create-control-manifest

---
name: create-control-manifest
description: After architecture is complete, produces a flat actionable rules sheet for programmers — what you must do, what you must never do, per system and per layer. Extracted from all Accepted ADRs, technical preferences, and engine reference docs. More immediately actionable than ADRs (which explain why).
license: MIT
---

# Create Control Manifest

The Control Manifest is a flat, actionable rules sheet for programmers. It
answers "what do I do?" and "what must I never do?" — organized by architectural
layer, extracted from all Accepted ADRs, technical preferences, and engine
reference docs. Where ADRs explain *why*, the manifest tells you *what*.

**Output:** `docs/architecture/control-manifest.md`

**When to run:** After `/architecture-review` passes and ADRs are in Accepted
status. Re-run whenever new ADRs are accepted or existing ADRs are revised.

---

## 1. Load All Inputs

### ADRs
- Glob `docs/architecture/adr-*.md` and read every file
- Filter to only Accepted ADRs (Status: Accepted) — skip Proposed, Deprecated,
  Superseded
- Note the ADR number and title for every rule sourced

### Technical Preferences
- Read `.claude/docs/technical-preferences.md`
- Extract: naming conventions, performance budgets, approved libraries/addons,
  forbidden patterns

### Engine Reference
- Read `docs/engine-reference/[engine]/VERSION.md` for engine + version
- Read `docs/engine-reference/[engine]/deprecated-apis.md` — these become
  forbidden API entries
- Read `docs/engine-reference/[engine]/current-best-practices.md` if it exists

Report: "Loaded [N] Accepted ADRs, engine: [name + version]."

---

## 2. Extract Rules from Each ADR

For each Accepted ADR, extract:

### Required Patterns (from "Implementation Guidelines" section)
- Every "must", "should", "required to", "always" statement
- Every specific pattern or approach mandated

### Forbidden Approaches (from "Alternatives Considered" sections)
- Every alternative that was explicitly rejected — *why* it was rejected becomes
  the rule ("never use X because Y")
- Any anti-patterns explicitly called out

### Performance Guardrails (from "Performance Implications" section)
- Budget constraints: "max N ms per frame for this system"
- Memory limits: "this system must not exceed N MB"

### Engine API Constraints (from "Engine Compatibility" section)
- Post-cutoff APIs that require verification
- Verified behaviours that differ from default LLM assumptions
- API fields or methods that behave differently in the pinned engine version

### Layer Classification
Classify each rule by the architectural layer of the system it governs:
- **Foundation**: Scene management, event architecture, save/load, engine init
- **Core**: Core gameplay loops, main player systems, physics/collision
- **Feature**: Secondary systems, secondary mechanics, AI
- **Presentation**: Rendering, audio, UI, VFX, shaders

If an ADR spans multiple layers, duplicate the rule into each relevant layer.

---

## 3. Add Global Rules

Combine rules that apply to all layers:

### From technical-preferences.md:
- Naming conventions (classes, variables, signals/events, files, constants)
- Performance budgets (target framerate, frame budget, draw call limits, memory ceiling)

### From deprecated-apis.md:
- All deprecated APIs → Forbidden API entries

### From current-best-practices.md (if available):
- Engine-recommended patterns → Required entries

### From technical-preferences.md forbidden patterns:
- Copy any "Forbidden Patterns" entries directly

---

## 4. Present Rules Summary Before Writing

Before writing the manifest, present a summary to the user:

```
## Control Manifest Preview
Engine: [name + version]
ADRs covered: [list ADR numbers]
Total rules extracted:
  - Foundation layer: [N] required, [M] forbidden, [P] guardrails
  - Core layer: [N] required, [M] forbidden, [P] guardrails
  - Feature layer: ...
  - Presentation layer: ...
  - Global: [N] naming conventions, [M] forbidden APIs, [P] approved libraries
```

Use `AskUserQuestion`:
- Prompt: "Does this rule summary look complete?"
- Options:
  - `[A] Yes — looks good, run the director review and write the manifest`
  - `[B] Add rules — I have additional rules to include before writing`
  - `[C] Remove rules — some extracted rules should be dropped`
  - `[D] Stop here — I need to review the ADRs first`

---

## 4b. Director Gate — Technical Review

**Review mode check** — apply before spawning TD-MANIFEST:
- `solo` → skip. Note: "TD-MANIFEST skipped — Solo mode." Proceed to Phase 5.
- `lean` → skip. Note: "TD-MANIFEST skipped — Lean mode." Proceed to Phase 5.
- `full` → spawn as normal.

Spawn `technical-director` via Task using gate **TD-MANIFEST** (`.claude/docs/director-gates.md`).

Pass: the Control Manifest Preview from Phase 4 (rule counts per layer, full extracted rule list), the list of ADRs covered, engine version, and any rules sourced from technical-preferences.md or engine reference docs.

The technical-director reviews whether:
- All mandatory ADR patterns are captured and accurately stated
- Forbidden approaches are complete and correctly attributed
- No rules were added that lack a source ADR or preference document
- Performance guardrails are consistent with the ADR constraints

Apply the verdict:
- **APPROVE** → proceed to Phase 5
- **CONCERNS** → surface via `AskUserQuestion` with options: `Revise flagged rules` / `Accept and proceed` / `Discuss further`
- **REJECT** → do not write the manifest; fix the flagged rules and re-present the summary

---

## 5. Write the Control Manifest

Use `AskUserQuestion`:
- Prompt: "May I write the Control Manifest?"
- Options:
  - `[A] Yes — write to docs/architecture/control-manifest.md`
  - `[B] Show me the full draft first, then ask again`
  - `[C] Not yet — I want to make more changes`

Format:

```markdown
# Control Manifest

> **Engine**: [name + version]
> **Last Updated**: [date]
> **Manifest Version**: [date]
> **ADRs Covered**: [ADR-NNNN, ADR-MMMM, ...]
> **Status**: [Active — regenerate with `/create-control-manifest update` when ADRs change]

`Manifest Version` is the date this manifest was generated. Story files embed
this date when created. `/story-readiness` compares a story's embedded version
to this field to detect stories written against stale rules. Always matches
`Last Updated` — they are the same date, serving different consumers.

This manifest is a programmer's quick-reference extracted from all Accepted ADRs,
technical preferences, and engine reference docs. For the reasoning behind each
rule, see the referenced ADR.

---

## Foundation Layer Rules

*Applies to: scene management, event architecture, save/load, engine initialisation*

### Required Patterns
- **[rule]** — source: [ADR-NNNN]
- **[rule]** — source: [ADR-NNNN]

### Forbidden Approaches
- **Never [anti-pattern]** — [brief reason] — source: [ADR-NNNN]

### Performance Guardrails
- **[system]**: max [N]ms/frame — source: [ADR-NNNN]

---

## Core Layer Rules

*Applies to: core gameplay loop, main player systems, physics, collision*

### Required Patterns
...

### Forbidden Approaches
...

### Performance Guardrails
...

---

## Feature Layer Rules

*Applies to: secondary mechanics, AI systems, secondary features*

### Required Patterns
...

### Forbidden Approaches
...

---

## Presentation Layer Rules

*Applies to: rendering, audio, UI, VFX, shaders, animations*

### Required Patterns
...

### Forbidden Approaches
...

---

## Global Rules (All Layers)

### Naming Conventions
| Element | Convention | Example |
|---------|-----------|---------|
| Classes | [from technical-preferences] | [example] |
| Variables | [from technical-preferences] | [example] |
| Signals/Events | [from technical-preferences] | [example] |
| Files | [from technical-preferences] | [example] |
| Constants | [from technical-preferences] | [example] |

### Performance Budgets
| Target | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Framerate | [from technical-preferences] |
| Frame budget | [from technical-preferences] |
| Draw calls | [from technical-preferences] |
| Memory ceiling | [from technical-preferences] |

### Approved Libraries / Addons
- [library] — approved for [purpose]

### Forbidden APIs ([engine version])
These APIs are deprecated or unverified for [engine + version]:
- `[api name]` — deprecated since [version] / unverified post-cutoff
- Source: `docs/engine-reference/[engine]/deprecated-apis.md`

### Cross-Cutting Constraints
- [constraint that applies everywhere, regardless of layer]
```

---

## 6. Suggest Next Steps

After writing the manifest:

- If epics/stories don't exist yet: "Run `/create-epics layer: foundation` then `/create-stories [epic-slug]` — programmers
  can now use this manifest when writing story implementation notes."
- If this is a regeneration (manifest already existed): "Updated. Recommend
  notifying the team of changed rules — especially any new Forbidden entries."

---

## Collaborative Protocol

1. **Load silently** — read all inputs before presenting anything
2. **Show the summary first** — let the user see the scope before writing
3. **Ask before writing** — always confirm before creating or overwriting the manifest. On write: Verdict: **COMPLETE** — control manifest written. On decline: Verdict: **BLOCKED** — user declined write.
4. **Source every rule** — never add a rule that doesn't trace to an ADR, a
   technical preference, or an engine reference doc
5. **No interpretation** — extract rules as stated in ADRs; do not paraphrase
   in ways that change meaning