Progress contract

Every "status?" a human types is a polling loop they are running by hand. This skill turns progress into a push. At kickoff it publishes milestones with ETAs and the evidence that will prove each one. After that it reports only when something meaningful changed, in a fixed shape (templates/status-digest.md). It holds itself to its own forecasts, and it watches for stalls. It ends with a done-audit that checks every claimed-done item against evidence.

When to use

• Work that will run longer than about 30 minutes, run unattended, or be delegated. The brief skill's report contract invokes this skill.
• The user asks for status or an ETA. Answer it, then fix the contract so they don't need to ask again (step 6).
• Before any "done", "ready" or "complete" claim (step 8).

Do not use it for short interactive tasks that the user is watching live.

Evidence levels

Use the weakest level that is true. Never round up.