---
phase: 01.2-audit-and-fix-template-coherence-for-single-agent-sessions
verified: 2026-01-23T10:15:00Z
status: passed
score: 11/11 must-haves verified
re_verification: false
---

# Phase 1.2: Audit and Fix Template Coherence Verification Report

**Phase Goal:** Refactor GSD-lite templates into 5-file structure optimized for single-agent sessions with weaker reasoning models

**Verified:** 2026-01-23T10:15:00Z
**Status:** PASSED
**Re-verification:** No - initial verification

---

## Goal Achievement

### Observable Truths

| # | Truth | Status | Evidence |
|---|-------|--------|----------|
| 1 | Agent reads PROTOCOL.md first and knows exactly what to do | ✓ VERIFIED | Session Start Checklist present at line 5, explicit read order documented |
| 2 | Agent shows moodboard in planning mode (does not skip) | ✓ VERIFIED | Planning Mode section at line 156 with "DO NOT SKIP THE MOODBOARD" in caps, 10x emoji banner format at lines 182-234 |
| 3 | Agent logs to WORK.md during execution | ✓ VERIFIED | Execution Mode section at line 238 mandates "Log EVERY action to WORK.md", WORK.md has verbose logging format |
| 4 | Agent captures loops from both user and itself | ✓ VERIFIED | Loop Capture Protocol at line 270 explicitly states "TWO sources: User and Agent", INBOX.md has separate sections for each |
| 5 | Agent gives sticky reminder at end of every turn | ✓ VERIFIED | Sticky Reminder section at line 316 with required format and examples |
| 6 | gsd_lite/ contains exactly 5 files | ✓ VERIFIED | Directory has PROTOCOL.md, STATE.md, WORK.md, INBOX.md, HISTORY.md (5 total) |
| 7 | No redundant files remain | ✓ VERIFIED | MANIFESTO, BOOTLOADER_PROMPT, PROJECT.md, session_log.txt, template_gsd_lite/ all deleted |
| 8 | Human can read PROTOCOL.md and understand entire workflow | ✓ VERIFIED | 752 lines with comprehensive coverage, Golden Rules, concrete examples, Quick Reference Card at line 731 |
| 9 | Weak agent can resume session by reading STATE.md alone | ✓ VERIFIED | STATE.md has moderate depth with Active Phase, Current Task, Key Decisions, Session Log, ID Registry |
| 10 | WORK.md captures verbose execution for mid-task resume | ✓ VERIFIED | WORK.md has execution log format with timestamps, systematic IDs, ephemeral warning |
| 11 | HISTORY.md shows completed phases in minimal format | ✓ VERIFIED | HISTORY.md has one-line-per-phase table format with systematic IDs |

**Score:** 11/11 truths verified (100%)

---

### Required Artifacts

| Artifact | Expected | Status | Details |
|----------|----------|--------|---------|
| `gsd_lite/PROTOCOL.md` | Single entrypoint with all behavioral rules | ✓ VERIFIED | 752 lines, contains all 8 required sections |
| `gsd_lite/STATE.md` | Phase/task tracker with moderate depth | ✓ VERIFIED | 60 lines, has Active Phase, Current Task, Key Decisions, Session Log, ID Registry |
| `gsd_lite/WORK.md` | Verbose execution log (ephemeral) | ✓ VERIFIED | 45 lines, ephemeral warning present, execution log format with systematic IDs |
| `gsd_lite/INBOX.md` | Loop capture from user and agent | ✓ VERIFIED | 62 lines, has "From User" and "From Agent" sections, systematic IDs |
| `gsd_lite/HISTORY.md` | Minimal completed phase record | ✓ VERIFIED | 36 lines, one-line-per-phase format with systematic IDs |

**Artifact Verification Details:**

**PROTOCOL.md (752 lines):**
- Level 1 (Exists): ✓ File exists
- Level 2 (Substantive): ✓ 752 lines (min: 100), no stub patterns, comprehensive content
- Level 3 (Wired): ✓ References all 4 supporting files in File Guide table
- Required sections present:
  - Session Start Checklist (line 5)
  - File Guide (line 62)
  - Golden Rules (line 145)
  - Planning Mode with moodboard (line 156)
  - Execution Mode (line 238)
  - Loop Capture (line 270)
  - Sticky Reminder (line 316)
  - Scope Discipline (line 534)
  - Promotion Workflow (line 635)
- Contains 8+ concrete examples with systematic IDs
- Moodboard format with 10x emoji banner (13 mentions of "moodboard")
- Single-read constraint documented (line 13)

**STATE.md (60 lines):**
- Level 1 (Exists): ✓ File exists
- Level 2 (Substantive): ✓ 60 lines (min: 30), no stub patterns, template ready for use
- Level 3 (Wired): ✓ References INBOX.md for open loops
- Has all required sections: Active Phase, Current Task, Key Decisions, Session Log, Open Loops, ID Registry
- Moderate depth achieved with Key Decisions table

**WORK.md (45 lines):**
- Level 1 (Exists): ✓ File exists
- Level 2 (Substantive): ✓ 45 lines (min: 20), ephemeral warning prominent, execution log format clear
- Level 3 (Wired): ✓ References PHASE-NNN from STATE.md, systematic IDs for cross-referencing
- Ephemeral marking: "This file is EPHEMERAL" (line 9), "deleted after phase promotion" (line 4)
- Has example entry with systematic IDs

**INBOX.md (62 lines):**
- Level 1 (Exists): ✓ File exists
- Level 2 (Substantive): ✓ 62 lines (min: 15), no stub patterns, dual-source structure clear
- Level 3 (Wired): ✓ Uses systematic LOOP-NNN IDs, cross-references tasks
- Has both "From User" and "From Agent" sections (4 mentions)
- Has Resolved section for completed loops
- Example entries with systematic IDs

**HISTORY.md (36 lines):**
- Level 1 (Exists): ✓ File exists
- Level 2 (Substantive): ✓ 36 lines (min: 10), minimal format as intended
- Level 3 (Wired): ✓ Uses systematic PHASE-NNN IDs, links to external artifacts
- Has "Completed Phases" section with table format
- Example entries show PR linking

---

### Key Link Verification

| From | To | Via | Status | Details |
|------|-----|-----|--------|---------|
| PROTOCOL.md | STATE.md, WORK.md, INBOX.md, HISTORY.md | File Guide table | ✓ WIRED | File Guide table at line 62 lists all 4 files with "When to Read" and "When to Write" columns |
| STATE.md | INBOX.md | Open Loops reference | ✓ WIRED | STATE.md line 41: "See INBOX.md for full list" |
| PROTOCOL.md | Systematic IDs | ID format specification | ✓ WIRED | Systematic ID Format section at line 80 defines TYPE-NNN pattern used throughout all files |
| WORK.md | STATE.md | Phase reference | ✓ WIRED | WORK.md line 15: "Phase: PHASE-NNN - [From STATE.md]" |
| All files | Systematic IDs | Cross-referencing | ✓ WIRED | All files use PHASE-NNN, TASK-NNN, LOOP-NNN, DECISION-NNN for unambiguous references |

---

### Requirements Coverage

Phase 1.2 had no mapped requirements from REQUIREMENTS.md (consolidation/refactor work).

**Success Criteria from CONTEXT.md:**

| Criterion | Status | Evidence |
|-----------|--------|----------|
| Consolidate all scattered templates into 5-file structure | ✓ SATISFIED | 5 files present, redundant files deleted |
| PROTOCOL.md is self-contained and foolproof for weak agents | ✓ SATISFIED | 752 lines, Golden Rules, concrete examples, Quick Reference Card |
| STATE.md template captures moderate depth | ✓ SATISFIED | Key Decisions table, Session Log, ID Registry |
| INBOX.md template supports loop capture from both sides | ✓ SATISFIED | "From User" and "From Agent" sections present |
| WORK.md and HISTORY.md templates are simple and clear | ✓ SATISFIED | WORK.md ephemeral, HISTORY.md minimal |
| No redundant files (README, INIT_PROMPT, BOOTLOADER removed/consolidated) | ✓ SATISFIED | All redundant files deleted, 5 files remain |
| A human can read the protocol and understand the entire workflow | ✓ SATISFIED | Comprehensive PROTOCOL.md with Quick Reference Card |

---

### Anti-Patterns Found

No anti-patterns detected. Files scanned:
- gsd_lite/PROTOCOL.md
- gsd_lite/STATE.md
- gsd_lite/WORK.md
- gsd_lite/INBOX.md
- gsd_lite/HISTORY.md

**Scan results:**
- TODO/FIXME comments: 0
- Placeholder content: 0 (only the word "placeholder" in context of explaining what NOT to do)
- Empty implementations: 0
- Console.log only implementations: N/A (documentation files, not code)

---

### Human Verification Items

No items require human verification. All criteria are objectively verifiable through file structure and content inspection.

The phase goal explicitly states "A human can read the protocol and understand the entire workflow" which was verified by:
- Checking PROTOCOL.md has all required sections (8+ sections found)
- Verifying concrete examples present (8 examples found)
- Confirming Quick Reference Card exists (line 731)
- Ensuring Golden Rules documented (line 145)
- Verifying 10x emoji moodboard format (line 182)

---

## Summary

**Phase Goal Achievement:** VERIFIED

All 11 observable truths verified. The 5-file structure exists, is substantive, and is properly wired. No redundant files remain. PROTOCOL.md is comprehensive with:
- 8 required workflow sections
- Golden Rules from MANIFESTO
- 10x emoji moodboard format
- Systematic ID format (TYPE-NNN)
- 8+ concrete examples
- Quick Reference Card
- Single-read constraint documented

All supporting files (STATE, WORK, INBOX, HISTORY) are properly structured with:
- Moderate depth in STATE.md (Key Decisions, Session Log, ID Registry)
- Ephemeral marking in WORK.md
- Dual-source sections in INBOX.md (User + Agent)
- Minimal one-line format in HISTORY.md
- Systematic IDs throughout for cross-referencing

The templates are ready for use in single-agent sessions with weaker reasoning models.

**No gaps found. No human verification needed. Phase goal fully achieved.**

---

_Verified: 2026-01-23T10:15:00Z_
_Verifier: Claude (gsd-verifier)_
