Triage

Move request files under .scratch/ through a small state machine of triage roles. There is no external issue tracker; every artifact is a markdown file. Read the layout from .agents/issue-tracker.md (written by /setup) when the repo has one (docs/agents/issue-tracker.md is the legacy path).

External pull requests can still be a request surface: a PR is input that produces a markdown triage file under .scratch/ (same roles, same states, same machine, with a few deltas marked "for a PR" below). Notes, briefs, and state live in that file, never on the PR host as the system of record.

Every triage note appended to a markdown file must start with this disclaimer:

> *This was generated by AI during triage.*

Reference docs

• AGENT-BRIEF.md: how to write durable agent briefs
• OUT-OF-SCOPE.md, how the .out-of-scope/ knowledge base works

Roles

Two category roles (recorded near the top of the file, e.g. **Category:** bug):

• bug: something is broken
• enhancement: new feature or improvement

Five state roles (recorded as **Status:** <role>):

• needs-triage: maintainer needs to evaluate
• needs-info: waiting on reporter for more information
• ready-for-agent: fully specified, ready for an AFK agent
• ready-for-human: needs human implementation
• wontfix: will not be actioned

For a PR-originated file, the same states read against the attached code: ready-for-agent means a brief is attached and an agent should take the next step on the diff; ready-for-human means it's ready for a human to merge.

Every triaged file should carry exactly one category and one status. If statuses conflict, flag it and ask the maintainer before doing anything else.

Canonical role names may be remapped in .agents/triage-labels.md (written by /setup); when that file is missing, use the names above as the **Status:** values themselves.

State transitions: a file with no **Status:** normally goes to needs-triage first; from there it moves to needs-info, ready-for-agent, ready-for-human, or wontfix. needs-info returns to needs-triage once the reporter replies. The maintainer can override at any time, flag transitions that look unusual and ask before proceeding.

Invocation

The maintainer invokes triage and describes what they want in natural language. Interpret the request and act. Examples:

• "Show me anything that needs my attention"
• "Let's look at payment-refunds" (file name, path, or title)
• "Move payment-refunds to ready-for-agent"
• "What's ready for agents to pick up?"
• "Triage this PR" (creates or updates a markdown file under .scratch/ from the PR)

Show what needs attention

Scan .scratch/ (and the layout from .agents/issue-tracker.md when present) and present three buckets, oldest first:

1. No status: never triaged (**Status:** missing).
2. needs-triage: evaluation in progress.
3. needs-info with reporter activity since the last triage notes: needs re-evaluation.

When external PRs are in scope, also surface open external PRs that have no matching triage file yet, tagged [PR]. Discovery surfaces only external PRs; a collaborator's in-flight PR is not triage work. This filter is discovery-only; an explicitly named PR is always triaged regardless of author. Choosing a PR without a file creates one under .scratch/ and continues triage there.

Show counts and a one-line summary per item. Let the maintainer pick (a structured question (harness-tools), oldest items as options and "Other" taking the rest; otherwise in chat).

Triage a specific issue or PR

1. Gather context. Read the full markdown file (body, comments, status, category, author notes, dates). For a PR-originated request, read the PR diff too and keep the markdown file as the home for notes. Parse any prior triage notes so you don't re-ask resolved questions. Explore the codebase using the project's domain glossary, respecting ADRs in the area. Run two checks against the codebase: (a) redundancy: search for an existing implementation of the requested behavior by domain concept (not just the request's wording), and report where you looked. If found, it's an already-implemented wontfix (step 5). (b) prior rejection, read .out-of-scope/*.md and surface any that resembles this request.
2. Recommend. Tell the maintainer your category and status recommendation with reasoning, plus a brief codebase summary relevant to the request: including whether it's already implemented. Ask for direction (a structured question (harness-tools): ready-for-agent, needs-info, ready-for-human, wontfix, your recommendation first; otherwise in chat) and wait.
3. Verify the claim. Before any grilling, check that the claim holds up. For a bug, reproduce it from the reporter's steps. For a PR, confirm the diff does what it claims: check it out, run the relevant tests or commands. Report what happened: confirmed (with code path), failed, or insufficient detail (a strong needs-info signal). A confirmed verification makes a much stronger agent brief.
4. Grill (if needed). If the request needs fleshing out, run the grilling and domain-modeling skills together: grill it into shape one question at a time, sharpening domain terms and updating GLOSSARY.md/ADRs inline as decisions land.
5. Apply the outcome by editing the markdown file:
   • ready-for-agent: set **Status:** ready-for-agent and append an agent brief (AGENT-BRIEF.md).
   • ready-for-human: set status; same structure as an agent brief, but note why it can't be delegated (judgment calls, external access, design decisions, manual testing).
   • needs-info: set status and append triage notes (template below).
   • wontfix: set status and close out, with the note depending on why:
     • Already implemented: the change already exists in the codebase. Point to where it lives; do not write to .out-of-scope/ (that KB is for rejected requests, not built ones).
     • Rejected (bug): polite explanation, then done.
     • Rejected (enhancement): write to .out-of-scope/, link to it from a note in the file (OUT-OF-SCOPE.md).
   • needs-triage: set the status. Optional note if there's partial progress.

Quick state override

If the maintainer says "move payment-refunds to ready-for-agent", trust them and apply the status directly. Confirm what you're about to do (status change, notes, brief), then act. Skip grilling. If moving to ready-for-agent without a grilling session, ask whether they want to write an agent brief.

Needs-info template

## Triage Notes

**What we've established so far:**

- point 1
- point 2

**What we still need from you (@reporter):**

- question 1
- question 2

Capture everything resolved during grilling under "established so far" so the work isn't lost. Questions must be specific and actionable, not "please provide more info".

Resuming a previous session

If prior triage notes exist on the file, read them, check whether the reporter has answered any outstanding questions, and present an updated picture before continuing. Don't re-ask resolved questions.