manual page/ Reference

Step bars

A step bar is the pass/fail bar for one loop step.

It checks the transformation from input artifact to output artifact.

How to use

One failing predicate fails the step.

Input: upstream source.

Output: intake.

Predicate	Holds when
Verbatim snapshot	source text is copied, not rewritten
Provenance present	`source`, `url`, and `captured` are filled
No editorializing	intake adds no interpretation

Input: intake and sources.

Output: spec.

Predicate	Holds when
Requirement form	every requirement has an id and verification
Stance preserved	asks stay asks; observations stay observations
Uncertainty surfaced	ambiguity is in Open questions or explicit interpretation
Nothing invented as sourced	new decisions are visible as decisions

Input: spec or change plan.

Output: task packet.

Predicate	Holds when
Scope from source	every scoped id exists upstream
Boundaries declared	`Do not change` is real, not boilerplate
Checks mapped	each scoped requirement has a verify item

Input: task packet and diff.

Output: run summary.

Predicate	Holds when
Changed files complete	summary names every changed file
Real output pasted	verify commands include real output
Out-of-scope edits declared	exceptions are named with reason
Stuck means stop	unmet requirements are reported, not bypassed

Input: spec, task, run summary, diff.

Output: review packet.

Predicate	Holds when
Coverage complete	every scoped requirement has a row
Empty evidence means Unverified	no empty-evidence Pass rows
Exceptions routed	Human attention covers all triggers
Gate honest	suggested decision matches evidence
Spot-check recorded	at least one green row was rechecked

Input: finished task record.

Output: workspace state.

Predicate	Holds when
Findings saved	durable lessons moved to findings or another durable home
Board updated	`status.md` reflects the close
Nothing pending	blocked questions and follow-ups are visible

Predicate	Meaning
Re-parses clean	written files still match their `type:`
Chain unbroken	requirement -> task -> review ids resolve
Result matches evidence	row result agrees with evidence
Drift surfaced	mismatch is visible, not silently passed

For the advanced lifecycle:

Step	Bar
author	Spec bar
lint	all blocking checks reported; no edits
improve	same meaning; blocking defects fixed or carried
lower	ids, verification, dependencies, surfaces preserved
decompose	disjoint work, assigned requirements, dependency order
implement	Run bar plus scope predicate
verify	all named checks run or blocked
review	Review bar plus lifecycle markers
promote	Close bar plus provenance