swain-do
Execution Tracking
Before proceeding with any state-changing operation, check for an active session:
REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || pwd)"
bash "$REPO_ROOT/.agents/bin/swain-session-check.sh" 2>/dev/null
If the JSON output has "status" other than "active", inform the operator: "No active session — start one with /swain-init?" Proceed if they dismiss.
Abstraction layer for agent execution tracking. Other skills (e.g., swain-design) express intent using abstract terms; this skill translates that intent into concrete CLI commands.
Before first use: Read references/tk-cheatsheet.md for complete command syntax, flags, ID formats, and anti-patterns.
Artifact handoff protocol
This skill receives handoffs from swain-design based on a four-tier tracking model:
More from cristoslc/swain
swain-update
Update swain skills to the latest version. Use when the user says 'update swain', 'upgrade swain', 'pull latest swain', 'reinstall swain', 'refresh skills', or wants to update their swain skills installation. Uses npx to pull the latest swain release from GitHub, with a git-clone fallback, then invokes swain-doctor to reconcile governance and validate project health.
122swain-release
Cut a release — detect versioning context, generate a changelog from conventional commits, bump versions, create a git tag, and optionally squash-merge to a release branch. Use when the user says "release", "cut a release", "tag a release", "bump the version", "create a changelog", "ship a version", "publish", or any variation of shipping/publishing a version. This skill is intentionally generic and works across any repo — it infers context from git history and project structure rather than assuming a specific setup. Supports the trunk+release branch model (ADR-013) when a `release` branch exists.
122swain-design
Create, validate, and transition documentation artifacts (Vision, Initiative, Epic, Spec, Spike, ADR, Persona, Runbook, Design, Journey) through lifecycle phases. Handles spec writing, feature planning, epic creation, initiative creation, ADR drafting, research spikes, persona definition, runbook creation, design capture, architecture docs, phase transitions, implementation planning, cross-reference validation, and audits. Also invoke to update frontmatter fields, re-parent an artifact under a different epic or initiative, or set priority on a Vision or Initiative. Chains into swain-do for implementation tracking on SPEC; decomposes EPIC/VISION/INITIATIVE/JOURNEY into children first.
122swain
Meta-router for swain skills. Invoke when the user explicitly asks swain to do something — not merely when they mention the project by name. Routes to the matching swain-* sub-skill — only load the one that matches. If the user's intent matches multiple rows, pick the most specific match. Sub-skills that are not installed will gracefully no-op.
119swain-search
Trove collection and normalization for swain-design artifacts. Collects sources from the web, local files, and media (video/audio), normalizes them to markdown, and caches them in reusable troves. Use when researching a topic for a spike, ADR, vision, or any artifact that needs structured research. Also use to refresh stale troves or extend existing ones with new sources. Triggers on: 'research X', 'gather sources for', 'compile research on', 'search for sources about', 'refresh the trove', 'find existing research on X', or when swain-design needs research inputs for a spike or ADR.
113swain-init
Project onboarding and session entry point for swain. On first run, performs full onboarding: migrates CLAUDE.md to AGENTS.md, verifies vendored tk, configures pre-commit security hooks, and offers swain governance rules — then writes a .swain/init.json marker. On subsequent runs, detects the marker and runs the per-session fast path (greeting, focus lane, session state). Use as a single entry point — it routes automatically. Triggers also on: 'session', 'session info', 'focus on', 'tab name'.
111