# Safe Change

> Structured safe-change workflow for documented codebases. Reads and writes only canonical YAML artifacts under a resolved structured docs root.

- Skill: `prinova/safe-change` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 8 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add prinova/safe-change`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/prinova/safe-change/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: PriNova (https://skillmd.com/u/prinova)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/prinova/safe-change

---


# Safe Change — Structured API Only

Goal: make changes without architecture drift using canonical structured artifacts.


## Structured Artifact API Contract

Legacy prose artifacts are deprecated. Do not create, update, or rely on `docs/agent/*.md`, scoped prose docs, or generated human-readable Markdown views. Use structured YAML for canonical artifacts. Root `AGENTS.md` remains a harness interoperability file and may be generated/updated only by workflows that explicitly say so.

Resolved structured docs root:

Treat `docs/agent/api` as a logical layout rooted at a resolved structured docs root, not a fixed repo path.

Resolution rules:
1. Resolve `workspace_root` with `git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null` or fallback to `pwd`.
2. Canonicalize `workspace_root` before fingerprinting when possible (`realpath`, `pwd -P`, `Path(...).resolve()`, or equivalent).
3. `safe-start` always creates and uses the initial repo-local root: `<workspace_root>/docs/agent/api`.
4. `safe-change` uses repo-local only when `<workspace_root>/docs/agent/api` already exists.
5. Otherwise use the global overlay root: `~/.pi/agent/workspaces/<workspace-fingerprint>/docs/agent/api`.
6. Compute `<workspace-fingerprint>` exactly from canonical `workspace_root`: strip one leading slash/backslash, replace every slash, backslash, and colon with `-`, then wrap with `--`. This keeps the same workspace stable.
7. Example: `/data/data/com.termux/files/home/CodeProjects/pi-mono` -> `--data-data-com.termux-files-home-CodeProjects-pi-mono--`.
8. Do not create new repo-local structured docs in unadopted repos unless the user explicitly asks for repo-local adoption there.

Logical structured layout under the resolved docs root:

```text
repo/
  scopes.yaml
  repo-inventory.yaml
  project-intent.yaml
  architecture.yaml
  data-flow.yaml
  data-model.yaml
  invariants.yaml
  dependency-rules.yaml
  design-issues.yaml
  risk-register.yaml
  change-guide.yaml
  testing-strategy.yaml
  validation-baseline.yaml
  contracts.yaml
  adr.yaml
  agent-operating-guide.yaml
scopes/
  by-path/<repo-relative-path>/...
  by-domain/<slug>/...
```

Every structured artifact must conform to `../_shared/references/schemas/common.schema.json` plus its artifact-specific schema. Do not inline, invent, or vary envelope fields.

Stable IDs required: `scope:*`, `component:*`, `entity:*`, `invariant:*`, `risk:*`, `contract:*`, `flow:*`, `command:*`, `issue:*`, `adr:*`, `testplan:*`.

Ownership rules:
- `scopes`: scope routing, ownership, cross-scope discovery only.
- `repo-inventory`: file tree, commands index, entry points, external boundaries, configs.
- `validation-baseline`: command status, blockers, recommended validation order.
- `project-intent`: product goal, users, journeys, must-have features, non-goals, constraints, assumptions, open questions, success metrics, prioritized quality attributes, operating constraints, risk areas.
- `architecture`: components, architecture style, style rationale, alternatives/tradeoffs, side-effect boundaries, deployment/operating shape, reliability expectations, observability expectations, security assumptions, high-level flow refs.
- `data-flow`: typed flow graph/steps, trust boundaries, sensitive-data handling steps, inputs, outputs, error states, degradation/recovery notes.
- `data-model`: entities, IDs, schemas, relationships, lifecycles, serialized formats, retention/compliance notes.
- `invariants`: rules, forbidden states, enforcement locations, invariant-test refs.
- `dependency-rules`: layers, allowed/forbidden dependencies, violations, coupling hotspots.
- `design-issues`: structural drift, deferred decisions, ambiguity, ownership gaps.
- `risk-register`: failure modes, severity/confidence, affected refs, mitigations/recommended actions, suggested tests/fixes.
- `contracts`: cross-scope APIs, schemas, events, generated clients, DB/file/deployment/env/auth/telemetry contracts.
- `testing-strategy`: test topology, quality-attribute coverage, coverage gaps, risk-to-test priorities, operability checks.
- `change-guide`: workflow routing and checklists; references owner artifacts, duplicates no facts.
- `adr`: structured decision records with bounded prose fields, including alternatives and consequences for major design choices.
- `agent-operating-guide`: structured source for agent operating rules. Root `AGENTS.md` may mirror this in compact harness-readable Markdown when produced by safe-start or codebase-recon Pass 6.

Redundancy rule: define each fact in its owner artifact exactly once. Other artifacts reference IDs.
Current truth rule: canonical YAML artifacts represent current state, not audit history. Remove resolved or superseded records from canonical owner artifacts by default. Keep them only when another live record still references them or an active migration requires temporary continuity. Use Git history, PRs, issues, or ADRs for audit/history.
Prose rule: bounded prose allowed only in `summary`, `notes`, `rationale`, `context`, `decision`, `recommended_action`, and similar scalar fields.
Scope rule: if focus is path-like, write under `<docs-root>/scopes/by-path/<focus>/`; otherwise under `<docs-root>/scopes/by-domain/<slug>/`. Always update `<docs-root>/repo/scopes.yaml`.



## Runtime Schema Loading

When a workflow creates, updates, migrates, or validates structured artifacts, read `../_shared/references/artifact-api.md` first. Then read only the shared skill package schemas needed for the artifacts being written:
- `../_shared/references/schemas/common.schema.json`
- `../_shared/references/schemas/<artifact-file-base>.schema.json`

Do not read all schemas. Do not use templates. Schemas are runtime API contracts; project docs outside the shared runtime refs are maintainer aids unless the user asks about this package itself.

## Structured Artifact Write/Update Protocol

Use this protocol whenever creating or updating YAML artifacts.

### 1. Scope and owner resolution

1. Resolve scope first from task/focus and `<docs-root>/repo/scopes.yaml` when present.
2. Path focus uses longest prefix match; domain focus requires explicit domain/contract/task evidence.
3. Select the single owner artifact for each fact using the ownership rules above.
4. Never duplicate owner facts in router/checklist artifacts; reference stable IDs instead.

### 2. Read-before-write

1. Read the existing target YAML if it exists.
2. Read directly referenced owner artifacts needed to preserve refs and avoid duplication.
3. If target YAML is absent, create it with the common envelope and artifact-specific top-level keys.
4. Preserve unknown fields unless they conflict with this protocol; do not silently drop agent/user-added structured data.

### 3. Stable ID generation

1. Reuse existing IDs whenever the semantic object is the same, even if name/path changed.
2. New record IDs use deterministic slugs from owner scope + semantic name: `risk:<slug>`, `entity:<slug>`, `component:<slug>`, etc.
3. Envelope `artifact_id` values use `repo:<artifact-slug>` for repo-level artifacts and `<scope.id>/<artifact-slug>` for scoped artifacts, e.g. `repo:architecture` and `scope:packages/ai/architecture`.
4. Never append an artifact slug to a scope ID with a second colon; `scope:packages/ai:architecture` is invalid.
5. If two objects slug-collide, append shortest stable discriminator from path/component/contract, not a random suffix.
6. Never renumber IDs because order changed.

### 4. Upsert semantics

For each discovered fact/object:
1. Match existing record by ID first.
2. If no ID match, match by stable source-of-truth fields: path+symbol, contract source path, command string+cwd, entity name+owner scope, rule owner+kind.
3. If matched, update only changed fields, append/refresh evidence, and preserve unrelated fields.
4. If unmatched, insert new record in deterministic order by ID or explicit `order` field.
5. If an existing observed record is resolved, superseded, or no longer supported, delete it from the canonical owner artifact by default.
6. Keep a record with `status: stale` or `deprecated` only when a live reference still depends on it or an active migration needs temporary continuity. Add evidence/unknown explaining why, and link replacement ID when known.
7. Delete accidental duplicates, malformed records, and unreferenced resolved/superseded records, and mention deletion in final response.

### 5. Evidence and confidence

1. Every observed record needs at least one evidence ref with file/symbol/command/doc/diff observation.
2. Planned records may use `evidence_mode: planned` and confidence `low` or `medium`.
3. Mixed records must separate observed fields from planned/assumed fields via evidence refs or `unknowns`.
4. Do not upgrade `status: current` or confidence `high` without source or command evidence.

### 6. Reference integrity

Before writing final artifacts:
1. Check every `*_ref`, `*_refs`, and `depends_on` ID points to a record in the same artifact set or is explicitly listed as external/unknown.
2. Prefer adding missing owner records as compact stubs over leaving dangling refs.
3. For cross-scope refs, ensure `scopes.yaml` and `contracts.yaml` identify owner/consumer relationship.
4. If ownership is ambiguous, create/update `design-issues.yaml` with `kind: ownership_gap` and reference it.

### 7. Status transitions

Allowed transitions:
- `planned -> partial -> current`
- `current -> stale -> current`
- `current|stale|partial -> deprecated`

Rules:
- `current` requires sufficient observed evidence for the represented scope.
- `partial` means useful but incomplete evidence.
- `stale` means contradicted by newer source evidence or missing source path. Use it as a temporary migration/quarantine state, not a permanent archive state.
- `deprecated` means superseded; include `replacement_ref` when known. Use it only when a live reference still needs continuity during migration; otherwise remove the record from the canonical artifact.

### 8. Deterministic formatting

1. Use YAML with two-space indentation.
2. Use stable top-level key order: envelope keys first, artifact-specific keys next.
3. Sort unordered arrays by `id`; keep ordered flow/checklist arrays by `order`.
4. Use `null`, `[]`, or `{}` consistently rather than omitting required envelope fields.
5. Keep prose scalar fields concise; no long narrative blocks.

### 9. Validation before completion

Perform best-effort validation after writing:
1. Re-read changed YAML for parse/syntax sanity when practical.
2. Validate against the shared schemas by inspection/re-read: envelope keys, artifact-specific top-level keys, required arrays/items, stable ID prefixes, and obvious dangling refs.
3. Verify no legacy Markdown artifacts were created or updated by the workflow, except root `AGENTS.md` when explicitly produced for harness interoperability.
4. Report changed YAML files, validation performed, unresolved unknowns, and any records intentionally retained or pruned as part of compaction.


## Core Rules

- Preflight first for every non-trivial task.
- Read only relevant YAML owner artifacts.
- Do not read or update legacy prose Markdown artifacts.
- Do not edit code during preflight/design/diagnosis unless explicitly asked.
- Separate bug fixing, features, refactoring, risk fixes, tests, docs-only structured updates.
- Add tests for risky or uncovered behavior.
- Treat prioritized quality attributes, operating constraints, trust boundaries, reliability expectations, observability expectations, and security assumptions as first-class change constraints when those owner artifacts contain them.
- If current structured artifacts predate newer schemas and omit now-required fields, surface that as a docs/schema blocker and route through structured-docs repair when needed instead of silently proceeding on incomplete truth.
- Update structured artifacts only when durable semantics changed.

## Reference Files

Read these modular references at the matching workflow step:
- Always start with `references/preflight.md`.
- If `<docs-root>/repo/scopes.yaml` exists or task has a path/domain focus, also read `references/scoped-docs.md`.
- Bug fixes: read `references/bug-fix.md` before diagnosis/implementation.
- Features: read `references/feature.md` before design/implementation.
- Refactoring: read `references/refactoring.md` before design/implementation.
- Risk fixes: read `references/risk-fix.md` before selecting/fixing a risk.
- Test-only tasks: read `references/preflight.md`; read `references/docs-update.md` only if durable testing/risk facts change.
- Structured-docs-only tasks or any semantic artifact update: read `references/docs-update.md` before writing YAML artifacts.

References inherit this skill's Structured Artifact API Contract and Write/Update Protocol. If a reference conflicts with this skill, this skill wins.

## Preflight Output

Before edits, produce:
1. task classification
2. YAML artifacts read
3. matched scope from `repo/scopes.yaml`
4. affected slice/module/user flow
5. affected quality attributes / operating constraints when documented
6. expected files to inspect
7. invariant/contract/risk refs at stake
8. validation command refs
9. proceed, wait for approval, or repair docs/schema blockers first

## Workflow Selection

Users may invoke this skill directly for any workflow, or use the matching prompt template as a shortcut.

- Preflight (`/preflight`): classify task, match scope, identify owner artifacts/refs, and decide proceed vs approval.
- Bug diagnosis (`/bug-diagnose`): diagnose expected behavior, violated invariant/contract/risk, impacted quality attributes or operating constraints, root cause, minimal fix, regression test.
- Bug implementation (`/bug-implement`): implement approved minimal fix, add regression test, validate, update durable YAML facts only when semantics changed.
- Feature design (`/feature-design`): design flow/data/invariant/contract/component impacts, side effects, quality/security/reliability implications, tests, docs updates.
- Feature implementation (`/feature-implement`): implement approved design minimally, test, validate, update owner YAML artifacts when durable semantics changed.
- Refactor design (`/refactor-design`): preserve behavior and documented quality expectations, identify design issue/dependency rule, characterization tests, staged plan.
- Refactor implementation (`/refactor-implement`): execute approved refactor stage, keep behavior stable, validate.
- Risk fix (`/risk-fix`): select one risk or failing risk-derived test, fix minimally, update risk status and related verification refs.
- Test-only: preserve behavior; update testing strategy only if durable coverage/risk facts changed.
- Structured-docs-only: update owner YAML artifacts only.

## Structured Docs Update Rules

Update owners only:
- intent/scope/non-goals/quality attributes/operating constraints -> `project-intent.yaml`
- file tree/entry points/command index -> `repo-inventory.yaml`
- command status/blockers -> `validation-baseline.yaml`
- architecture/components/boundaries/style rationale/reliability-observability-security expectations -> `architecture.yaml`
- flows/error states/trust boundaries/sensitive-data handling -> `data-flow.yaml`
- schemas/entities/lifecycles/retention-compliance notes -> `data-model.yaml`
- rules/enforcement -> `invariants.yaml`
- imports/layers -> `dependency-rules.yaml`
- cross-scope APIs/schemas/events/persistence-deployment-auth-telemetry boundaries -> `contracts.yaml`
- risks/failure modes/affected refs/recommended actions -> `risk-register.yaml`
- design drift/deferred decisions -> `design-issues.yaml`
- tests/quality-attribute coverage/gaps/priorities/operability checks -> `testing-strategy.yaml`
- workflow/checklists -> `change-guide.yaml`