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SmallNoc/noc-living-docs

Living docs protocol and Codex skill for keeping AI-assisted code changes, requirements, status, guardrails, tests, and change records in sync.

What is noc-living-docs?

noc-living-docs is a Codex agent skill that living docs protocol and Codex skill for keeping AI-assisted code changes, requirements, status, guardrails, tests, and change records in sync.

Works with~Claude Code✓Codex CLI~Cursor
npx skills add SmallNoc/noc-living-docs

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Documentation

Project Living Docs

Use NOC Living Docs as executable project memory. Route through noc_docs/, read only the affected docs, update the living docs when code or intent changes, then verify with the CLI.

Trigger

Use this skill for:

  • initializing or migrating noc_docs/
  • discussing a requirement and then changing code
  • new features, bug fixes, refactors, API/data/security/deployment changes
  • checking whether code changes need docs updates
  • querying or auditing project living docs

Do not use it for general questions that do not involve project memory, code behavior, requirements, guardrails, tests, or NOC documentation.

Execution

  1. Identify affected feature/domain from the request, changed paths, and noc_docs/.living-docs/feature-map.json.
  2. Run a work plan when code may change:
python scripts/noc.py work /path/to/project --feature <feature> --intent "<agreed requirement>"

Use --path <code/path> when paths are clearer than feature names.

  1. Read the smallest relevant docs: agent-guide.md, requirements.md, status.md, guardrails.md, test-record.md, plus domain guardrails when present.
  2. Write confirmed new/changed intent to requirements.md; put uncertain discussion in notes.md.
  3. Change code.
  4. Update status.md, test-record.md, change-record.md, and guardrails.md when behavior, verification, important changes, or constraints changed.
  5. Run python scripts/noc.py index <project> after docs, feature, or mapping changes.
  6. Run python scripts/noc.py check <project> --staged --warn-only before commit when Git is available.

For detailed workflow rules, read references/workflow.md.

Do Not Proceed

Stop and ask the user before editing code when:

  • the request conflicts with guardrails.md or domain guardrails
  • product intent conflicts with requirements.md and the intended direction is unclear
  • affected feature/domain cannot be identified and the change is not obviously global
  • required docs are missing and the task depends on unknown requirements or constraints
  • the user asks to silently rewrite requirements to match current code
  • the change touches security, permissions, billing, data loss, migrations, or public API contracts and the requested behavior is ambiguous

Definition Of Done

A task using this skill is done only when:

  • affected docs were identified through feature map, paths, or explicit feature name
  • required docs were read or missing docs were called out
  • code changes and docs changes agree
  • requirements.md changed only for intended behavior changes
  • status.md reflects current behavior after code changes
  • test-record.md records verification or explains why verification was not run
  • change-record.md records important implementation changes
  • indexes/checks were run when available, or skipped with reason

Final Response Format

End with:

NOC Living Docs:
- docs checked:
- docs updated:
- docs intentionally unchanged:
- commands run:
- tests run:
- remaining risks:

Keep the lists short. Use none when a category does not apply.

References

  • references/workflow.md: mode selection, fallback rules, conflict handling, work loop
  • references/feature-doc-template.md: what each feature doc should contain
  • references/domain-mode-guide.md: when and how to use domain mode
  • references/codex-prompts.md: recommended user prompts for Codex plan/goal/code workflows

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