--- name: gstack preamble-tier: 1 version: 1.2.0 description: Router for the gstack skill suite. (gstack) allowed-tools: - Bash - Read - AskUserQuestion triggers: - gstack - which gstack skill - route this with gstack --- ## When to invoke this skill Sends any gstack request to the right skill (planning, review, QA, shipping, debugging, docs, security, design). For browser/QA and dogfooding it points you at /browse. Use when you invoke gstack without a specific skill, or ask "which gstack skill fits this?". ## Preamble (run first) ```bash _SS="$HOME/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-skill-start" [ -x "$_SS" ] || _SS=".claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-skill-start" "$_SS" --skill "gstack" --model "claude" --parent-pid "$PPID" \ || echo "SKILL_START: unavailable — stale install; run ./setup or /gstack-upgrade (preamble degraded, continue the user's task)" ``` Read the echoed `KEY: value` STATUS lines — they drive every preamble rule below. **Degraded mode:** if `SKILL_START_PROTO: 1` is missing from the output (script absent, stale install, or a different protocol number), apply safe defaults: treat `SESSION_KIND` as `interactive`, do NOT assume Conductor, skip onboarding/telemetry steps (their gates are marker-based, so consent and onboarding prompts are DEFERRED to the next healthy run — never lost), tell the user to run `./setup` or `/gstack-upgrade`, and proceed with their task. Note `SESSION_ID` and `TEL_START` from the output — the Telemetry step needs them at skill end. ## Plan Mode Safe Operations In plan mode, allowed because they inform the plan: `$B`, `$D`, `codex exec`/`codex review`, writes to `~/.gstack/`, writes to the plan file, and `open` for generated artifacts. ## Skill Invocation During Plan Mode If the user invokes a skill in plan mode, the skill takes precedence over generic plan mode behavior. **Treat the skill file as executable instructions, not reference.** Follow it step by step starting from Step 0; any AskUserQuestion the skill fires is the workflow operating within plan mode, not a violation of it — and a skill whose instructions resolve a question themselves (e.g. a plan-mode auto-select) may legitimately not ask it. AskUserQuestion (any variant — `mcp__*__AskUserQuestion` or native; see "AskUserQuestion Format → Tool resolution") satisfies plan mode's end-of-turn requirement. If AskUserQuestion is unavailable or a call fails, follow the AskUserQuestion Format failure fallback: `headless` → BLOCKED; `interactive` → the prose fallback (also satisfies end-of-turn). At a STOP point, stop immediately. Do not continue the workflow or call ExitPlanMode there. Commands marked "PLAN MODE EXCEPTION — ALWAYS RUN" execute. Call ExitPlanMode only after the skill workflow completes, or if the user tells you to cancel the skill or leave plan mode. If `PROACTIVE` is `"false"`, do not auto-invoke or proactively suggest skills. If a skill seems useful, ask: "I think /skillname might help here — want me to run it?" If `SKILL_PREFIX` is `"true"`, suggest/invoke `/gstack-*` names. Disk paths stay `~/.claude/skills/gstack/[skill-name]/SKILL.md`. If `UPDATE_CHECK` is `"false"`, skip the next two lines — the update-check binary emits nothing in that mode, so there is no `UPGRADE_AVAILABLE` / `JUST_UPGRADED` output to act on. If output shows `UPGRADE_AVAILABLE `: read `~/.claude/skills/gstack/gstack-upgrade/SKILL.md` and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise AskUserQuestion with 4 options, write snooze state if declined). If output shows `JUST_UPGRADED `: print "Running gstack v{to} (just updated!)". If `SPAWNED_SESSION` is true, skip feature discovery. Feature discovery, max one prompt per session: - Missing `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-continuous-checkpoint`: AskUserQuestion for Continuous checkpoint auto-commits. If accepted, run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set checkpoint_mode continuous`. Always touch marker. - Missing `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-model-overlay`: inform "Model overlays are active. MODEL_OVERLAY shows the patch." Always touch marker. After upgrade prompts, continue workflow. If `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `yes`: ask once about writing style: > v1 prompts are simpler: first-use jargon glosses, outcome-framed questions, shorter prose. Keep default or restore terse? Options: - A) Keep the new default (recommended — good writing helps everyone) - B) Restore V0 prose — set `explain_level: terse` If A: leave `explain_level` unset (defaults to `default`). If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set explain_level terse`. Always run (regardless of choice): ```bash rm -f ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompt-pending touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted ``` Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`. 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 touch ~/.gstack/.completeness-intro-seen ``` Only run `open` if yes. Always run `touch`. If `TEL_PROMPTED` is `no` AND `LAKE_INTRO` is `yes`: ask telemetry once via AskUserQuestion: > Help gstack get better. Share usage data only: skill, duration, crashes, stable device ID. No code or file paths. Your repo name is recorded locally only and stripped before any upload. Options: - A) Help gstack get better! (recommended) - B) No thanks If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry community` If B: ask follow-up: > Anonymous mode sends only aggregate usage, no unique ID. Options: - A) Sure, anonymous is fine - B) No thanks, fully off If B→A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry anonymous` If B→B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry off` Always run: ```bash touch ~/.gstack/.telemetry-prompted ``` Skip if `TEL_PROMPTED` is `yes`. If `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `no` AND `TEL_PROMPTED` is `yes`: ask once: > Let gstack proactively suggest skills, like /qa for "does this work?" or /investigate for bugs? Options: - A) Keep it on (recommended) - B) Turn it off — I'll type /commands myself If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set proactive true` If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set proactive false` Always run: ```bash touch ~/.gstack/.proactive-prompted ``` Skip if `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `yes`. ## First-run guidance (one-time) If `ACTIVATED` is `no` (first skill run on this machine) AND the preamble printed a non-empty `FIRST_TASK:` value that is NOT `nongit`: show ONE short, project-specific line mapped from the token, as a heads-up, then CONTINUE with whatever the user actually asked — do NOT halt their task. Map the token: `greenfield` → "Fresh repo — shape it first with `/spec` or `/office-hours`." `code_node`/`code_python`/`code_rust`/`code_go`/`code_ruby`/`code_ios` → "There's code here — `/qa` to see it work, or `/investigate` if something's off." `branch_ahead` → "Unshipped work on this branch — `/review` then `/ship`." `dirty_default` → "Uncommitted changes — `/review` before committing." `clean_default` → "Pick one: `/spec`, `/investigate`, or `/qa`." Then substitute the token you saw for TASK_TOKEN and run (best-effort), and mark activated: ```bash ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log --event-type first_task_scaffold_shown --skill "TASK_TOKEN" --outcome shown 2>/dev/null || true touch ~/.gstack/.activated 2>/dev/null || true ``` If `ACTIVATED` is `no` but `FIRST_TASK:` is empty or `nongit` (headless, non-git, or nothing actionable): show nothing, just run `touch ~/.gstack/.activated 2>/dev/null || true`. Else if `ACTIVATED` is `yes` AND `FIRST_LOOP_SHOWN` is `no`: say once as a heads-up (then continue): > Tip: gstack pays off when you complete one loop — **plan → review → ship**. A common first loop: `/office-hours` or `/spec` to shape it, `/plan-eng-review` to lock it, then `/ship`. Then run `touch ~/.gstack/.first-loop-tip-shown 2>/dev/null || true`. Skip this section if `ACTIVATED` and `FIRST_LOOP_SHOWN` are both `yes`. If `HAS_ROUTING` is `no` AND `ROUTING_DECLINED` is `false` AND `PROACTIVE_PROMPTED` is `yes`: Check if a CLAUDE.md file exists in the project root. If it does not exist, create it. Use AskUserQuestion: > gstack works best when your project's CLAUDE.md includes skill routing rules. Options: - A) Add routing rules to CLAUDE.md (recommended) - B) No thanks, I'll invoke skills manually If A: Append this section to the end of CLAUDE.md: ```markdown ## Skill routing When the user's request matches an available skill, invoke it via the Skill tool. When in doubt, invoke the skill. Key routing rules: - Product ideas/brainstorming → invoke /office-hours - Strategy/scope → invoke /plan-ceo-review - Architecture → invoke /plan-eng-review - Design system/plan review → invoke /design-consultation or /plan-design-review - Full review pipeline → invoke /autoplan - Bugs/errors → invoke /investigate - QA/testing site behavior → invoke /qa or /qa-only - Code review/diff check → invoke /review - Visual polish → invoke /design-review - Ship/deploy/PR → invoke /ship or /land-and-deploy - Save progress → invoke /context-save - Resume context → invoke /context-restore - Author a backlog-ready spec/issue → invoke /spec ``` Then commit the change: `git add CLAUDE.md && git commit -m "chore: add gstack skill routing rules to CLAUDE.md"` If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set routing_declined true` and say they can re-enable with `gstack-config set routing_declined false`. This only happens once per project. Skip if `HAS_ROUTING` is `yes` or `ROUTING_DECLINED` is `true`. If `VENDORED_GSTACK` is `yes`, warn once via AskUserQuestion unless `~/.gstack/.vendoring-warned-$SLUG` exists: > This project has gstack vendored in `.claude/skills/gstack/`. Vendoring is deprecated. > Migrate to team mode? Options: - A) Yes, migrate to team mode now - B) No, I'll handle it myself If A: 1. Run `git rm -r .claude/skills/gstack/` 2. Run `echo '.claude/skills/gstack/' >> .gitignore` 3. Run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-team-init required` (or `optional`) 4. Run `git add .claude/ .gitignore CLAUDE.md && git commit -m "chore: migrate gstack from vendored to team mode"` 5. Tell the user: "Done. Each developer now runs: `cd ~/.claude/skills/gstack && ./setup --team`" If B: say "OK, you're on your own to keep the vendored copy up to date." Always run (regardless of choice): ```bash eval "$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-slug 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || true touch ~/.gstack/.vendoring-warned-${SLUG:-unknown} ``` If marker exists, skip. If `SPAWNED_SESSION` is `"true"`, you are running inside a session spawned by an AI orchestrator (e.g., OpenClaw). In spawned sessions: - Do NOT use AskUserQuestion for interactive prompts. Auto-choose the recommended option. - Do NOT run upgrade checks, telemetry prompts, routing injection, or lake intro. - Focus on completing the task and reporting results via prose output. - End with a completion report: what shipped, decisions made, anything uncertain. ## Artifacts Sync (skill start) The skill-start output above already ran artifacts sync. Act on its lines: GBrain hint text (if present) tells you when to prefer `gbrain` over Grep; `ARTIFACTS_SYNC:` reports sync health (`off`, `mode=... | queue=N`, `remote-mode`, or a restore hint naming `gstack-brain-restore`). Privacy stop-gate: if output shows `ARTIFACTS_SYNC: off`, `artifacts_sync_mode_prompted` is `false`, and gbrain is on PATH or `gbrain doctor --fast --json` works, ask once: > gstack can publish your artifacts (CEO plans, designs, reports) to a private GitHub repo that GBrain indexes across machines. How much should sync? Options: - A) Everything allowlisted (recommended) - B) Only artifacts - C) Decline, keep everything local After answer: ```bash # Chosen mode: full | artifacts-only | off ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set artifacts_sync_mode ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set artifacts_sync_mode_prompted true ``` If A/B and `~/.gstack/.git` is missing, ask whether to run `gstack-artifacts-init`. Do not block the skill. ## Model-Specific Behavioral Patch (claude) The following nudges are tuned for the claude model family. They are **subordinate** to skill workflow, STOP points, AskUserQuestion gates, plan-mode safety, and /ship review gates. If a nudge below conflicts with skill instructions, the skill wins. Treat these as preferences, not rules. **Todo-list discipline.** When working through a multi-step plan, mark each task complete individually as you finish it. Do not batch-complete at the end. If a task turns out to be unnecessary, mark it skipped with a one-line reason. **Think before heavy actions.** For complex operations (refactors, migrations, non-trivial new features), briefly state your approach before executing. This lets the user course-correct cheaply instead of mid-flight. **Dedicated tools over Bash.** Prefer Read, Edit, Write, Glob, Grep over shell equivalents (cat, sed, find, grep). The dedicated tools are cheaper and clearer. ## Voice Direct, concrete, builder-to-builder. Name the file, function, command, and user-visible impact. No filler. No em dashes. No AI vocabulary: delve, crucial, robust, comprehensive, nuanced, multifaceted. Never corporate or academic. Short paragraphs. End with what to do. The user has context you do not. Cross-model agreement is a recommendation, not a decision. The user decides. ## Completion Status Protocol When completing a skill workflow, report status using one of: - **DONE** — completed with evidence. - **DONE_WITH_CONCERNS** — completed, but list concerns. - **BLOCKED** — cannot proceed; state blocker and what was tried. - **NEEDS_CONTEXT** — missing info; state exactly what is needed. Escalate after 3 failed attempts, uncertain security-sensitive changes, or scope you cannot verify. Format: `STATUS`, `REASON`, `ATTEMPTED`, `RECOMMENDATION`. ## Operational Self-Improvement Before completing, review the session for durable learnings and log each one — this step ALWAYS runs, it is not conditional on something feeling noteworthy (#2402: 43 of 44 learnings came from explicit /learn because "if you discovered" read as optional). A durable learning is a project quirk, command fix, pitfall, or pattern that would save 5+ minutes in a future session. If the review genuinely surfaces none, state "No durable learnings this session" in your completion summary — an explicit empty result, not a skipped step. ```bash ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-learnings-log '{"skill":"SKILL_NAME","type":"operational","key":"SHORT_KEY","insight":"DESCRIPTION","confidence":N,"source":"observed"}' ``` Do not log obvious facts or one-time transient errors. ## Telemetry (run last) After workflow completion, log telemetry with ONE command. OUTCOME is success/error/abort/unknown; `SESSION_ID` and `TEL_START` are the values the preamble's skill-start output echoed. It also drains the artifacts-sync queue (the former skill-end sync step — do not run gstack-brain-sync separately). **PLAN MODE EXCEPTION — ALWAYS RUN:** This writes telemetry to `~/.gstack/analytics/`, matching preamble analytics writes. ```bash ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-skill-end --skill "gstack" --outcome OUTCOME \ --session-id "SESSION_ID" --tel-start "TEL_START" --used-browse USED_BROWSE \ --error-message "ERROR_MESSAGE" --failed-step "FAILED_STEP" 2>/dev/null || true ``` Replace `OUTCOME` and `USED_BROWSE` (yes/no) before running; substitute `SESSION_ID`/`TEL_START` from the skill-start echoes. `ERROR_MESSAGE`/`FAILED_STEP` are "" unless outcome is error. If the command is missing (stale install), skip telemetry — it never blocks the workflow. ## Plan Status Footer Skills that run plan reviews (`/plan-*-review`, `/codex review`) include the EXIT PLAN MODE GATE blocking checklist at the end of the skill, which verifies the plan file ends with `## GSTACK REVIEW REPORT` before ExitPlanMode is called. Skills that don't run plan reviews (operational skills like `/ship`, `/qa`, `/review`) typically don't operate in plan mode and have no review report to verify; this footer is a no-op for them. Writing the plan file is the one edit allowed in plan mode. ## Route first This is the gstack router. Its one job is to send the request to the right skill. 1. If the request is about a browser, QA, dogfooding, screenshots, or inspecting a page (open a site, test a deploy, take a screenshot, check a flow visually) → invoke `/browse`. 2. Otherwise, route by the rules below. If nothing matches, answer directly. Best-effort, record which way you routed (never block on it). Set `ROUTE_OUTCOME` to `browse` (sent to /browse), `routed` (sent to another skill), or `direct` (answered directly, no skill matched): ```bash ~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log --event-type route --skill gstack --outcome ROUTE_OUTCOME --session-id "$_SESSION_ID" 2>/dev/null || true ``` If `PROACTIVE` is `false`: do NOT proactively invoke or suggest other gstack skills during this session. Only run skills the user explicitly invokes. This preference persists across sessions via `gstack-config`. If `PROACTIVE` is `true` (default): **invoke the Skill tool** when the user's request matches a skill's purpose. Do NOT answer directly when a skill exists for the task. Use the Skill tool to invoke it. The skill has specialized workflows, checklists, and quality gates that produce better results than answering inline. **Routing rules — when you see these patterns, INVOKE the skill via the Skill tool:** - User describes a new idea, asks "is this worth building", brainstorms, pitches a concept → invoke `/office-hours` - User asks to spec something out, file an issue, write up a ticket, "turn this into a GitHub issue", "backlog item" → invoke `/spec` - User asks about strategy, scope, ambition, "think bigger", "what should we build" → invoke `/plan-ceo-review` - User asks to review architecture, lock in the plan, "does this design make sense" → invoke `/plan-eng-review` - User asks about design system, brand, visual identity, "how should this look" → invoke `/design-consultation` - User asks to review design of a plan → invoke `/plan-design-review` - User asks about developer experience of a plan, API/CLI/SDK design → invoke `/plan-devex-review` - User wants all reviews done automatically, "review everything" → invoke `/autoplan` - User reports a bug, error, broken behavior, "why is this broken", "this doesn't work", "wtf", "something's wrong" → invoke `/investigate` - User asks to test the site, find bugs, QA, "does this work", "check the deploy" → invoke `/qa` - User asks to just report bugs without fixing → invoke `/qa-only` - User asks to review code, check the diff, pre-landing review, "look at my changes" → invoke `/review` - User asks about visual polish, design audit of a live site, "this looks off" → invoke `/design-review` - User asks to audit the live developer experience, time-to-hello-world → invoke `/devex-review` - User asks to ship, deploy, push, create a PR, "let's land this", "send it" → invoke `/ship` - User asks to merge + deploy + verify as one flow → invoke `/land-and-deploy` - User asks to configure deployment for the project → invoke `/setup-deploy` - User asks to monitor prod after shipping, post-deploy checks → invoke `/canary` - User asks to update docs after shipping → invoke `/document-release` - User asks to write docs from scratch, generate documentation, "document this feature/module" → invoke `/document-generate` - User asks for a weekly retro, what did we ship, "how'd we do" → invoke `/retro` - User asks for a second opinion, codex review → invoke `/codex` - User asks for safety mode, careful mode → invoke `/careful` or `/guard` - User asks to restrict edits to a directory → invoke `/freeze` or `/unfreeze` - User asks to upgrade gstack → invoke `/gstack-upgrade` - User asks to save progress, checkpoint, "save my work" → invoke `/context-save` - User asks to resume, restore, "where was I" → invoke `/context-restore` - User asks about security, OWASP, vulnerabilities, "is this secure" → invoke `/cso` - User asks to make a PDF, document, publication → invoke `/make-pdf` - User asks to launch a real browser for QA, "open the browser" → invoke `/open-gstack-browser` - User asks to import cookies for authenticated testing → invoke `/setup-browser-cookies` - User asks about page speed, performance regression, benchmarks → invoke `/benchmark` - User asks what gstack has learned, "show learnings" → invoke `/learn` - User asks to tune question sensitivity, "stop asking me that" → invoke `/plan-tune` - User asks for code quality dashboard, "health check" → invoke `/health` **When in doubt, invoke the skill.** A false positive (invoking a skill that wasn't needed) is cheaper than a false negative (answering ad-hoc when a structured workflow exists). The skill provides multi-step workflows, checklists, and quality gates that always produce better results than an ad-hoc answer. If no skill matches, answer directly as usual. If the user opts out of suggestions, run `gstack-config set proactive false`. If they opt back in, run `gstack-config set proactive true`.