# Issue tracker: Local Markdown

Issues and specs for this repo live as markdown files in `.scratch/`.

## Conventions

- One feature per directory: `.scratch/<feature-slug>/`
- The spec is `.scratch/<feature-slug>/spec.md`
- Implementation issues are one file per ticket at `.scratch/<feature-slug>/issues/<NN>-<slug>.md`, numbered from `01`, never a single combined tickets file
- Triage state is recorded as a `Status:` line near the top of each issue file (see `triage-labels.md` for the role strings)
- Comments and conversation history append to the bottom of the file under a `## Comments` heading

## Field lines

The tracker panel matches these lines with a line-start pattern, so write them plain — no bolding, no list bullet, no blockquote:

    Status: ready-for-agent
    Type: research
    Blocked by: 09, 13
    Label: wayfinder:map

`**Status:** …` and the other bolded variants are not recognised. A ticket written that way is read as open, with no `Blocked by` edges and no assignee state, so the whole effort renders as a flat, all-open board. Field lines are the only lines held to this rule: `**What to build:**` and similar body lead-ins are free-form.

`Blocked by:` takes `None` or a comma-separated list of ticket numbers (`09, 13`). Any other number on that line is also read as a ticket reference, so keep prose and counts off it. `Category:` is free text and is not parsed.

## Efforts the panel can see

The panel enumerates an effort only when `.scratch/<effort>/map.md` exists. A directory that holds `spec.md` and `issues/` but no `map.md` is skipped entirely and none of its tickets are listed. Give an effort a `map.md` when it should be visible to the panel.

## When a skill says "publish to the issue tracker"

Create a new file under `.scratch/<feature-slug>/` (creating the directory if needed).

## When a skill says "fetch the relevant ticket"

Read the file at the referenced path. The user will normally pass the path or the issue number directly.

## Wayfinding operations

Used by `/wayfinder`. The **map** is a file with one **child** file per ticket.

- **Map**: `.scratch/<effort>/map.md` (the Notes / Decisions-so-far / Fog body).
- **Child ticket**: `.scratch/<effort>/issues/NN-<slug>.md`, numbered from `01`, with the question in the body. A `Type:` line records the ticket type (`research`/`prototype`/`grilling`/`task`); a `Status:` line records `claimed`/`resolved`.
- **Blocking**: a `Blocked by: NN, NN` line near the top. A ticket is unblocked when every file it lists is `resolved`.
- **Frontier**: scan `.scratch/<effort>/issues/` for files that are open, unblocked, and unclaimed; first by number wins.
- **Claim**: set `Status: claimed` and save before any work.
- **Resolve**: append the answer under an `## Answer` heading, set `Status: resolved`, then append a context pointer (gist + link) to the map's Decisions-so-far in `map.md`.

## Repo note

This working tree is a usable git checkout with an `origin` remote configured, and `.scratch/` is tracked by git. The tracker in use is still this local Markdown backend. If that remote becomes the actual work tracker, re-run `/setup-matt-pocock-skills` to switch this configuration.