the-own-lab/read-brief

read-brief

Purpose

Command-level pre-step invoked exactly once per /think /dev /review /debug run. Compiles active spec artifacts and MEMORY into a bounded BRIEF.md runtime cache. After this, every other skill reads only the brief (ADR-001 D1/D2).

Inputs

• The command's feature/topic parameter.
• Active spec directory under docs/projects/<project>/specs/<date>-<slug>/ (optional for /think).
• ~/.claude/projects/.../memory/MEMORY.md (this skill is the ONLY one allowed to read it).
• Relevant ADRs referenced by the spec.

Outputs

• ${COMPANY_OF_ONE_PLUGIN_DATA}/projects/<key>/sessions/<session-id>/BRIEF.md — populated BRIEF.md with every section filled. Written via the brief-manager.sh init <command> <feature> invocation below. plus Edit-tool section updates.

Procedure

1. Run bash "hooks/scripts/lib/brief-manager.sh" init <command> "<feature>" to scaffold the brief from templates/BRIEF.md.
2. If a spec dir exists, fill ## Active Specs with REQUIREMENTS / DESIGN / TODO / ADR paths and short source fingerprints. Then compile the source docs into these fixed brief sections so downstream skills do not re-open the source docs. Do not copy source text verbatim:
   • ### Requirements Summary: one bullet per REQ, including its acceptance criteria.
   • ### Design Summary: 3-7 bullets covering approach, non-goals, and risk boundaries.
   • ### TODO In Scope: only TODO.md checkboxes relevant to the current command run.
3. Load every item from MEMORY.md. For each item, classify as exactly one of:
   • used
   • ignored:stale
   • ignored:unrelated
   • ignored:contradicted-by-spec
   • ignored:out-of-scope
4. Write at most 10 used items under ## Relevant Memory; write at most 10 ignored:* items under ## Ignored Memory. If nothing was ignored, write the exact sentence: No ignored memory entries; every loaded memory item is used.
5. Fill ## Assumptions, ## Open Questions, ## Current Contract from the spec + user-stated intent. These fields must be consistent with the three summary sections above.
6. Leave ## Human-Owned Core as template placeholders only until explain-60-40 fills it later. Before any execute/review step, placeholders must be gone.
7. Run bash "hooks/scripts/lib/brief-manager.sh" check-budget.

Failure modes

• Brief template missing → brief-manager.sh errors; stop.
• A spec dir exists but any summary section remains placeholder-only → stop. The BRIEF-only contract is incomplete until REQUIREMENTS / DESIGN / TODO are summarized.
• check-budget fails → summarize or remove raw evidence before proceeding.
• ## Ignored Memory left empty or with placeholders → downstream spec-conformance-check.sh pre-execute will FAIL (ADR-001 D3). Do not proceed.
• Unknown classification reason → pick the closest of the five codes; never invent a new one.

Does not do

• Does not re-read MEMORY.md after this step (no other skill may either).
• Does not write specs, ADRs, code, or CHANGELOG.
• Does not copy raw docs, diffs, logs, or transcripts into BRIEF.md.
• Does not make routing decisions; the command is already chosen.