SkillDevelopment & Engineering
Trace a request through a codebase
Follow one request from entry point to storage or external boundary with concrete file references.
✳Claude Code
By Dave AIDave AI original
MIT · FreeView skill
Installable skillCC-BY-4.0
the-honoured-one — Full Context Load Protocol
Forces the AI to fully load context and read relevant files before performing complex, multi-file tasks, architectural changes, or debugging. Prevents acting on assumptions.
instructions.md
--- name: the-honoured-one description: "Forces the AI to fully load context and read relevant files before performing complex, multi-file tasks, architectural changes, or debugging. Prevents acting on assumptions." risk: safe source: community date_added: "2026-06-25" --- # the-honoured-one — Full Context Load Protocol ## Overview > Gojo at full power means all six eyes open — everything visible, nothing assumed, no blind spots. The Honoured One doesn't act on guesses. This skill enforces the same: the AI must earn the right to act by reading and understanding first. The most common AI coding failure is **confident wrongness** — the AI proposes or implements something based on how it assumes the code is structured, not how it actually is. It gets the architecture wrong, uses a pattern inconsistent with the rest of the codebase, or integrates with a module it never actually opened. This skill reduces that failure mode by making relevant context-loading explicit; reading alone cannot guarantee correctness. --- ## When to Use This Skill - Use when modifying multiple files in an existing codebase - Use when designing or modifying a system component - Use when adding a feature that integrates with existing code - Use when debugging a system or component the AI has not yet read - Use when the AI would need to assume how existing code is structured - **DO NOT** use for isolated single-file tasks where the file has already been read --- ## How It Works ### PHASE 1 — Context Audit When given any complex task, the AI must immediately perform a context audit before proposing anything. It declares: 1. **What files are relevant to this task?** — Every file that will be read, changed, or is upstream/downstream of the change 2. **Which of those has the AI actually read this session?** — Honest accounting, no assumptions 3. **What gaps exist?** — Files that are relevant but unread The AI outputs this before doing anything else: ``` THE HONOURED ONE — CONTEXT AUDIT ───────────────────────────────────────── Task: [what was asked] Relevant files identified: - src/auth/middleware.ts → [why relevant] - src/routes/user.ts → [why relevant] - src/models/user.model.ts → [why relevant] - src/utils/token.ts → [why relevant] Files read this session: - src/routes/user.ts → ✓ read Unread but relevant (blind spots): - src/auth/middleware.ts → ✗ not read - src/models/user.model.ts → ✗ not read - src/utils/token.ts → ✗ not read ───────────────────────────────────────── Cannot proceed — reading blind spots now. ``` > **The AI cannot propose a solution, make a plan, or write any code while blind spots exist.** --- ### PHASE 2 — Mandatory Read Pass The AI reads every file listed as a blind spot. Not summaries, not assumptions based on filename or folder structure — actual reads. Rules for this phase: - If a file imports from another file that is also relevant, that file gets added to the read list - If reading a file reveals unexpected structure or patterns, the AI notes this before continuing - The AI does not form opinions or solutions while reading — this phase is observation only > **Shortcut rule:** The AI cannot say "I'm familiar with this pattern so I don't need to read it." Familiarity with a pattern is not familiarity with this codebase's implementation of it. --- ### PHASE 3 — Orientation Statement After all relevant files are read, the AI outputs an orientation statement before proposing anything. This is its proof that it understands the codebase well enough to act: ``` THE HONOURED ONE — CONTEXT LOADED ───────────────────────────────────────── Files read: [complete list] Current architecture (what I now know): [2-3 sentences describing how the relevant system actually works, based on what was read — not assumed] What this task touches: - [file/component 1] → [how it's involved] - [file/component 2] → [how it's involved] Existing patterns I must follow: - [naming convention / error handling style / structure pattern observed] - [any other conventions seen in the actual code] Remaining unknowns: - [anything still unclear — or "None, ready to proceed"] ───────────────────────────────────────── ``` --- ### PHASE 4 — Confidence Gate After the orientation statement, the AI applies a confidence gate before acting: **If "Remaining unknowns" is empty:** → Proceed. The AI is fully loaded and may propose a solution or begin work. **If "Remaining unknowns" is non-empty:** → Resolve unknowns that affect correctness, safety or authorization before dependent work. Independent reversible work can continue with documented non-blocking assumptions. Options: - Ask the user the specific question - Read another file that would answer it - Acknowledge the unknown, state the assumption being made, and get user confirmation before continuing > **Do not conceal material blind spots.** Identify what remains unread or unverified, explain its impact, and avoid dependent claims until resolved. --- ## Self-Ask Before Acting Before writing any code or making any proposal, the AI must answer: | # | Question | Required | |---|---|---| | 1 | Have I read every file this task touches? | Yes — or stop and read | | 2 | Do I understand how this codebase handles [relevant pattern]? | Yes, from reading — not assuming | | 3 | Am I following the conventions I actually observed in the code? | Yes — or flag the deviation | | 4 | Do I have any remaining blind spots? | No — or resolve them first | --- ## Hard Rules (Never Violated) - **No proposing solutions before reading.** Proposals based on assumptions are not proposals — they are guesses. - **No "I assume this file does X."** If you haven't read it, you don't know what it does. - **No skipping files because their names look obvious.** A file called `utils.ts` can contain anything. - **No importing or calling code from files that haven't been read.** You cannot use what you haven't seen. - **No "familiar pattern" shortcuts.** The pattern may be implemented differently here. - **No acting on unresolved blocking unknowns.** Resolve them before dependent work; do not equate exhaustive repository reading with complete knowledge. --- ## What This Skill Prevents - AI proposing integration with a module structured completely differently than assumed - AI using naming conventions inconsistent with the rest of the codebase - AI calling functions that don't exist because it assumed they would be there - AI making architectural decisions that conflict with patterns already established in the code - AI confidently implementing the wrong thing and needing a full redo --- ## Quick Reference | Phase | Action | May Propose/Code? | |---|---|---| | 1 — Audit | List relevant files, identify blind spots | ❌ No | | 2 — Read | Read all blind spot files | ❌ No | | 3 — Orient | Output orientation statement | ❌ No | | 4 — Gate | Confirm no unknowns remain | ✅ Yes, if gate passes | --- ## Trigger Phrases - "add this feature to the existing code" - "integrate X with Y" - "modify how [system] works" - "refactor this" - "why is this not working" (on unread code) - Any task touching more than one file - Any task where the AI would need to know how existing code is structured to do it correctly --- ## Examples *(Examples of the Context Audit and Orientation Statement output are provided inline within Phase 1 and Phase 3 above.)* --- ## Best Practices - ✅ **Do:** Ensure all blind spots are read before proceeding. - ✅ **Do:** Confirm the AI's orientation statement matches reality. - ❌ **Don't:** Allow the AI to skip reading just because a file name seems obvious. --- ## Common Pitfalls - **Problem:** The AI assumes an implementation matches a common pattern without reading it. **Solution:** Enforce Phase 2 (Mandatory Read Pass) without exceptions. --- ## Related Skills - `@brainstorming` - Use before execution to figure out what needs to be built. - `@not-a-vibe-coder` - Use for entirely new projects, whereas this skill is for existing ones. --- ## Limitations - This skill requires more token usage due to reading multiple files upfront. - It may slow down the initial response time before the AI starts coding. - The AI might end up reading more files than strictly necessary if the dependency chain is deep. - Does not replace the need for the user to verify the final code.--- name: the-honoured-one description: "Forces the AI to fully load context and read relevant files before performing complex, multi-file tasks, architectural changes, or debugging. Prevents acting on assumptions." risk: safe source: community date_added: "2026-06-25" --- # the-honoured-one — Full Context Load Protocol ## Overview > Gojo at full power means all six eyes open — everything visible, nothing assumed, no blind spots. The Honoured One doesn't act on guesses. This skill enforces the same: the AI must earn the right to act by reading and understanding first. The most common AI coding failure is **confident wrongness** — the AI proposes or implements something based on how it assumes the code is structured, not how it actually is. It gets the architecture wrong, uses a pattern inconsistent with the rest of the codebase, or integrates with a module it never actually opened. This skill reduces that failure mode by making relevant context-loading explicit; reading alone cannot guarantee correctness. --- ## When to Use This Skill - Use when modifying multiple files in an existing codebase - Use when designing or modifying a system component - Use when adding a feature that integrates with existing code - Use when debugging a system or component the AI has not yet read - Use when the AI would need to assume how existing code is structured - **DO NOT** use for isolated single-file tasks where the file has already been read --- ## How It Works ### PHASE 1 — Context Audit When given any complex task, the AI must immediately perform a context audit before proposing anything. It declares: 1. **What files are relevant to this task?** — Every file that will be read, changed, or is upstream/downstream of the change 2. **Which of those has the AI actually read this session?** — Honest accounting, no assumptions 3. **What gaps exist?** — Files that are relevant but unread The AI outputs this before doing anything else: ``` THE HONOURED ONE — CONTEXT AUDIT ───────────────────────────────────────── Task: [what was asked] Relevant files identified: - src/auth/middleware.ts → [why relevant] - src/routes/user.ts → [why relevant] - src/models/user.model.ts → [why relevant] - src/utils/token.ts → [why relevant] Files read this session: - src/routes/user.ts → ✓ read Unread but relevant (blind spots): - src/auth/middleware.ts → ✗ not read - src/models/user.model.ts → ✗ not read - src/utils/token.ts → ✗ not read ───────────────────────────────────────── Cannot proceed — reading blind spots now. ``` > **The AI cannot propose a solution, make a plan, or write any code while blind spots exist.** --- ### PHASE 2 — Mandatory Read Pass The AI reads every file listed as a blind spot. Not summaries, not assumptions based on filename or folder structure — actual reads. Rules for this phase: - If a file imports from another file that is also relevant, that file gets added to the read list - If reading a file reveals unexpected structure or patterns, the AI notes this before continuing - The AI does not form opinions or solutions while reading — this phase is observation only > **Shortcut rule:** The AI cannot say "I'm familiar with this pattern so I don't need to read it." Familiarity with a pattern is not familiarity with this codebase's implementation of it. --- ### PHASE 3 — Orientation Statement After all relevant files are read, the AI outputs an orientation statement before proposing anything. This is its proof that it understands the codebase well enough to act: ``` THE HONOURED ONE — CONTEXT LOADED ───────────────────────────────────────── Files read: [complete list] Current architecture (what I now know): [2-3 sentences describing how the relevant system actually works, based on what was read — not assumed] What this task touches: - [file/component 1] → [how it's involved] - [file/component 2] → [how it's involved] Existing patterns I must follow: - [naming convention / error handling style / structure pattern observed] - [any other conventions seen in the actual code] Remaining unknowns: - [anything still unclear — or "None, ready to proceed"] ───────────────────────────────────────── ``` --- ### PHASE 4 — Confidence Gate After the orientation statement, the AI applies a confidence gate before acting: **If "Remaining unknowns" is empty:** → Proceed. The AI is fully loaded and may propose a solution or begin work. **If "Remaining unknowns" is non-empty:** → Resolve unknowns that affect correctness, safety or authorization before dependent work. Independent reversible work can continue with documented non-blocking assumptions. Options: - Ask the user the specific question - Read another file that would answer it - Acknowledge the unknown, state the assumption being made, and get user confirmation before continuing > **Do not conceal material blind spots.** Identify what remains unread or unverified, explain its impact, and avoid dependent claims until resolved. --- ## Self-Ask Before Acting Before writing any code or making any proposal, the AI must answer: | # | Question | Required | |---|---|---| | 1 | Have I read every file this task touches? | Yes — or stop and read | | 2 | Do I understand how this codebase handles [relevant pattern]? | Yes, from reading — not assuming | | 3 | Am I following the conventions I actually observed in the code? | Yes — or flag the deviation | | 4 | Do I have any remaining blind spots? | No — or resolve them first | --- ## Hard Rules (Never Violated) - **No proposing solutions before reading.** Proposals based on assumptions are not proposals — they are guesses. - **No "I assume this file does X."** If you haven't read it, you don't know what it does. - **No skipping files because their names look obvious.** A file called `utils.ts` can contain anything. - **No importing or calling code from files that haven't been read.** You cannot use what you haven't seen. - **No "familiar pattern" shortcuts.** The pattern may be implemented differently here. - **No acting on unresolved blocking unknowns.** Resolve them before dependent work; do not equate exhaustive repository reading with complete knowledge. --- ## What This Skill Prevents - AI proposing integration with a module structured completely differently than assumed - AI using naming conventions inconsistent with the rest of the codebase - AI calling functions that don't exist because it assumed they would be there - AI making architectural decisions that conflict with patterns already established in the code - AI confidently implementing the wrong thing and needing a full redo --- ## Quick Reference | Phase | Action | May Propose/Code? | |---|---|---| | 1 — Audit | List relevant files, identify blind spots | ❌ No | | 2 — Read | Read all blind spot files | ❌ No | | 3 — Orient | Output orientation statement | ❌ No | | 4 — Gate | Confirm no unknowns remain | ✅ Yes, if gate passes | --- ## Trigger Phrases - "add this feature to the existing code" - "integrate X with Y" - "modify how [system] works" - "refactor this" - "why is this not working" (on unread code) - Any task touching more than one file - Any task where the AI would need to know how existing code is structured to do it correctly --- ## Examples *(Examples of the Context Audit and Orientation Statement output are provided inline within Phase 1 and Phase 3 above.)* --- ## Best Practices - ✅ **Do:** Ensure all blind spots are read before proceeding. - ✅ **Do:** Confirm the AI's orientation statement matches reality. - ❌ **Don't:** Allow the AI to skip reading just because a file name seems obvious. --- ## Common Pitfalls - **Problem:** The AI assumes an implementation matches a common pattern without reading it. **Solution:** Enforce Phase 2 (Mandatory Read Pass) without exceptions. --- ## Related Skills - `@brainstorming` - Use before execution to figure out what needs to be built. - `@not-a-vibe-coder` - Use for entirely new projects, whereas this skill is for existing ones. --- ## Limitations - This skill requires more token usage due to reading multiple files upfront. - It may slow down the initial response time before the AI starts coding. - The AI might end up reading more files than strictly necessary if the dependency chain is deep. - Does not replace the need for the user to verify the final code.
COMPATIBILITY & REFERENCES
Platform guidance
Imported SKILL.md format for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor. Review the complete instructions and required tools before use. Package integrity checked; individual agent behavior has not been tested.