Preparing Work

Apply the SpecGate operating contract. This phase produces an approved implementation handoff; it never implements product code.

1. Define the contract and route

Read the request, governing repository instructions, and author-selected source documents. Show the human the exact title, description, observable acceptance criteria, and non-goals. Split work that can be accepted independently. Use an @check:<name> binding only when the human confirms that exact deterministic check.

Choose one route with the human:

• Quick work for a small change that does not need a governed source snapshot.
• Artifact-backed work when an existing spec, design, plan, verification document, or other source must be versioned and approved.