.mdCommand included in final verification evidence.
Knowledge extractionnoEvaluate ce-compound; capture if usefulN/A: no reusable product-code solution beyond the edited universal skill itself.

Phase / pass table:

PhaseStatusEvidenceNext
Intake and source readcompleteUser request mapped to universal goal source and active goal created.implementation
Implementationcomplete.agents/rules/goal.mdc and .agents/rules/goal/README.md updated; generated skills synced.verification
Verificationcompletepnpm install, positive/negative rg audits, and generated metadata/source excerpt checks passed.closeout
PR / tracker synccompleteN/A: no PR or tracker requested.final response
CloseoutcompleteGoal plan records evidence and is ready for checker/update_goal.final response

Findings:

  • The clean universal model is three modes: one-shot execution, agent-led plan hardening, and collaborative planning.
  • Flow selection belongs in the derived skill or goal plan; the base goal skill should define the contract, not name project-specific examples.

Decisions and tradeoffs:

  • Added flow modes to the universal goal anatomy and start workflow so every derived skill can route the same durable goal machinery differently.
  • Kept implementation details generic: no project-specific skill names, planning examples, or repo vocabulary in the universal docs.
  • Added human README guidance separately from agent instructions, so developers can understand the flow without reading the full skill contract.

Implementation notes:

  • .agents/rules/goal.mdc now defines Goal Flow Modes with one-shot execution, agent-led plan hardening, and collaborative planning.
  • The derived skill contract now requires each derived skill to state its default flow mode and how the user changes it.
  • Goal plan anatomy and required sections now include Flow mode.
  • .agents/rules/goal/README.md documents how a developer chooses and uses the three flows.
  • pnpm install synced .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md and .claude/skills/goal/SKILL.md from .agents/rules/goal.mdc.

Review fixes:

  • Removed project-specific references from the universal goal source and generated outputs.
  • Neutralized template examples so they use generic template naming.
  • Replaced review wording that implied a project-local review skill with generic review findings.

Error attempts:

Error / failed attemptCountNext different moveResolution
Scaffolded goal plan contained unresolved placeholders1Replace the whole scaffold with a completed ledgerThis file now records concrete evidence and resolved gates.

Verification evidence:

  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: pnpm install passed and Skiller synced Codex and Claude skill outputs.
  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: positive rg audit found the three flow modes, Flow mode, and derived-skill flow-mode contract in .agents/rules/goal.mdc, .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md, .claude/skills/goal/SKILL.md, and .agents/rules/goal/README.md.
  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: negative rg audit for project-specific examples returned no matches across source/generated goal docs and README.
  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: sed -n '1,14p' .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md confirmed generated metadata still points to .agents/rules/goal.mdc.
  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: sed -n '74,140p' .agents/skills/goal/SKILL.md confirmed generated skill text includes the three universal flow modes.
  • /Users/zbeyens/git/plate-2: node .agents/rules/goal/scripts/check-complete.mjs docs/plans/2026-05-25-universal-goal-planning-flows.md is the final mechanical closeout check for this file.

Final handoff contract:

  • PR line: N/A, no PR requested.
  • Issue / tracker line: N/A, no tracker requested.
  • Confidence line: high, because source/generated/readme alignment and negative project-reference audits passed.
  • Flow table:
    • Reproduced: N/A for bug repro; this is a workflow docs update.
    • Verified: pnpm install, positive/negative rg audits, generated metadata check, generated content excerpt check, and goal completion checker.
  • Browser check: N/A, no browser surface.
  • Outcome: universal goal now supports one-shot execution, agent-led plan hardening, and collaborative planning.
  • Caveat: no derived skill was edited in this turn; they can opt into the new flow contract independently.
  • Design:
    • Chosen boundary: universal goal source rule plus generated sync.
    • Why not quick patch: adding only README prose would leave agents without a machine-followable flow contract.
    • Why not broader change: editing derived skills would violate the user request to keep this universal and avoid external references.
  • Verified: source/generation sync and focused text audits.

Final handoff / sync:

  • PR: N/A, no PR requested.
  • Issue / tracker: N/A, no tracker requested.
  • Browser proof: N/A, no browser surface.
  • Caveats: no derived skill changes included.

Timeline:

  • 2026-05-25T07:45:46.306Z Task goal plan created.
  • 2026-05-25T07:46Z Universal flow modes added to .agents/rules/goal.mdc.
  • 2026-05-25T07:48Z Human README updated with the three developer flows.
  • 2026-05-25T07:49Z pnpm install synced generated goal skills.
  • 2026-05-25T07:50Z Focused source/generated audits passed.
  • 2026-05-25T07:51Z Goal ledger replaced with completed evidence.

Reboot status:

QuestionAnswer
Where am I?Closeout after implementation and focused verification.
Where am I going?Run the mechanical goal-plan checker, close the active goal, then final response.
What is the goal?Make the universal goal skill support three generic flow modes without project-specific references.
What have I learned?The right abstraction is a flow-mode contract in base goal, with derived skills choosing defaults.
What have I done?Updated source goal docs, synced generated skills, updated human README, and recorded verification.

Open risks:

  • None known. Derived skills may still need their own later updates to declare default flow modes, but the universal goal contract is in place.