goal-framing
Use when the user explicitly sets an Aegis goal with /aegis-goal, Aegis goal:, or asks to define goal, success evidence, stop condition, or task boundaries before work.
What it does
Aegis Goal Framing
Use this skill to create a thin goal frame before execution. It is opt-in and boundary-setting only.
Do not use it for tiny edits, one-command checks, or ordinary fast-path Q&A
unless the user explicitly asks for /aegis-goal or Aegis goal:.
Authority Boundary
Current owner:
- Method Pack task framing
Not owned here:
- authoritative
GateDecision - final evidence sufficiency
- final completion authority is not owned here
- host daemon / automatic stop enforcement
Input Forms
Treat these as equivalent:
/aegis-goal <task description>Aegis goal: <task description>- "Define the goal / stop condition before we start"
Slash commands are optional host shortcuts. The natural-language form is the portable fallback.
Example:
Aegis goal: Fix the auth refresh bug without rewriting the auth system.
Output
Produce the smallest useful frame:
TaskIntentDraft:
- Requested outcome:
- Goal:
- Success evidence:
- Stop condition:
- Non-goals:
- Constraints:
- Scope:
- Risk hints:
- Route:
- Next:
Stop condition must distinguish:
State set: done, blocked, needs-verification, scope-exceeded.
done: success evidence is satisfiedblocked: required dependency, permission, or information is missingneeds-verification: implementation exists but evidence is insufficientscope-exceeded: continuing would exceed the goal or non-goals
Routing
After framing:
- Low-risk single-owner work may continue through the normal fast path or TDD
- Ambiguous product / architecture / contract work routes to
brainstorming - Approved requirements route to
writing-plans - Multi-step, compaction-prone, handoff, or subagent work routes to
long-task-continuation - Bug diagnosis routes to
systematic-debugging
Route Matrix
| Goal signal | Route |
|---|---|
| single-owner, low-risk, clear verification | fast path or test-driven-development |
| bug, failure, regression, unexpected behavior | systematic-debugging |
| ambiguous product, architecture, contract, cross-module behavior | brainstorming |
| approved spec, stable requirements, implementation slicing | writing-plans |
| multi-step, compaction-prone, handoff, subagent work | long-task-continuation |
| completion, release, handoff, "is this done?" | verification-before-completion |
Only create docs/aegis/ records when the routed workflow needs persistent
evidence. Goal framing alone does not create project files.
Subagent Context Packet
When delegating work, pass a compact packet instead of the full conversation:
SubagentContextPacket:
- Task:
- Goal:
- Stop condition:
- Relevant baseline refs:
- Relevant files:
- Known facts:
- Unknowns:
- Non-goals:
- Expected output:
- Verification expected:
- Must-read excerpts:
- Unsafe assumptions:
The packet reduces repeated file reading, but it does not replace evidence. Subagents should still read the smallest raw file/log/test excerpt needed to verify critical facts.
Do not paste full chat transcripts, full session history, or unbounded logs into the packet. If a fact matters, include a file ref, line/window hint, or compact must-read excerpt.
Drift Rule
If the goal changes mid-task, do not silently overwrite it. Record old goal,
new goal, changed scope, new risks, and route through DriftCheckDraft when a
long-task record exists.
Capabilities
Install
Quality
deterministic score 0.58 from registry signals: · indexed on github topic:agent-skills · 262 github stars · SKILL.md body (3,408 chars)