/repo-task-proof-loop

name: repo-task-proof-loop
description: Repo-local workflow skill for large coding tasks. Initializes .agent/tasks/TASK_ID artifacts, installs project-scoped Codex and Claude subagents, updates AGENTS.md plus the repo's Claude guide file with the workflow, and runs a spec-freeze → build → evidence → verify → fix loop with fresh-session verification.
license: Apache-2.0
compatibility: Skills-compatible coding agents. Integrates with Codex and Claude Code project-scoped subagents. Bundled scripts require Python 3.10+.
metadata:
  author: OpenAI
  version: "1.0.0"

Repo Task Proof Loop

Use this skill when the user wants a repeatable, auditable implementation workflow for a non-trivial coding task, especially a feature, refactor, migration, or bug fix that should leave repo-local proof in `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/`.

All task artifacts created by this workflow must stay inside the repository.

When the examples below mention `scripts/task_loop.py`, that path is relative to this skill root. Run it while your shell working directory is inside the target repository.

What this skill does

1. Initializes a strict repo-local task folder under `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/` 2. Seeds or updates the required artifact files 3. Installs project-scoped Codex and Claude subagent templates into `.codex/agents/` and `.claude/agents/` 4. Updates the repo-root `AGENTS.md` Codex baseline plus the repo's Claude guide file (`CLAUDE.md` or `.claude/CLAUDE.md`) with a managed block that explains the workflow 5. Guides the agent through a strict loop:

• spec freeze
• builder implementation
• evidence packing
• fresh verification
• minimal fix
• fresh verification again until `PASS`

See:

• `references/REFERENCE.md`
• `references/COMMANDS.md`
• `references/SUBAGENTS.md`
• `references/SCHEMAS.md`

Commands this skill supports

Treat the following words as commands when the user invokes this skill:

• `init <TASK_ID>`: create `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/`, install or refresh subagent templates, and update `AGENTS.md` plus the repo's Claude guide file
• `freeze <TASK_ID>`: create or refine `spec.md` from the user task, task file, and repo guidance
• `build <TASK_ID>`: implement the task against the frozen spec
• `evidence <TASK_ID>`: create or refresh `evidence.md`, `evidence.json`, and raw artifacts without changing production code
• `verify <TASK_ID>`: run a fresh verifier pass and write `verdict.json`, plus `problems.md` when needed
• `fix <TASK_ID>`: apply the smallest safe fix set from `problems.md`, then refresh the evidence bundle
• `run <TASK_ID>`: execute the full loop from spec freeze through verification
• `status <TASK_ID>`: summarize current artifact status

If the user does not supply a command, infer the next step from repo state:

• If the task folder does not exist, run `init` first. If the user clearly wants initialization only, stop there. Otherwise, after `init` succeeds and `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/spec.md` exists, continue by re-evaluating repo state in the same turn. Do not overlap `init` with `freeze`, `build`, `evidence`, `verify`, `fix`, `validate`, `status`, or subagent work.
• If `spec.md` is missing or placeholder-only, do `freeze`
• If implementation is not yet complete, do `build`
• If evidence is stale or missing, do `evidence`
• If no fresh verdict exists, do `verify`
• If verdict is not `PASS`, do `fix`

Initialization step

Run the bundled initializer from the repository root or current working directory inside the repo:

scripts/task_loop.py init --task-id <TASK_ID>

Optional task seeding:

scripts/task_loop.py init --task-id <TASK_ID> --task-file path/to/task.md
scripts/task_loop.py init --task-id <TASK_ID> --task-text "User task text"

The initializer will:

• resolve the repo root
• create `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/`
• create all required artifacts, including placeholders under `raw/`
• install project-scoped subagent files
• insert or refresh managed workflow blocks in `AGENTS.md` and the repo's Claude guide file

For Codex, the initializer keeps its managed workflow block in the repo-root `AGENTS.md`. Codex also supports `AGENTS.override.md` and configured fallback guide filenames; nested files closer to the code still take precedence, and this skill intentionally does not overwrite them. If `init` creates or rewrites `AGENTS.md` during a running Codex session, start a new Codex session before relying on the updated instructions. Codex snapshots project-doc guidance at session start.

For Claude Code, the initializer keeps its managed workflow block in the repo-root `CLAUDE.md`. Claude Code also supports `.claude/CLAUDE.md`, `.claude/rules/*.md`, and `CLAUDE.local.md`, but this skill treats root `CLAUDE.md` as the primary project guide because Claude surfaces it directly.

In Claude Code, if `init` just wrote or refreshed `.claude/agents/*` during the current session, do not assume those updated agents are already available mid-session.

Treat `init` as a serial prerequisite. Never overlap it with `freeze`, `build`, `evidence`, `verify`, `fix`, `validate`, `status`, or child-agent spawning.

Heavy-task default workflow

For large tasks, keep the user-facing request simple. In Codex, continue serially unless the user explicitly asks for delegation or parallel agent work; after that authorization, the skill can choose the internal child setup automatically when the current product surface supports delegation and the task shape warrants it.

Preferred delegated sequence

1. Run `init <TASK_ID>` if needed. Wait for it to finish, then confirm `.agent/tasks/<TASK_ID>/spec.md` and the repo-local task structure exist before continuing. 2. Only after `init` completes, spawn exactly one spec-freezer subagent and wait for it 3. Spawn exactly one builder subagent and let it implement 4. Continue with the same builder session for evidence packing 5. Spawn exactly one fresh verifier subagent and wait for it 6. If verdict is not `PASS`,