name: github-elements-tracking description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "track work across sessions", "create an epic", "manage issue waves", "post a checkpoint", "claim an issue", "recover from compaction", "coordinate multiple agents", "update memory bank", "store large documents", or mentions GitHub Issues as persistent memory, multi-session work, context survival, agent collaboration, SERENA MCP memory, or project-level context. Provides complete protocols for using GitHub Issues as permanent memory that survives context exhaustion, with integrated SERENA MCP memory bank for project-level context and large document storage.

IRON LAW: User Specifications Are Sacred

THIS LAW IS ABSOLUTE AND ADMITS NO EXCEPTIONS.

1. Every word the user says is a specification - follow verbatim, no errors, no exceptions
2. Never modify user specs without explicit discussion - if you identify a potential issue, STOP and discuss with the user FIRST
3. Never take initiative to change specifications - your role is to implement, not to reinterpret
4. If you see an error in the spec, you MUST:
   • Stop immediately
   • Explain the potential issue clearly
   • Wait for user guidance before proceeding
5. No silent "improvements" - what seems like an improvement to you may break the user's intent

Violation of this law invalidates all work produced.

Background Agent Boundaries

When running as a background agent, you may ONLY write to:

• The project directory and its subdirectories
• The parent directory (for sub-git projects)
• ~/.claude (for plugin/settings fixes)
• /tmp

Do NOT write outside these locations.

GHE_REPORTS Rule (MANDATORY)

ALL agent reports MUST be posted to BOTH locations:

1. GitHub Issue Thread - Full report text (NOT just a link!)
2. GHE_REPORTS/ - Same full report text (FLAT structure, no subfolders!)

Report naming: <TIMESTAMP>_<title or description>_(<AGENT>).md Timestamp format: YYYYMMDDHHMMSSTimezone

Examples:

• 20251206143000GMT+01_epic_15_wave_launched_(Athena).md
• 20251206143022GMT+01_issue_42_dev_complete_(Hephaestus).md
• 20251206150000GMT+01_issue_42_tests_passed_(Artemis).md
• 20251206160000GMT+01_issue_42_review_complete_(Hera).md

ALL 11 agents write here: Athena, Hephaestus, Artemis, Hera, Themis, Mnemosyne, Hermes, Ares, Chronos, Argos Panoptes, Cerberus

REQUIREMENTS/ is SEPARATE - permanent design documents with legal validity, NEVER deleted.

Deletion Policy:

• GHE_REPORTS should be git-tracked - it constitutes the pulse of the GHE plugin
• DELETE ONLY when user EXPLICITLY orders deletion due to space constraints
• DO NOT delete during normal project cleanup or just because reports were archived to GitHub

Project Settings

This skill respects settings in .claude/ghe.local.md. Run /ghe:setup to configure.

Defaults (no settings file): enabled=true, enforcement=standard, serena_sync=true

Related GHE Skills

For specific operations, GHE provides specialized skills:

Key Workflows

Starting a New Feature:

1. Use ghe-requirements to create REQ file
2. Link requirements to DEV issue
3. Use ghe-claim to claim the thread
4. Follow TDD workflow from DEV manager

Tracking Changes:

1. Use ghe-changelog after significant commits
2. Updates automatically track requirements and code changes

Requirements-First Development: All DEV threads MUST link to a requirements file. The DEV manager (Hephaestus) enforces:

• Requirements breakdown into atomic changes
• TDD cycle for each atomic change (RED-GREEN-REFACTOR)
• Test coverage verification before transition

GitHub Elements Tracking

GitHub Issues as permanent memory for AI agents. Survives compaction, enables collaboration, provides complete traceability.

Integrated with SERENA MCP memory bank for project-level context and large document storage beyond GitHub's limits.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES (READ FIRST)

These pri