tkersey/spec-gate

Spec Gate

Mission

Prevent $plan from discovering the objective and prevent mutation from outrunning decisions.

A plan is allowed only when the handoff packet is decision-complete or every remaining gap is explicitly assumed, deferred, owned, and defaulted.

Downstream mutation is allowed only after a complete spec has also passed invariant challenge, fresh-eyes pass, and lint. A pre-spec gate can allow planning while still keeping mutation_allowed: false.

Readiness test

Planning is allowed only when this sentence can be completed concretely:

We are building X, for Y, by changing Z, while explicitly not doing A/B/C, and success means P/Q/R proofs pass.

Required fields

• goal
• problem_layer
• target_user_or_maintainer
• scope
• non_goals
• locked_decisions
• primary_invariant
• success_criteria
• proof_bar
• compatibility_posture
• rollout_rollback_posture
• default_assumptions
• clarification receipt: either grill_rounds > 0 or concrete no_grill_justification
• plan_allowed

Blocking conditions

Return PLAN_ALLOWED: false when any of these are true:

• the goal can still be interpreted in multiple materially different ways;
• scope or non-goals are missing;
• the implementer must choose architecture, compatibility posture, or proof bar;
• open questions exist without owner/default/consequence;
• success criteria are vague;
• proof is only scaffold proof when runtime/integration proof is required;
• rollback or abort posture is absent;
• the primary invariant is missing;
• the strictness profile is mismatched to risk;
• grill_rounds: 0 and no concrete no_grill_justification is present;
• a plan, title, or Round Delta changed the objective without a locked user decision.

Mutation gate

Emit MUTATION_ALLOWED: false for handoff-only gates unless the input already includes:

• a complete implementation spec;
• passing invariant challenge;
• passing fresh-eyes pass;
• passing spec lint;
• no unaccounted subagents;
• proof and rollback surfaces.

When only a decision packet is being gated, planning may be allowed while mutation remains blocked.

Output

PLAN_ALLOWED: true|false
MUTATION_ALLOWED: true|false
strictness_profile: fast|balanced|strict|campaign
missing_fields:
material_open_questions:
blocking_risks:
recommended_defaults:
clarification_receipt:
next_grill_questions:

Ask at most 1-3 next grill questions, each with a stable snake_case id and bounded choices.

Script helper

For handoff packets saved to disk:

python codex/skills/spec-gate/scripts/spec_gate.py --strict-receipts path/to/handoff.md

The script is a conservative structural check. The model must still judge semantic completeness.