Purpose
Validate output-style manifests so that preferred output styles selected via /output-style remain consistent with rules/98-output-styles.md and rules/98-communication-protocol.md.
Ensure each style manifest has correct frontmatter, clearly documented behavior, and does not weaken protocol invariants around safety, correctness, or structure.
IO Semantics
Input: Output-style manifest files under output-styles/*.md in the user workspace.
Output: Governance findings and suggested fixes for style manifests (for example, missing fields, protocol violations, or unclear behavior descriptions).
Side Effects: None directly; orchestration commands such as /llm-governance handle backups and writeback when applying suggested fixes.
Deterministic Steps
1. Target Discovery
- •Locate output-style manifests in:
- •
output-styles/*.mdwhen running inside the user workspace (~/.claude)
- •
2. Frontmatter Validation
- •Check that each manifest contains:
- •
name: non-empty, lowercase identifier without spaces. - •
description: concise human-readable description of the style. - •
keep-coding-instructions: boolean flag.
- •
- •Flag manifests that:
- •Omit required fields.
- •Use identifiers that conflict with existing core styles or are ambiguous.
3. Protocol and Rule Compliance
- •Scan manifest bodies for instructions that conflict with:
- •Absolute prohibitions in
rules/98-communication-protocol.md(for example, emotional language or small talk if disallowed). - •Invariants and constraints in
rules/98-output-styles.md(for example, attempts to weaken safety or encourage vague answers).
- •Absolute prohibitions in
- •Verify that manifests explicitly treat style instructions as additive to protocol invariants rather than replacements.
- •Flag any instructions that attempt to override or ignore protocol prohibitions.
4. Style Behavior Clarity
- •Check that each style manifest:
- •States whether it builds on a core style (for example, default, explanatory, learning) or defines a new core style.
- •Describes typical interaction patterns (for example, concise coding, explanatory insights, teaching interactions).
- •Avoids unnecessary narrative unrelated to style behavior.
- •Recommend improvements where style behavior is ambiguous or underspecified.
5. Integration with Governance Workflows
- •When invoked by
agent:llm-governanceor/llm-governance:- •Provide a structured list of findings per manifest (missing fields, violations, ambiguities).
- •Suggest minimal, deterministic edits that bring manifests into compliance with
rules/98-output-styles.mdand protocol rules.
Validation Criteria
- •All governed manifests include valid
name,description, andkeep-coding-instructionsfields. - •No manifest contains instructions that contradict
rules/98-communication-protocol.mdorrules/98-output-styles.md. - •Core styles (default, explanatory, learning) are present and consistent with their rule definitions when used.
- •Extended styles document their relationship to core styles and keep technical behavior aligned with protocol invariants.