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File Boundaries Skill

file-boundaries

Pattern for respecting file ownership boundaries during implementation. Prevents conflicts in parallel work.

SKILL.md

Full skill instructions

File Boundaries Skill

Pattern for respecting file ownership in parallel work.

When to Load This Skill

  • You are implementing code with defined boundaries
  • You're working in parallel with other agents
  • You need to avoid file conflicts

Boundary Rules

Files You OWN

boundaries:
  owns: [src/​auth/​login.ts, src/​auth/​logout.ts]

You CAN:

  • Read these files
  • Modify these files
  • Create new files in these paths
  • Delete these files

Files You READ

boundaries:
  reads: [src/​types/​user.ts, src/​utils/​crypto.ts]

You CAN:

  • Read these files for reference
  • Import from these files

You CANNOT:

  • Modify these files
  • If you need changes → report BLOCKED

Checking Boundaries

Before modifying any file:

  1. Is this file in my owns list?
  2. If NO → STOP, don't modify
  3. If need to modify → report BLOCKED with details

Reporting Boundary Violations

If you need to modify a file outside boundaries:

status: blocked
blocked_reason: boundary_violation
blocked_details:
  description: "Need to modify src/​types/​user.ts to add new type"
  needs: "Permission to modify or contract update"
  suggested_resolution: "Add UserSession type to user.ts"

Parallel Work Safety

Boundaries exist to enable parallel work:

  • Agent A owns src/​auth/
  • Agent B owns src/​api/
  • Both can work simultaneously without conflict

If boundaries are unclear or need changes:

  • STOP and report BLOCKED
  • Don't assume or proceed

Principles

  • Strict ownership - Only touch what you own
  • Explicit boundaries - No implicit permissions
  • Block, don't break - Report issues, don't work around

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