diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 061076d66..d99bffe70 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -47,6 +47,58 @@ Start a session tomorrow and the agent already knows what you settled and why, i
 - New shared `lib/jsonl-store.ts` (injection-reject + atomic single-line append + tolerant read) backs both the learnings and decision stores, so the sanitization path is audited in one place.
 - `lib/bin-context.ts` shares slug/branch/flag plumbing across the decision bins.
 
+## [1.57.4.0] - 2026-06-08
+
+## **The completeness principle is now Boil the Ocean, matching the post it came from.**
+## **One name across the ETHOS file, every skill, and the developer-profile dial.**
+
+The principle that tells gstack to do the complete thing was called "Boil the Lake" in
+`ETHOS.md` and in every generated skill, with the ocean cast as the anti-pattern. The
+developer-profile system and the completeness intro link already used "boil the ocean"
+as the good, ship-the-whole-thing pole. So the same idea carried two opposite framings
+depending on where you read it. This renames the principle to Boil the Ocean everywhere
+and reframes the metaphor: the ocean is the complete destination, and lakes are the
+boilable units you ship on the way there. The guidance is identical. Only the name and
+the framing prose changed.
+
+### The numbers that matter
+
+Reproduce with `git diff v1.57.3.0..HEAD --stat`.
+
+| Property | Before | After |
+|---|---|---|
+| Principle name in ETHOS + every skill | "Boil the Lake" | "Boil the Ocean" |
+| Name vs. the `scope_appetite` dial ("boil the ocean" = complete) | split | unified |
+| Files updated | — | 63 (ETHOS, CLAUDE, README, resolvers, templates, generated SKILL.md) |
+| Runtime behavior change | — | none, text only |
+
+The one number that matters is zero: no behavior changed. A reviewer reading `ETHOS.md`
+no longer hits "ocean" as the thing to avoid in one section and the thing to aim for in
+the next.
+
+### What this means for you
+
+You get the same complete-the-work recommendations, now under the name from Garry's
+"Boil the Oceans" post. The metaphor reads straight through: the ocean is the goal,
+lakes are how you get there one boil at a time, and only genuinely unrelated
+multi-quarter migrations sit outside scope. Nothing to do on your end.
+
+### Itemized changes
+
+#### Changed
+- `ETHOS.md` section 1 is renamed to "Boil the Ocean" and reframed so the ocean is the
+  complete destination and lakes are the boilable first units, not the ceiling.
+- The "Completeness Principle" header injected into every tier-2+ skill now reads
+  "Boil the Ocean," with prose to match.
+- `CLAUDE.md` and `README.md` references updated to the new name.
+
+#### For contributors
+- Source of the rename lives in the preamble resolvers
+  (`generate-completeness-section.ts`, the `composition.ts` skip-list, and
+  `generate-lake-intro.ts`); all SKILL.md files are regenerated from them.
+- Unit assertions (`skill-validation`, `terse-build`) and the three ship golden
+  fixtures updated to the new header.
+
 ## [1.57.3.0] - 2026-06-07
 
 ## **Every PR `/ship` opens gets the version stamped into its title, fork and agent PRs included.**
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 08b66d820..41db0093e 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ gstack/
 ├── setup            # One-time setup: build binary + symlink skills
 ├── SKILL.md         # Generated from SKILL.md.tmpl (don't edit directly)
 ├── SKILL.md.tmpl    # Template: edit this, run gen:skill-docs
-├── ETHOS.md         # Builder philosophy (Boil the Lake, Search Before Building)
+├── ETHOS.md         # Builder philosophy (Boil the Ocean, Search Before Building)
 └── package.json     # Build scripts for browse
 ```
 
@@ -776,8 +776,10 @@ When estimating or discussing effort, always show both human-team and CC+gstack
 | Research / exploration | 1 day | 3 hours | ~3x |
 
 Completeness is cheap. Don't recommend shortcuts when the complete implementation
-is a "lake" (achievable) not an "ocean" (multi-quarter migration). See the
-Completeness Principle in the skill preamble for the full philosophy.
+is achievable. Boil the ocean — the complete thing is the goal; only genuinely
+unrelated multi-quarter migrations are separate scope, never an excuse for a
+shortcut. See the Completeness Principle in the skill preamble for the full
+philosophy.
 
 ## Search before building
 
diff --git a/ETHOS.md b/ETHOS.md
index a04cd9d1c..3dbd5e570 100644
--- a/ETHOS.md
+++ b/ETHOS.md
@@ -31,16 +31,21 @@ The last 10% of completeness that teams used to skip? It costs seconds now.
 
 ---
 
-## 1. Boil the Lake
+## 1. Boil the Ocean
 
-AI-assisted coding makes the marginal cost of completeness near-zero. When
-the complete implementation costs minutes more than the shortcut — do the
+"Don't boil the ocean" was the right advice when engineering time was the
+bottleneck. That era is over. AI-assisted coding makes the marginal cost of
+completeness near-zero, so the old caution has quietly turned into an excuse.
+When the complete implementation costs minutes more than the shortcut — do the
 complete thing. Every time.
 
-**Lake vs. ocean:** A "lake" is boilable — 100% test coverage for a module,
-full feature implementation, all edge cases, complete error paths. An "ocean"
-is not — rewriting an entire system from scratch, multi-quarter platform
-migrations. Boil lakes. Flag oceans as out of scope.
+**Ocean, lakes first:** The ocean is the destination — 100% test coverage for a
+module, full feature implementation, all edge cases, complete error paths. You
+get there one lake at a time: each lake is a boilable unit, not the ceiling.
+"That's boiling the ocean" is no longer a reason to ship a shortcut — boiling
+the ocean is the goal. The only thing still out of scope is genuinely unrelated
+work: a multi-quarter platform migration that has nothing to do with the task at
+hand. Flag that as separate scope. Boil everything else.
 
 **Completeness is cheap.** When evaluating "approach A (full, ~150 LOC) vs
 approach B (90%, ~80 LOC)" — always prefer A. The 70-line delta costs
@@ -144,7 +149,7 @@ think it's better, state what context you might be missing, and ask. Never act.
 
 ## How They Work Together
 
-Boil the Lake says: **do the complete thing.**
+Boil the Ocean says: **do the complete thing.**
 Search Before Building says: **know what exists before you decide what to build.**
 
 Together: search first, then build the complete version of the right thing.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a0d9c40e3..c8b20b308 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ Other references: [docs/gbrain-sync.md](docs/gbrain-sync.md) (sync-specific guid
 | Doc | What it covers |
 |-----|---------------|
 | [Skill Deep Dives](docs/skills.md) | Philosophy, examples, and workflow for every skill (includes Greptile integration) |
-| [Builder Ethos](ETHOS.md) | Builder philosophy: Boil the Lake, Search Before Building, three layers of knowledge |
+| [Builder Ethos](ETHOS.md) | Builder philosophy: Boil the Ocean, Search Before Building, three layers of knowledge |
 | [Using GBrain with GStack](USING_GBRAIN_WITH_GSTACK.md) | Every path, flag, bin helper, and troubleshooting step for `/setup-gbrain` |
 | [GBrain Sync](docs/gbrain-sync.md) | Cross-machine memory setup, privacy modes, troubleshooting |
 | [Architecture](ARCHITECTURE.md) | Design decisions and system internals |
diff --git a/SKILL.md b/SKILL.md
index 24c498292..0b06b802b 100644
--- a/SKILL.md
+++ b/SKILL.md
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/autoplan/SKILL.md b/autoplan/SKILL.md
index 292aa753a..bd372a4c3 100644
--- a/autoplan/SKILL.md
+++ b/autoplan/SKILL.md
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -626,9 +626,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ Read the `/office-hours` skill file at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/office-hours/SKI
 Follow its instructions from top to bottom, **skipping these sections** (already handled by the parent skill):
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Contributor Mode
 - Completion Status Protocol
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ Read each file using the Read tool:
 (they are already handled by /autoplan):**
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Completion Status Protocol
 - Telemetry (run last)
diff --git a/autoplan/SKILL.md.tmpl b/autoplan/SKILL.md.tmpl
index 888cddabb..2e67eb9e1 100644
--- a/autoplan/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/autoplan/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ Read each file using the Read tool:
 (they are already handled by /autoplan):**
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Completion Status Protocol
 - Telemetry (run last)
diff --git a/benchmark-models/SKILL.md b/benchmark-models/SKILL.md
index 44b2adcb0..06fbd6a7b 100644
--- a/benchmark-models/SKILL.md
+++ b/benchmark-models/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/benchmark/SKILL.md b/benchmark/SKILL.md
index 8846142d6..20b15e0d6 100644
--- a/benchmark/SKILL.md
+++ b/benchmark/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/browse/SKILL.md b/browse/SKILL.md
index a94e1b9a4..e36fc9c86 100644
--- a/browse/SKILL.md
+++ b/browse/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/canary/SKILL.md b/canary/SKILL.md
index 156378fbc..d2412d881 100644
--- a/canary/SKILL.md
+++ b/canary/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -618,9 +618,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/codex/SKILL.md b/codex/SKILL.md
index 1008c80d1..4d01f131e 100644
--- a/codex/SKILL.md
+++ b/codex/SKILL.md
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -621,9 +621,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/context-restore/SKILL.md b/context-restore/SKILL.md
index 8935a2819..ce286184d 100644
--- a/context-restore/SKILL.md
+++ b/context-restore/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/context-save/SKILL.md b/context-save/SKILL.md
index 8b3421b3d..d9602de4f 100644
--- a/context-save/SKILL.md
+++ b/context-save/SKILL.md
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -621,9 +621,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/cso/SKILL.md b/cso/SKILL.md
index fdfaf2293..13f564808 100644
--- a/cso/SKILL.md
+++ b/cso/SKILL.md
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -624,9 +624,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/design-consultation/SKILL.md b/design-consultation/SKILL.md
index 831bf6196..7759e7f02 100644
--- a/design-consultation/SKILL.md
+++ b/design-consultation/SKILL.md
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -644,9 +644,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/design-html/SKILL.md b/design-html/SKILL.md
index 460c6708c..f58f13800 100644
--- a/design-html/SKILL.md
+++ b/design-html/SKILL.md
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -625,9 +625,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/design-review/SKILL.md b/design-review/SKILL.md
index 54fcaf4a0..8c36d8dab 100644
--- a/design-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/design-review/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/design-shotgun/SKILL.md b/design-shotgun/SKILL.md
index 7017d41cc..68fdce7d6 100644
--- a/design-shotgun/SKILL.md
+++ b/design-shotgun/SKILL.md
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -639,9 +639,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/devex-review/SKILL.md b/devex-review/SKILL.md
index d6cfba609..b607c44a4 100644
--- a/devex-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/devex-review/SKILL.md
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -624,9 +624,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/document-generate/SKILL.md b/document-generate/SKILL.md
index e1c08fbda..70e71bdb0 100644
--- a/document-generate/SKILL.md
+++ b/document-generate/SKILL.md
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -624,9 +624,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -1207,4 +1207,4 @@ Documentation generated:
 - **Voice: friendly, concrete, user-forward.** Write like you're explaining to a smart person
   who hasn't seen the code. Never corporate, never academic.
 - **Completeness over minimalism.** AI makes comprehensive documentation cheap. Don't write
-  "minimal viable docs" — write complete docs. Boil the lake.
+  "minimal viable docs" — write complete docs. Boil the ocean.
diff --git a/document-generate/SKILL.md.tmpl b/document-generate/SKILL.md.tmpl
index e4ac067ad..d3ef0cbc3 100644
--- a/document-generate/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/document-generate/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -457,4 +457,4 @@ Documentation generated:
 - **Voice: friendly, concrete, user-forward.** Write like you're explaining to a smart person
   who hasn't seen the code. Never corporate, never academic.
 - **Completeness over minimalism.** AI makes comprehensive documentation cheap. Don't write
-  "minimal viable docs" — write complete docs. Boil the lake.
+  "minimal viable docs" — write complete docs. Boil the ocean.
diff --git a/document-release/SKILL.md b/document-release/SKILL.md
index 2879b4a09..5ebf20002 100644
--- a/document-release/SKILL.md
+++ b/document-release/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/health/SKILL.md b/health/SKILL.md
index df182bd57..df0210492 100644
--- a/health/SKILL.md
+++ b/health/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/investigate/SKILL.md b/investigate/SKILL.md
index 06e156ad3..ab3b3dee4 100644
--- a/investigate/SKILL.md
+++ b/investigate/SKILL.md
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -659,9 +659,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ios-clean/SKILL.md b/ios-clean/SKILL.md
index b8a65ef26..db14d0f9c 100644
--- a/ios-clean/SKILL.md
+++ b/ios-clean/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ios-design-review/SKILL.md b/ios-design-review/SKILL.md
index d4f8e3a03..8c32707e4 100644
--- a/ios-design-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/ios-design-review/SKILL.md
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -624,9 +624,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ios-fix/SKILL.md b/ios-fix/SKILL.md
index 9d0e28e75..68b5cef22 100644
--- a/ios-fix/SKILL.md
+++ b/ios-fix/SKILL.md
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -625,9 +625,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ios-qa/SKILL.md b/ios-qa/SKILL.md
index 33e17a740..96453be06 100644
--- a/ios-qa/SKILL.md
+++ b/ios-qa/SKILL.md
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -628,9 +628,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ios-sync/SKILL.md b/ios-sync/SKILL.md
index 311167a90..9026a8670 100644
--- a/ios-sync/SKILL.md
+++ b/ios-sync/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/land-and-deploy/SKILL.md b/land-and-deploy/SKILL.md
index 414cc0d60..2f1179573 100644
--- a/land-and-deploy/SKILL.md
+++ b/land-and-deploy/SKILL.md
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -617,9 +617,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/landing-report/SKILL.md b/landing-report/SKILL.md
index 13536dbc1..713971163 100644
--- a/landing-report/SKILL.md
+++ b/landing-report/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -618,9 +618,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/learn/SKILL.md b/learn/SKILL.md
index a5f58684a..5221f126e 100644
--- a/learn/SKILL.md
+++ b/learn/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/make-pdf/SKILL.md b/make-pdf/SKILL.md
index d5cdc43e5..9205cda58 100644
--- a/make-pdf/SKILL.md
+++ b/make-pdf/SKILL.md
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/office-hours/SKILL.md b/office-hours/SKILL.md
index b75cb2b08..3562f17f6 100644
--- a/office-hours/SKILL.md
+++ b/office-hours/SKILL.md
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -655,9 +655,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md b/open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md
index 831d313f4..36e87b6f0 100644
--- a/open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md
+++ b/open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -617,9 +617,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/pair-agent/SKILL.md b/pair-agent/SKILL.md
index 44dce691d..2daa26de4 100644
--- a/pair-agent/SKILL.md
+++ b/pair-agent/SKILL.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -619,9 +619,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md
index 18b4751c6..be1f9aa08 100644
--- a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -649,9 +649,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ But your posture depends on what the user needs:
 * SELECTIVE EXPANSION: You are a rigorous reviewer who also has taste. Hold the current scope as your baseline — make it bulletproof. But separately, surface every expansion opportunity you see and present each one individually as an AskUserQuestion so the user can cherry-pick. Neutral recommendation posture — present the opportunity, state effort and risk, let the user decide. Accepted expansions become part of the plan's scope for the remaining sections. Rejected ones go to "NOT in scope."
 * HOLD SCOPE: You are a rigorous reviewer. The plan's scope is accepted. Your job is to make it bulletproof — catch every failure mode, test every edge case, ensure observability, map every error path. Do not silently reduce OR expand.
 * SCOPE REDUCTION: You are a surgeon. Find the minimum viable version that achieves the core outcome. Cut everything else. Be ruthless.
-* COMPLETENESS IS CHEAP: AI coding compresses implementation time 10-100x. When evaluating "approach A (full, ~150 LOC) vs approach B (90%, ~80 LOC)" — always prefer A. The 70-line delta costs seconds with CC. "Ship the shortcut" is legacy thinking from when human engineering time was the bottleneck. Boil the lake.
+* COMPLETENESS IS CHEAP: AI coding compresses implementation time 10-100x. When evaluating "approach A (full, ~150 LOC) vs approach B (90%, ~80 LOC)" — always prefer A. The 70-line delta costs seconds with CC. "Ship the shortcut" is legacy thinking from when human engineering time was the bottleneck. Boil the ocean.
 Critical rule: In ALL modes, the user is 100% in control. Every scope change is an explicit opt-in via AskUserQuestion — never silently add or remove scope. Once the user selects a mode, COMMIT to it. Do not silently drift toward a different mode. If EXPANSION is selected, do not argue for less work during later sections. If SELECTIVE EXPANSION is selected, surface expansions as individual decisions — do not silently include or exclude them. If REDUCTION is selected, do not sneak scope back in. Raise concerns once in Step 0 — after that, execute the chosen mode faithfully.
 Do NOT make any code changes. Do NOT start implementation. Your only job right now is to review the plan with maximum rigor and the appropriate level of ambition.
 
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ Read the `/office-hours` skill file at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/office-hours/SKI
 Follow its instructions from top to bottom, **skipping these sections** (already handled by the parent skill):
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Contributor Mode
 - Completion Status Protocol
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ Read the `/office-hours` skill file at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/office-hours/SKI
 Follow its instructions from top to bottom, **skipping these sections** (already handled by the parent skill):
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Contributor Mode
 - Completion Status Protocol
diff --git a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
index fd95b5d13..c43cfe641 100644
--- a/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/plan-ceo-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ But your posture depends on what the user needs:
 * SELECTIVE EXPANSION: You are a rigorous reviewer who also has taste. Hold the current scope as your baseline — make it bulletproof. But separately, surface every expansion opportunity you see and present each one individually as an AskUserQuestion so the user can cherry-pick. Neutral recommendation posture — present the opportunity, state effort and risk, let the user decide. Accepted expansions become part of the plan's scope for the remaining sections. Rejected ones go to "NOT in scope."
 * HOLD SCOPE: You are a rigorous reviewer. The plan's scope is accepted. Your job is to make it bulletproof — catch every failure mode, test every edge case, ensure observability, map every error path. Do not silently reduce OR expand.
 * SCOPE REDUCTION: You are a surgeon. Find the minimum viable version that achieves the core outcome. Cut everything else. Be ruthless.
-* COMPLETENESS IS CHEAP: AI coding compresses implementation time 10-100x. When evaluating "approach A (full, ~150 LOC) vs approach B (90%, ~80 LOC)" — always prefer A. The 70-line delta costs seconds with CC. "Ship the shortcut" is legacy thinking from when human engineering time was the bottleneck. Boil the lake.
+* COMPLETENESS IS CHEAP: AI coding compresses implementation time 10-100x. When evaluating "approach A (full, ~150 LOC) vs approach B (90%, ~80 LOC)" — always prefer A. The 70-line delta costs seconds with CC. "Ship the shortcut" is legacy thinking from when human engineering time was the bottleneck. Boil the ocean.
 Critical rule: In ALL modes, the user is 100% in control. Every scope change is an explicit opt-in via AskUserQuestion — never silently add or remove scope. Once the user selects a mode, COMMIT to it. Do not silently drift toward a different mode. If EXPANSION is selected, do not argue for less work during later sections. If SELECTIVE EXPANSION is selected, surface expansions as individual decisions — do not silently include or exclude them. If REDUCTION is selected, do not sneak scope back in. Raise concerns once in Step 0 — after that, execute the chosen mode faithfully.
 Do NOT make any code changes. Do NOT start implementation. Your only job right now is to review the plan with maximum rigor and the appropriate level of ambition.
 
diff --git a/plan-design-review/SKILL.md b/plan-design-review/SKILL.md
index 2756886b9..cd4e3a6f7 100644
--- a/plan-design-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/plan-design-review/SKILL.md
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -621,9 +621,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/plan-devex-review/SKILL.md b/plan-devex-review/SKILL.md
index 2cee2f50f..0fafac7f9 100644
--- a/plan-devex-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/plan-devex-review/SKILL.md
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -627,9 +627,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ Read the `/office-hours` skill file at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/office-hours/SKI
 Follow its instructions from top to bottom, **skipping these sections** (already handled by the parent skill):
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Contributor Mode
 - Completion Status Protocol
diff --git a/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md b/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md
index c55844224..c31394e2b 100644
--- a/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md
+++ b/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -625,9 +625,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ Read the `/office-hours` skill file at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/office-hours/SKI
 Follow its instructions from top to bottom, **skipping these sections** (already handled by the parent skill):
 - Preamble (run first)
 - AskUserQuestion Format
-- Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+- Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 - Search Before Building
 - Contributor Mode
 - Completion Status Protocol
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@ Before reviewing anything, answer these questions:
    If the plan rolls a custom solution where a built-in exists, flag it as a scope reduction opportunity. Annotate recommendations with **[Layer 1]**, **[Layer 2]**, **[Layer 3]**, or **[EUREKA]** (see preamble's Search Before Building section). If you find a eureka moment — a reason the standard approach is wrong for this case — present it as an architectural insight.
 5. **TODOS cross-reference:** Read `TODOS.md` if it exists. Are any deferred items blocking this plan? Can any deferred items be bundled into this PR without expanding scope? Does this plan create new work that should be captured as a TODO?
 
-5. **Completeness check:** Is the plan doing the complete version or a shortcut? With AI-assisted coding, the cost of completeness (100% test coverage, full edge case handling, complete error paths) is 10-100x cheaper than with a human team. If the plan proposes a shortcut that saves human-hours but only saves minutes with CC+gstack, recommend the complete version. Boil the lake.
+5. **Completeness check:** Is the plan doing the complete version or a shortcut? With AI-assisted coding, the cost of completeness (100% test coverage, full edge case handling, complete error paths) is 10-100x cheaper than with a human team. If the plan proposes a shortcut that saves human-hours but only saves minutes with CC+gstack, recommend the complete version. Boil the ocean.
 
 6. **Distribution check:** If the plan introduces a new artifact type (CLI binary, library package, container image, mobile app), does it include the build/publish pipeline? Code without distribution is code nobody can use. Check:
    - Is there a CI/CD workflow for building and publishing the artifact?
diff --git a/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md.tmpl b/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
index 73953afe4..89fc5eee5 100644
--- a/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/plan-eng-review/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ Before reviewing anything, answer these questions:
    If the plan rolls a custom solution where a built-in exists, flag it as a scope reduction opportunity. Annotate recommendations with **[Layer 1]**, **[Layer 2]**, **[Layer 3]**, or **[EUREKA]** (see preamble's Search Before Building section). If you find a eureka moment — a reason the standard approach is wrong for this case — present it as an architectural insight.
 5. **TODOS cross-reference:** Read `TODOS.md` if it exists. Are any deferred items blocking this plan? Can any deferred items be bundled into this PR without expanding scope? Does this plan create new work that should be captured as a TODO?
 
-5. **Completeness check:** Is the plan doing the complete version or a shortcut? With AI-assisted coding, the cost of completeness (100% test coverage, full edge case handling, complete error paths) is 10-100x cheaper than with a human team. If the plan proposes a shortcut that saves human-hours but only saves minutes with CC+gstack, recommend the complete version. Boil the lake.
+5. **Completeness check:** Is the plan doing the complete version or a shortcut? With AI-assisted coding, the cost of completeness (100% test coverage, full edge case handling, complete error paths) is 10-100x cheaper than with a human team. If the plan proposes a shortcut that saves human-hours but only saves minutes with CC+gstack, recommend the complete version. Boil the ocean.
 
 6. **Distribution check:** If the plan introduces a new artifact type (CLI binary, library package, container image, mobile app), does it include the build/publish pipeline? Code without distribution is code nobody can use. Check:
    - Is there a CI/CD workflow for building and publishing the artifact?
diff --git a/plan-tune/SKILL.md b/plan-tune/SKILL.md
index 7c45939d6..20264af84 100644
--- a/plan-tune/SKILL.md
+++ b/plan-tune/SKILL.md
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -630,9 +630,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/qa-only/SKILL.md b/qa-only/SKILL.md
index b1ddf9edf..aef82bd88 100644
--- a/qa-only/SKILL.md
+++ b/qa-only/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/qa/SKILL.md b/qa/SKILL.md
index 98a61d4d2..dfce8cb02 100644
--- a/qa/SKILL.md
+++ b/qa/SKILL.md
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -626,9 +626,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/retro/SKILL.md b/retro/SKILL.md
index ac6d98f39..f0684165e 100644
--- a/retro/SKILL.md
+++ b/retro/SKILL.md
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -637,9 +637,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/review/SKILL.md b/review/SKILL.md
index 54b225e03..04d454f33 100644
--- a/review/SKILL.md
+++ b/review/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/scrape/SKILL.md b/scrape/SKILL.md
index 628c14a87..23545e725 100644
--- a/scrape/SKILL.md
+++ b/scrape/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -618,9 +618,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/scripts/resolvers/composition.ts b/scripts/resolvers/composition.ts
index bf9812f44..b8d3483d9 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/composition.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/composition.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export function generateInvokeSkill(ctx: TemplateContext, args?: string[]): stri
   const DEFAULT_SKIPS = [
     'Preamble (run first)',
     'AskUserQuestion Format',
-    'Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake',
+    'Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean',
     'Search Before Building',
     'Contributor Mode',
     'Completion Status Protocol',
diff --git a/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-completeness-section.ts b/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-completeness-section.ts
index ba9a874bd..3a8665812 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-completeness-section.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-completeness-section.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ import type { TemplateContext } from '../types';
 
 export function generateCompletenessSection(ctx?: TemplateContext): string {
   if (ctx?.explainLevel === 'terse') return '';
-  return `## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+  return `## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include \`Completeness: X/10\` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: \`Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.\` Do not fabricate scores.`;
 }
diff --git a/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-lake-intro.ts b/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-lake-intro.ts
index 3de5fbf15..b6cca9e13 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-lake-intro.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/preamble/generate-lake-intro.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 
 export function generateLakeIntro(): string {
-  return `If \`LAKE_INTRO\` is \`no\`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+  return `If \`LAKE_INTRO\` is \`no\`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 \`\`\`bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md b/setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md
index f86466df9..0d0a4f005 100644
--- a/setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md
+++ b/setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
diff --git a/setup-deploy/SKILL.md b/setup-deploy/SKILL.md
index 94a664dd9..2873903ae 100644
--- a/setup-deploy/SKILL.md
+++ b/setup-deploy/SKILL.md
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -621,9 +621,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
index 47f94e32f..2b6c3a666 100644
--- a/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
+++ b/setup-gbrain/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/ship/SKILL.md b/ship/SKILL.md
index d10bacf4d..f78dcd5a0 100644
--- a/ship/SKILL.md
+++ b/ship/SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/skillify/SKILL.md b/skillify/SKILL.md
index aff438057..6daf635bd 100644
--- a/skillify/SKILL.md
+++ b/skillify/SKILL.md
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -618,9 +618,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/spec/SKILL.md b/spec/SKILL.md
index 245c1f2b7..2c3b02f9f 100644
--- a/spec/SKILL.md
+++ b/spec/SKILL.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -619,9 +619,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -1647,9 +1647,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
index d83761e2c..a2abc2141 100644
--- a/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
+++ b/sync-gbrain/SKILL.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -620,9 +620,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/test/fixtures/golden/claude-ship-SKILL.md b/test/fixtures/golden/claude-ship-SKILL.md
index d10bacf4d..f78dcd5a0 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/golden/claude-ship-SKILL.md
+++ b/test/fixtures/golden/claude-ship-SKILL.md
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -622,9 +622,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `~/.claude/skills/gstack/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/test/fixtures/golden/codex-ship-SKILL.md b/test/fixtures/golden/codex-ship-SKILL.md
index 25d90a6de..95de61439 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/golden/codex-ship-SKILL.md
+++ b/test/fixtures/golden/codex-ship-SKILL.md
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -608,9 +608,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `$GSTACK_ROOT/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/test/fixtures/golden/factory-ship-SKILL.md b/test/fixtures/golden/factory-ship-SKILL.md
index 5dc342119..c4060e866 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/golden/factory-ship-SKILL.md
+++ b/test/fixtures/golden/factory-ship-SKILL.md
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
 
 Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
 
-If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
+If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Ocean** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
 
 ```bash
 open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
@@ -610,9 +610,9 @@ Applies to AskUserQuestion, user replies, and findings. AskUserQuestion Format i
 Curated jargon list lives at `$GSTACK_ROOT/scripts/jargon-list.json` (80+ terms). On the first jargon term you encounter this session, Read that file once; treat the `terms` array as the canonical list. The list is repo-owned and may grow between releases.
 
 
-## Completeness Principle — Boil the Lake
+## Completeness Principle — Boil the Ocean
 
-AI makes completeness cheap. Recommend complete lakes (tests, edge cases, error paths); flag oceans (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations).
+AI makes completeness cheap, so the complete thing is the goal. Recommend full coverage (tests, edge cases, error paths) — boil the ocean one lake at a time. The only thing out of scope is genuinely unrelated work (rewrites, multi-quarter migrations); flag that as separate scope, never as an excuse for a shortcut.
 
 When options differ in coverage, include `Completeness: X/10` (10 = all edge cases, 7 = happy path, 3 = shortcut). When options differ in kind, write: `Note: options differ in kind, not coverage — no completeness score.` Do not fabricate scores.
 
diff --git a/test/helpers/carve-guards.ts b/test/helpers/carve-guards.ts
index 5a1ce91b5..127d7fbae 100644
--- a/test/helpers/carve-guards.ts
+++ b/test/helpers/carve-guards.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ export const CARVE_GUARDS: Record<string, CarveGuard> = {
     maxSkeletonBytes: 62_000,
     minUnionBytes: 70_000,
     mustContain: ['Architecture', 'Code Quality', 'Test', 'Performance'],
+    // Cross-cutting preamble growth (v1.57.2.0 AUQ-failure prose fallback + the
+    // decision-memory nudge + the v1.57.4.0 Boil-the-Ocean rename) lands this just
+    // over the strict 1.05; small headroom for the shared preamble additions.
+    maxSizeRatio: 1.06,
   },
   'plan-design-review': {
     skill: 'plan-design-review',
diff --git a/test/skill-validation.test.ts b/test/skill-validation.test.ts
index 45e8da66a..fb1ec5bf4 100644
--- a/test/skill-validation.test.ts
+++ b/test/skill-validation.test.ts
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ describe('Completeness Principle in generated SKILL.md files', () => {
     test(`${skill} contains Completeness Principle section`, () => {
       const content = fs.readFileSync(path.join(ROOT, skill), 'utf-8');
       expect(content).toContain('Completeness Principle');
-      expect(content).toContain('Boil the Lake');
+      expect(content).toContain('Boil the Ocean');
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/test/terse-build.test.ts b/test/terse-build.test.ts
index ca531aeae..58ed10396 100644
--- a/test/terse-build.test.ts
+++ b/test/terse-build.test.ts
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ describe('terse build — per-resolver behavior', () => {
   });
 
   describe('generateCompletenessSection', () => {
-    test('default: emits full section with Boil-the-Lake prose', () => {
+    test('default: emits full section with Boil-the-Ocean prose', () => {
       const out = generateCompletenessSection(makeCtx('default'));
       expect(out).toContain('## Completeness Principle');
-      expect(out).toContain('Boil the Lake');
+      expect(out).toContain('Boil the Ocean');
     });
 
     test('terse: returns empty string', () => {