# 1600 2026 02 05 Tech Debt Scanner Markdown Exclusion B04f33a3

> Exclude Markdown from Tech Debt Scans

- Skill: `tools-only/1600-2026-02-05-tech-debt-scanner-markdown-exclusion-b04f33a` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tools-only/1600-2026-02-05-tech-debt-scanner-markdown-exclusion-b04f33a`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tools-only/1600-2026-02-05-tech-debt-scanner-markdown-exclusion-b04f33a/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: tools-only (https://skillmd.com/u/tools-only)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tools-only/1600-2026-02-05-tech-debt-scanner-markdown-exclusion-b04f33a

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# Exclude Markdown from Tech Debt Scans

## Summary

Markdown documentation contained example TODO/FIXME/HACK markers, which the scanner counted as new debt and caused baseline checks to fail. We now exclude `.md` files from scanning and update the scheduled workflow to flag any debt and report the correct timestamp.

## Context

- File: `scripts/todo_scanner.py`
- Symptoms: PR scans failed with debt coming from documentation examples; weekly reports never opened issues because the scan did not fail.

## Root Cause

The scanner did not exclude documentation files, and the scheduled workflow checked the baseline without any failure mode, so debt presence never produced a failing exit status.

## Changes

- Excluded Markdown files from `EXCLUDE_PATTERNS`.
- Documented Markdown exclusion in `docs/agent-docs/tech-debt-tracking.md`.
- Updated the scheduled workflow to use `--fail-on-new`, renamed steps, and fixed the report timestamp field.

## Behavioral Impact

- Markdown files are no longer scanned for debt markers.
- Weekly reports now open/update issues when any debt exists.
- PR baseline checks remain unchanged for code files.

## Related Cards

- [[tech-debt-tracking]]