| name | polishing-issues |
| description | Make a GitHub issue self-contained for a single feature/fix so any coding agent can execute it without back-and-forth. Focus on scope, file touchpoints, acceptance criteria, and validation. |
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
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
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
## 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.