zcross00/drift-entry

Drift Entry

Use this skill whenever you identify an implementation that works against one of the project's stated goals.

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Step 1 — Confirm It Is Drift

Drift is an implementation that actively works against a goal in design/GOALS.md. It is not:

• A missing feature (that is a backlog item).
• A known limitation (that may be acceptable).
• A style violation (that is a standards issue).

The test: Does this thing make a stated goal harder to achieve? If yes, it is drift.

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Step 2 — Check for Existing Items

Open design/DRIFT.md. Scan the active items for one that describes the same drift pattern.

• If a matching item exists — go to Step 4 (add an instance).
• If no match — go to Step 3 (create a new item).

Never create a duplicate. Two entries about the same underlying problem must be merged into one.

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Step 3 — Create a New Drift Item

Determine the next DR-N ID: find the highest existing ID and add 1.

Add a new entry in the Active section:

<!-- drift: DR-N -->
### DR-N — [Short title describing the drift]

**Against Goal:** G-N — [goal title]
**Severity:** [Low | Medium | High]
**First Observed:** [YYYY-MM-DD]

[One paragraph explaining what the implementation does and why it works against the goal.]

**Instances:**
1. [Specific location or behavior — file, class, method, or user-facing description]

**Resolution:** Pending — see BL-N (if a backlog item has been created) or "No backlog item yet."

Severity guide:

• High — Actively prevents the goal from being achieved.
• Medium — Partially undermines the goal or creates friction.
• Low — Minor tension with the goal; acceptable short-term.

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Step 4 — Add an Instance to an Existing Item

Find the matching DR-N entry. Add a numbered line to the Instances list:

N. [Specific location or behavior]

If the new instance changes the severity (e.g., the pattern is now more widespread), update the severity.

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Step 5 — Create a Backlog Item (If Warranted)

If the drift is Medium or High severity and no BL-N exists for it yet:

1. Use the backlog-entry skill to create a new backlog item.
2. Set Type to Rework.
3. Reference the DR-N in the detail block.
4. Update the drift entry's Resolution line to Pending — see BL-N.