Micro-protocols for common engineering workflows: CI/build failure triage, incremental refactoring, API/SDK freshness verification, and context window management. Use when tests/CI/build/lint fails (ci-triage), when doing refactors/migrations/multi-file changes (minidiff), when implementing or debugging anything that depends on external APIs/SDKs/tools (research-freshness), or when the session is long and context needs management (context-control).
Four lightweight protocols for common engineering situations. Each is self-contained.
Use when tests/CI/build/lint fails.
Reproduce — Run the smallest command that reproduces it locally. If it only fails in CI, replicate the CI environment as closely as possible (OS, node/python version, env flags).
Pin the failure — Capture:
Identify the smallest fix — Do not "fix" by broad reformatting or updating unrelated dependencies unless necessary.
Validate — Re-run the failing command, then the next nearest test target (unit suite or lint) to ensure no regressions. If the failure is CI-only, run the closest local equivalent and note the gap.
End with:
Use for refactors/migrations/multi-file changes. Enforce incremental steps, tiny diffs, and continuous compilation/tests.
/diff and /review before considering the work "done."Summarize: steps performed, key diffs, tests run, any follow-ups you intentionally deferred.
Use when implementing or debugging anything that depends on external APIs/SDKs/tools and must be current.
Treat this as the "you don't get to guess" workflow.
Any time you are about to:
At the end of the task report, include:
Freshness receipts:
- Source: <doc URL or release note> Version/date: <...> Notes: <1 line>
- Source: <...>
Use when the session is long or tool output is huge. Keep context lean.
/compact only when context feels too heavy; do not auto-compact./fork to explore alternatives without polluting the main thread./status to confirm token usage, model, and writable roots.tool_output_token_limit if you keep hitting "missing logs" vs "too much noise".When stopping mid-task, leave: current status, what's already verified, the next single command to run.