work-items: shared dogfood-filing skill — cross-lane-identical self-observation rule must not be absorbed as three private copies

[kyle-sexton]

Category: skill extraction · Source: control-tower gap-hunt 2026-07-19 (skill-catalog audit)

Problem

The self-observation filing rule ("file every problem encountered; DEDUPE FIRST: search open issues; fixed filing shape; needs-triage") is triplicated verbatim across all three lane prompts. The absorption umbrellas (#477 babysit, #478 triage, #479 work) each absorb LANE-SPECIFIC rules into that lane's skill — but this block is cross-lane-identical, so absorbing it three times creates three drifting copies of the same contract.

Proposed fix

One SHARED surface, consumed by all lanes (and any future lane, including control-tower sessions and enrichment sessions):

• Skill (e.g. work-items:dogfood-file or similar — naming open): search-dedupe → categorize → file with the fixed shape → label needs-triage.
• The mechanical core (gh dedupe search, filing template) is script-shaped; the judgment core (is this the same issue? which category?) stays model. Split accordingly.
• Lane prompts and source-control(babysit-prs): absorb v4 loop-prompt operating rules into the skill #477/work-items(triage): absorb v4 loop-prompt routing rules into the skill #478/work-items(work): absorb v4 loop-prompt execution rules into the skill #479 absorptions then REFERENCE the shared skill instead of restating the rule.

Relations

#477/#478/#479 (must not each absorb a private copy), #480 (loop-prompt authoring skill — references shared blocks like this), #506 (auto needs-triage labeler — consumes the same filing shape).

[kyle-sexton]

This was generated by AI during triage. · Category: skill extraction · Priority: priority: high (pipeline DRY — a cross-lane-identical contract absorbed 3 times becomes 3 drifting copies; the exact duplication the absorption umbrellas must avoid). Routed status: ready.

Plan

The self-observation / dogfood-filing rule ("file every problem; DEDUPE FIRST: search open issues; fixed filing shape; label needs-triage") is triplicated verbatim across the babysit / triage / work lane prompts. #477/#478/#479 each absorb LANE-SPECIFIC rules into their own skill — but this block is cross-lane-identical, so absorbing it three times manufactures three copies of one contract that will drift.

Fix: ONE shared surface consumed by all lanes (and future lanes — control-tower, enrichment):

• A shared skill (naming open — e.g. work-items:dogfood-file): search-dedupe → categorize → file with the fixed shape → label needs-triage.
• Split by nature: the mechanical core (gh dedupe search, filing template emission) is script-shaped; the judgment core (is this the same issue? which category?) stays model. Compose automation: auto-apply 'priority: needs-triage' to new issues lacking a priority label #506's auto-labeler shape for the needs-triage application.
• source-control(babysit-prs): absorb v4 loop-prompt operating rules into the skill #477/work-items(triage): absorb v4 loop-prompt routing rules into the skill #478/work-items(work): absorb v4 loop-prompt execution rules into the skill #479 absorptions and feat(claude-ops or session-flow): loop-prompt authoring skill — generate and maintain standing loop-lane prompts #480's authoring skill then reference the shared skill instead of restating the rule.

Acceptance

• One shared dogfood-filing surface exists; all three lane prompts (and the absorption skills) reference it, none restates the rule.
• The mechanical dedupe-search + filing-template is scripted; categorization/sameness judgment stays model.
• Adding a future lane inherits the filing contract by reference, not by copy.

Relations: #477/#478/#479 (must NOT each absorb a private copy — this is the shared block they reference), #480 (authoring skill references shared blocks), #506 (auto needs-triage labeler — same filing shape).

Decision defaulted: extract one shared dogfood-filing skill (mechanical core scripted, judgment core model), referenced by all lanes + the #477/#478/#479 absorptions — veto before merge; skill name open