Exactly one mode:
- Prevention — unimplemented plans/designs/deps/safeguards
- Audit — existing source/tests/config/deps/architecture
- Finding triage — supplied recs that may add complexity
Fix before reviewing:
- target
- authority
- required behavior
- scope
Ask only when ambiguity changes those.
Targets immutable.
Before fixing the contract, read ADR conventions for paths and decision authority.
Only write: one adrs/work/<change>-decomplex.md unless an explicit output path overrides it.
Never edit reviewed artifacts (even if asked to fix).
Honor explicit no-write/chat-only requests with findings in chat. If a requested file cannot be written, disclose the limit; never claim it was saved.
Complexity trade-offs only.
Route defects/security/perf/plan-compliance to the owning workflow (e.g. code-review).
Simplicity ≠ fewer lines/helpers/deps.
Preserve evidenced:
- trust boundaries
- invariants
- compatibility
- lifecycle cleanup
- ops needs
Findings are advisory.
Consumer dispositions/implements/escalates.
“No potential complexity findings” is valid.
Consumers must:
- disposition every item
- never auto-implement
- ask user when in doubt

Admission gate (all required)

Evidence:

If the gate fails:

Never find on:

Prefer:

Sequence

Contract
- read ADR conventions and relevant accepted decisions
- mode
- target
- authority
- scope
- behavior
- report path
- constraints
- inspect callers/tests/config/history only as needed for the gate
Before candidates
- read references/complexity-gates.md fully
- contextual signals, not a quota checklist
Evaluate
- full gate each candidate
- order by expected simplification value
Recommend
- only: Act | Validate | Ask user
- do not perform the action
- triage mode: preserve every supplied ID
- triage dispositions: Act | Validate | Ask user | No action
Before write
- read assets/decomplex-review-template.md fully
- write exactly one report, or return it in chat under no-write constraints
- strip template guidance/empty sections
- keep inspected/skipped coverage + limitations
Verify
- requested report exists, or chat-only delivery/limit is explicit
- admitted items pass gate
- all triage IDs accounted
- no target file changed