/release-archivist

name: release-archivist
description: Close out a spec-superflow change with verification, summary, and archive readiness. Invoke when implementation is complete, verification is underway, or the user asks for a final wrap-up.

Release Archivist

Finish a spec-superflow change cleanly with verification evidence. This skill operates while the change state is `executing`; it is not an active skill after the final transition to `closing`.

Execution-State Guard

Before verification, `ssf audit`, any DP state write, or delta-spec merge, run `ssf state get <change-dir> state`. Continue only when the persisted state is exactly `executing`. If it is `closing` → STOP: "Closing is terminal; release, audit, and archival work were completed before this transition." For any other state, or if the state cannot be read → STOP and route through `workflow-start`; do not perform side effects.

Direct Short-Path Closure (run before the Full checklist)

For Quick, Tweak, or a valid direct incident Hotfix receipt, skip the Full verification, audit, delta merge, DP-6, and DP-7 sections below. Record changed files, the focused verification command and result, then persist `test_result: pass` and transition to closing. Quick requires a targeted test or syntax/static check; direct Hotfix requires an original-symptom regression. A legacy Hotfix stays on the Full checklist.

Full/Legacy Verification Before Completion

The Full checklist below applies only to Full and legacy Hotfix. Direct Short-Path Closure above takes precedence for Quick, Tweak, and valid direct Hotfix.

Claiming work is complete without verification is dishonesty, not efficiency. Before claiming any status: 1. IDENTIFY the command that proves the claim 2. RUN the full command fresh 3. READ output, check exit code 4. VERIFY output confirms the claim 5. Only THEN make the claim

**Forbidden before evidence**: "should", "probably", "seems to", expressions of satisfaction without output.

| Claim | Requires | Not Sufficient | |-------|----------|----------------| | Tests pass | Test output: 0 failures | Previous run, "should pass" | | Linter clean | Linter output: 0 errors | Partial check | | Build succeeds | Build exit 0 | Linter passing | | Bug fixed | Original symptom passes | Code changed | | Requirements met | Line-by-line checklist | Tests passing |

Full/Legacy Verification Steps

Step 1: Test Suite

Run full test suite. Record total/passed/failed/skipped. Zero failures = PASS.

Step 2: Completeness

Compare contract batches against actual diff. Every SHALL/MUST must have implementation evidence. Missing = Critical severity.

Step 3: Coherence

Compare design decisions against code. Check naming consistency. Inconsistencies = IMPORTANT.

Step 4: Unintended Scope

Check for files modified outside scope fence, new dependencies not in design. Unplanned = WARN.

Step 5: Report

| Dimension | Status | Findings | |-----------|--------|----------| | Completeness | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [list] | | Correctness | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [list] | | Coherence | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [list] |

**Verdict**: PASS (all PASS) / CONDITIONAL (WARN only) / FAIL (any FAIL).

• FAIL → fix issues or route back to build-executor
• CONDITIONAL → present WARNs, proceed only with user acceptance
• PASS → proceed to final checks

Full/Legacy Final Checks

• Tests passing? (cite command and output)
• All batches complete? (cite batch status)
• Scope added without artifact updates?
• Unresolved blockers or known risks?
• Delta specs exist that need merging?
• Run `ssf audit <change-dir>` — include `decision-point-audit.md` in archive

DP-6 (Verification Outcome, Full/legacy Hotfix)

ssf state set <change-dir> dp_6_result "<pass|conditional|fail>: <summary>"
ssf state set <change-dir> dp_6_timestamp $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)

If FAIL, do NOT proceed to DP-7. Route back or ask about abandonment.

After recording a PASS outcome, also record it as the verification gate so the `executing → closing` transition is allowed (the guard accepts either `test_result: pass` or a `dp_6_result` starting with `pass`):

ssf state set <change-dir> test_result pass

DP-7 (Archive Confirmation, Full/legacy Hotfix)

ssf state set <change-dir> dp_7_result "confirmed: <archive summary>"
ssf state set <change-dir> dp_7_timestamp $(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)

Verify DP-0 through DP-6 are recorded before DP-7.

Archive Rule (Full/legacy Hotfix)

If implementation diverged from the contract, return to `bridging` before closure.

Finalize While Executing (Full/legacy Hotfix)

Complete every release, delta-spec synchronization, and audit action while the state remains `executing`. If delta specs exist, invoke `spec-merger` and resolve its outcome before the final `executing → closing` transition. Then run `ssf state transition <change-dir> closing`. `executing → closing` is the final action: once it succeeds, select no next skill and run no recovery scans.

Lightweight Closure (Quick/direct Hotfix/tweak)

Quick and direct Hotfix use a concise verification summary: changed files, focused command, result, and persisted `test_result: pass`. Quick runs targeted tests or syntax/static checks; direct Hotfix proves the original symptom regression. Do not require a contract, execution plan, review receipt, DP-6, or DP-7. A legacy Hotfix remains on the full contract/DP/review closure path. Tweak verifies file integrity and also persists `test_result: pass`.

Exception Handling

• **Parse failures**: Report exact file and section
• **Missing files**: If audit can't generate, run `ssf audit` manually
• **User interruption**: Re-run verification from the beginning on resume
• **DP gaps**: Flag missing DPs during DP-6; ask user whether to proceed or return

Standard User-Facing Handoff

End every user-facing phase report with this concise handoff. Only a successfully persisted `closing` state and `abandoned` are terminal.

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