aoa-change-protocol

Intent

Use a visible, bounded workflow for non-trivial changes so the result remains reviewable and safer.

Trigger boundary

Use this skill when:

• the change affects code, config, docs, or operational surfaces in a meaningful way
• the task benefits from an explicit plan and verification path
• the task touches more than a trivial wording fix

Do not use this skill when:

• the edit is tiny and has no meaningful review or operational consequence
• a more specific risk skill should be used instead

Inputs

• target goal
• touched files or surfaces
• main risk
• intended validation path
• rollback idea

Outputs

• explicit plan
• scoped change
• named verification result
• concise final report

Procedure

1. state the goal and touched surfaces
2. identify the main risk and think about rollback before editing
3. prepare the smallest reviewable change
4. avoid unrelated cleanup or opportunistic refactors
5. apply the change inside the declared scope
6. run or name explicit verification
7. report what changed, what was verified, and what remains risky

Contracts

• the change must remain reviewable
• verification must be explicit, not implied
• the change should stay inside the declared scope
• rollback thinking should exist before apply

Risks and anti-patterns

• over-formalizing trivial edits
• symbolic verification that creates false safety
• using the report as a substitute for a readable diff
• silently expanding the task during implementation

Verification

• confirm a plan existed before apply
• confirm the change stayed scoped
• confirm at least one explicit verification step was run or intentionally skipped with explanation
• confirm the report includes outcome and rollback thinking

Technique traceability

Manifest-backed techniques:

• AOA-T-0001 from 8Dionysus/aoa-techniques at ea49abf4f7e96506feed56eb87a9052cbe4408a5 using path techniques/agent-workflows/plan-diff-apply-verify-report/TECHNIQUE.md and sections: Intent, When to use, Inputs, Outputs, Core procedure, Contracts, Risks, Validation
• AOA-T-0002 from 8Dionysus/aoa-techniques at ea49abf4f7e96506feed56eb87a9052cbe4408a5 using path techniques/docs/source-of-truth-layout/TECHNIQUE.md and sections: summary

Adaptation points

Project overlays should add:

• local source-of-truth files
• local validation commands
• local risk tiers
• approval or review rules