boil

Standard of Excellence — Boil the Ocean

Outcome: A task is complete only when all output is delivered (no prohibited exits taken, no workarounds), the Dangling Thread Checklist has no open items, and no PENDING threads remain.

Full source extracts: ./references/standard-of-excellence.md Invented limit patterns: ./references/invented-limit-patterns.md BLOCKED declaration contract: ./references/blocked-declaration-contract.md

Workflow

flowchart TD
    Start(["Task received"]) --> P1
    P1["Read task-description argument<br>Scan affected files for TODO / FIXME / PENDING"] --> P2
    P2{"Scope determinable?<br>Affected files, expected behavior, and<br>success criteria identifiable from request?"}
    P2 -->|No| P2a["State assumption explicitly — then proceed"]
    P2 -->|Yes| E1
    P2a --> E1

    E1{"About to build without searching?"}
    E1 -->|Yes| E1a["Search first — confirm prior art before implementing"]
    E1a --> E2
    E1 -->|No — search done| E2

    E2{"Considering a prohibited exit?<br>workaround / deferral / truncation<br>partial delivery / 'leave as exercise'"}
    E2 -->|No| E3
    E2 -->|Yes| E2a{"Permanent solve reachable?"}
    E2a -->|Yes| E2b["Apply permanent solve — return to work"]
    E2b --> E3
    E2a -->|"No — named external constraint"| Blocked

    E3{"Pre-existing issue found during work?"}
    E3 -->|No| C1
    E3 -->|Yes| E3a["'I found N pre-existing X.<br>Address now or add to backlog?'"]
    E3a --> E3b{"User: address now?"}
    E3b -->|Yes| E3c["Scope fix into current task — continue"]
    E3b -->|No or no response| E3d["Create backlog record — continue"]
    E3c --> C1
    E3d --> C1

    C1["Answer Dangling Thread Checklist"] --> C2
    C2{"Open thread?<br>TODO / FIXME / partial impl /<br>untested behavior / invented limit?"}
    C2 -->|Yes — thread unaddressed| P1
    C2 -->|No — all clear| Done

    Blocked["BLOCKED declaration:<br>reason + completed + remains<br>+ unblocking condition"]
    Done(["Task complete"])