---
phase: 01-foundation-templates
plan: 03
subsystem: documentation
tags: [protocol, agents.md, systematic-ids, checkpoints, sticky-notes, cross-platform]

# Dependency graph
requires:
  - phase: 01-foundation-templates
    plan: 01
    provides: Core templates (LOOPS, CONTEXT, STATE)
  - phase: 01-foundation-templates
    plan: 02
    provides: Session templates (BOOTLOADER, SUMMARY, README)
provides:
  - Protocol reference consolidating all enforcement mechanisms
  - Cross-platform agent configuration (AGENTS.md)
  - Quick lookup for systematic IDs, checkpoints, sticky notes, visual conventions
  - Commands documentation for user interaction
affects:
  - All future phases (protocol reference is foundation-wide)
  - Phase 2 (session handoff uses same protocol)
  - Phase 3 (context engineering builds on token budget patterns)

# Tech tracking
tech-stack:
  added: []
  patterns:
    - Protocol reference pattern (quick lookup separate from full templates)
    - AGENTS.md standard for cross-platform configuration
    - Systematic ID registry (TYPE-NNN format documented)
    - Checkpoint taxonomy (informational vs blocking)

key-files:
  created:
    - .planning/templates/PROTOCOL_REFERENCE.md
    - .planning/AGENTS.md
  modified: []

key-decisions:
  - "Protocol reference as separate quick-lookup document (not embedded in templates)"
  - "AGENTS.md follows agents.md standard for cross-platform support"
  - "Systematic IDs documented with all types (LOOP, TASK, DECISION, HYPO, PLAN, MILESTONE, CHECKPOINT)"
  - "Checkpoint types split: informational (progress) vs blocking (requires action)"
  - "Sticky note protocol: include when artifact/state/actions changed, omit when pure conversation"

patterns-established:
  - "Protocol reference consolidation: gather enforcement mechanisms from all templates in one quick-reference doc"
  - "Cross-platform support: AGENTS.md for native support, BOOTLOADER for manual initialization"
  - "Educational documentation: inline WHY throughout, not dumped at end"

# Metrics
duration: 4min
completed: 2026-01-21
---

# Phase 1 Plan 3: Protocol Reference & Agent Configuration Summary

**Protocol reference consolidating systematic IDs, checkpoint types, sticky notes, visual conventions, and AGENTS.md for cross-platform agent configuration**

## Performance

- **Duration:** 4 min
- **Started:** 2026-01-21T16:36:54Z
- **Completed:** 2026-01-21T16:41:15Z
- **Tasks:** 2
- **Files created:** 2

## Accomplishments

- Protocol reference consolidates all enforcement mechanisms (IDs, checkpoints, sticky notes, actions, visual conventions) in quick-lookup format
- AGENTS.md provides cross-platform configuration following agents.md standard with persona, commands, protocol summary, workflows
- Cross-references established: AGENTS.md → PROTOCOL_REFERENCE → Templates (full chain)
- Systematic IDs documented with all 7 types (LOOP, TASK, DECISION, HYPO, PLAN, MILESTONE, CHECKPOINT)
- Checkpoint types split into informational (📫 ⚡ ✅ 🔮 🧪) and blocking (🛑 wall)

## Task Commits

Each task was committed atomically:

1. **Task 1: Create PROTOCOL_REFERENCE.md** - `16212d4` (docs)
2. **Task 2: Create AGENTS.md** - `2a95357` (docs)

## Files Created/Modified

**Created:**
- `.planning/templates/PROTOCOL_REFERENCE.md` (497 lines) - Quick reference for all protocol patterns (systematic IDs, checkpoint types, sticky note rules, visual conventions, available actions, context stack, recovery protocol, MCP vs copy-paste)
- `.planning/AGENTS.md` (345 lines) - Cross-platform agent configuration with YAML frontmatter (persona, domain, workflows), commands section (core + contextual slash commands), protocol summary, workflows, token budget guidance, platform support

## Decisions Made

**1. Protocol reference as separate document**
- **Decision:** Create PROTOCOL_REFERENCE.md separate from templates, not embedded in each template
- **Rationale:** Quick lookup pattern - user needs to find "what's the systematic ID format?" without reading full LOOPS_TEMPLATE. Reference consolidates patterns from all templates.
- **Impact:** PROTOCOL_REFERENCE acts as index to full templates, cross-references link back

**2. AGENTS.md following standard**
- **Decision:** Use agents.md standard format (YAML frontmatter + sections) instead of custom format
- **Rationale:** Cross-platform compatibility - supported by Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code. Follows established convention.
- **Impact:** Works automatically when platform supports agents.md, fallback to BOOTLOADER for platforms without support

**3. Checkpoint split: informational vs blocking**
- **Decision:** Document checkpoint types as two categories (informational for progress, blocking for action required)
- **Rationale:** Different user behaviors - informational = acknowledge and continue, blocking = stop and verify
- **Impact:** Clear guidance on when to use aggressive 🛑 wall (blocking only) vs lighter emojis (informational)

**4. Sticky note inclusion rules**
- **Decision:** Include sticky note when artifact/state/actions changed, omit when pure conversation
- **Rationale:** Balance protocol enforcement (need visibility) vs visual fatigue (too much noise)
- **Impact:** Documented rule gives agents clear heuristic, reduces inconsistency

## Deviations from Plan

None - plan executed exactly as written.

## Issues Encountered

None - both tasks completed as specified with all verification criteria met.

## User Setup Required

None - no external service configuration required.

## Next Phase Readiness

**Foundation layer complete:**
- All 5 core templates created (LOOPS, CONTEXT, STATE, BOOTLOADER, SUMMARY)
- Protocol reference consolidates enforcement mechanisms
- Cross-platform configuration ready (AGENTS.md)
- Cross-references established (full chain working)

**Ready for:**
- Phase 1 Plan 4: Template README and Phase 1 wrap-up
- Phase 2: Session Handoff (builds on foundation templates + protocol)
- Phase 3: Context Engineering (extends token budget patterns from CONTEXT)

**No blockers or concerns.**

---
*Phase: 01-foundation-templates*
*Completed: 2026-01-21*
