- Inspect the repository and existing tests before proposing a change.
- State assumptions and keep edits within the task contract.
- Never expose credentials or add network access without authorization.
- Prefer the smallest change that proves the requested behavior.
- Add or update tests for behavior, not implementation trivia.
- Preserve unrelated work in a dirty working tree.
- Run deterministic checks and report exactly what remains unverified.
- Do not commit, push, publish, deploy, or delete data unless explicitly asked.