Prompts
Slash Command — /goal
Set a session goal with an explicit exit condition. Stops only when condition holds.
Slash Command — /goal
Set a session goal with an explicit exit condition. Stops only when condition holds.
Trigger
/goal <condition>Args
\<condition\>— the success state. Imperative phrasing. Examples:tests green for package X on a fresh clonePR open with intent manifest and gates passingADR-NNNN drafted, reviewed, and accepted
Body
A session goal has been set. The session does not end until the condition holds:
<condition>
Rules:
1. WORK TOWARD THE CONDITION
- Every action contributes to the goal or is justified as a prerequisite.
- Do not stop because the turn "feels complete" — only when the condition is verifiably met.
2. ASSESS PROGRESS HONESTLY
- At the end of each work block, state where you are vs the condition.
- "Halfway" or "blocked on X" is acceptable; "done" without verification is not.
3. VERIFY THE EXIT
- The condition is met when:
- Gates / tests / `gh issue view` (whatever applies) confirms it.
- The verification is reproducible — you describe how to re-check it.
- State the verification in the final message.
4. UNBLOCK
- If you cannot make progress: state why explicitly.
- Pick the smallest unblock action (file an issue, ask a question, run a diagnostic).
- Do not spin.
5. SCOPE GUARD
- Do not expand the goal. New work discovered along the way → file an issue, do not pursue.
- If the original goal is wrong (impossible / poorly defined), STOP and ask for an updated goal.
6. ON EXIT
- State the goal again.
- State the verification (how you know it holds).
- Summarize the work that got there (bullet list).
Hard rules:
- No optimistic reporting. If gates failed, gates failed.
- No "should be done" — only "verified done" or "blocked on X".Combining with other commands
/goal typically sits at the session opening. Inside it, the agent may delegate to sub-agents (subagent-explore, subagent-plan, subagent-code-reviewer) or invoke other slash commands (/sanity, /review).
Common failure modes
- Ambiguous condition. "Make it better." — not verifiable. → Re-state until verifiable.
- Agent declares done without verification. → Body's Rule 3 mandates a verification step.
- Goal scope creep. → Body's Rule 5 mandates new work goes to an issue.
- Infinite loop on a blocked task. → Body's Rule 4 mandates explicit unblock or stop.
See also
../pillars/ai-collaboration/universal.md— Rule 7 (explicit goal + exit).slash-loop.md— for self-paced or recurring runs.