Polish Issue Scope (Single Feature)
Goal: turn one issue into a complete, actionable spec for a single feature or fix. Keep it concise, technical, and executable without follow-up questions.
Use When
- •Issue is missing scope, acceptance criteria, or validation.
- •Issue references a feature/fix but lacks file touchpoints or constraints.
- •You need an execution-ready issue for a coding agent.
Do Not Use
- •Multi-epic planning or multi-sprint roadmaps.
- •Full product/spec interviews (use the interview skill for that).
Workflow
- •Fetch the issue
bash
gh issue view <number> --repo <owner/repo> --json title,body,labels,state,comments
- •Scan the codebase
- •Locate related files or patterns with
rg. - •Identify likely files to modify or create.
- •Note constraints (existing APIs, data models, UI patterns, tests).
- •Resolve blockers
- •Ask all blocking questions for the issue.
- •If not blocking, confirm assumptions with user before proceeding.
- •Draft a concise scope block
- •Keep to bullets, no fluff.
- •Provide enough context to implement without follow-up.
- •Show preview and confirm
- •Present exact markdown to append.
- •Wait for explicit approval before editing the issue.
- •Update the issue
bash
CURRENT_BODY=$(gh issue view <number> --repo <owner/repo> --json body -q .body) gh issue edit <number> --repo <owner/repo> --body "$CURRENT_BODY --- [scope block here]"
Scope Block Template
markdown
## Scope **Summary** - <1-2 sentence summary of the change> **Assumptions** - <explicit assumptions or defaults made> **Goals** - <what must be true when done> **Non-goals** - <explicitly out of scope> **User impact** - <who is affected and how> **Touchpoints** - Modify: `path/to/file.ts` - <why> - Create: `path/to/new-file.ts` - <why> **API/data changes** (if any) - <schema, endpoints, migrations> **Edge cases** - <list> **Acceptance criteria** - [ ] <testable outcome> - [ ] <testable outcome> **Validation** - Tests: `<command or file>` - Manual: <steps> **Task breakdown** (atomic, commit-ready) 1. <task title> - Inputs: <files/data/flags> - Outputs: <artifacts/changes> - Steps: <1-3 concrete steps> - Validation: <test or check> - Complexity: <1-10> 2. <task title> - Inputs: <files/data/flags> - Outputs: <artifacts/changes> - Steps: <1-3 concrete steps> - Validation: <test or check> - Complexity: <1-10> **Dependencies / risks** - <libs, feature flags, env vars, rollout concerns>
Rules
- •Prefer explicit file paths and code locations.
- •Each task must be small and independently verifiable.
- •Each task must include inputs/outputs and 1-3 concrete steps.
- •Complexity is a 1-10 estimate; split tasks above 7.
- •If there are multiple viable approaches, list them briefly and pick a recommendation unless the choice blocks implementation.
- •Avoid long narrative; keep it scannable.