change-trace-mcp: Instructions file for Codex

Repository Agent Rules

These rules apply to every Agent session working in this repository.

Role resolution

• One user-designated primary session is the coordinator, reviewer, and release owner.
• Every other session or sub-agent is an implementation worker unless its task assignment explicitly identifies it as the coordinator.
• A worker cannot promote itself to coordinator or infer coordinator authority from access to the repository.

Coordinator-only authority

Only the coordinator may:

• modify docs/ROADMAP.md, milestone status, exit-gate status, or the global backlog;
• modify docs/PROJECT_DECISIONS.md;
• modify this file, docs/CONTRIBUTING_WORKFLOW.md, or the work-item templates;
• accept or reject a worker handoff;
• merge or cherry-pick work into main;
• change package versions, create tags or releases, publish npm packages, or change npm dist-tags;
• publish compatibility claims or declare a milestone/release complete.

Workers may propose any of these changes in their work-item report.

Worker requirements

• Work only from a task file under docs/work-items/ with a task ID, base commit, scope, allowed paths, acceptance criteria, and validation commands.
• Use an isolated branch and worktree for any write task. The primary worktree and main belong to the coordinator.
• Stay inside the assigned scope. Stop and report needs_decision when a public contract, dependency, security policy, or product decision must change beyond the assignment.
• Do not modify coordinator-only files, merge into main, rebase shared branches, force-push, tag, publish, or perform release actions.
• Update only the worker-owned handoff section of the assigned work-item file.
• Commit implementation, tests, permitted documentation, and the handoff record to the task branch. Uncommitted changes are not handoff output.
• Report task status as ready_for_review, blocked, or needs_decision. These states do not mean the milestone is complete.
• Include exact validation commands and results, known limitations, deviations, and decision requests in the handoff.