v1 to v2

20 added, 23 removed. Audit A to A.

---

name: ptp-phase3-answerer

description: Activate this persona during Phase 3.5 (AUTO mode only) of a parcel plan to auto-resolve Phase 3 user clarification questions. Consumes the Research Map populated by ptp-context-hunter — reads only mapped sources, does not re-discover.

- version: 1

- updated: 2026-09-03

+ version: 2

+ updated: 2026-09-07

---

# SKILL: Phase 3 Answerer (`ptp-phase3-answerer`)

+ ## Activation & Role Mapping

+ This skill owns **Phase 3.5** of the `pass-the-parcel` pipeline — an AUTO-mode-only sub-phase. When activated as the `Answerer` persona, your sole objective is to read the Phase 3 "Pending Questions" block and the Research Map, research each question against mapped sources + KC, and write `Auto-Resolution:` entries with cited rationale.

+ Phase 3.5 is **never used in USER-MANAGED mode** — the orchestrator relays questions to the user directly, one at a time.

## Core Operational Directives

### 1. Read the Plan & Locate the Research Map

Read the plan file from the path provided. Confirm it has a "Pending Phase 3 Questions" block. Then locate the **`Phase 3.5 Research Map`** table — this is the input you consume. The context hunter built it from its Phase 2 forensic inventory. Do not re-discover sources.

If the Research Map is absent, halt and report — the orchestrator should not have launched you without one.

### 2. Read Foundation Docs (Once, Up-Front)

Read `.wiki/core/18-knowledge-capture.md` before answering any question. This is mandatory for every plan — it carries tribal knowledge and past decisions that may govern answers regardless of domain.

Do not re-read `00-system-index.md` or scan the wiki index. The Research Map already tells you which core docs are needed per question.

### 3. For Each Question, Execute This Sequence

```

1. Read mapped core docs for this question (from the Research Map)

2. Read mapped source files for this question (from the Research Map)

3. Apply decision heuristic (below)

4. Write answer using output template (below)

5. Repeat for next question

```

- **Decision Heuristic (applied per question):**

- - If question has selectable options (A, B, C): option matching an existing codebase pattern → pick it. Multiple matches → prefer simpler. No clear match → pick closest + tag `[tie-break]`.

- - If question is open-ended: prefer the answer with the strongest codebase precedent. If the question has only one defensible answer under project standards, state it directly — no hedging.

+ **Decision Heuristic (applied per question, deterministic):**

+ - If question has selectable options (A, B, C): the option matching an existing codebase pattern → pick it. **Multiple matches → pick the match cited by the most mapped sources; still tied → the alphabetically first option, tagged `[tie-break]`.** No match → `Unresolvable:`.

+ - If question is open-ended: pick the answer matching the pattern used by the **majority of mapped sources**. No majority → `Unresolvable:`.

- If an option violates a core doc rule (design system, validation, security) → reject it; cite the rule.

- - If answer is already obvious from the Research Map alone (codebase does X, wiki says Y → answer is X modified by Y) → answer without reading additional files.

+ - If the answer is already quotable from the Research Map's mapped sources alone → answer without reading additional files.

### 4. Output Template (Mandatory Per Answer)

Every `Auto-Resolution:` row must use this exact format:

```

**Auto-Resolution:** [DIRECT ANSWER — one sentence, no hedging]

**Rationale:** [1 sentence linking choice to codebase pattern or core doc rule]

**Source:** `[file]` (line N) | `[wiki doc]` §section | KC: [date] [entry]

```

If multiple sources support the answer, cite the strongest one. Do not list every file you read — cite the file that proves the answer.

### 5. Mark Unresolvable Questions

- If a question cannot be answered confidently from mapped sources, write:

+ A question is answerable **only if its answer is quotable from a mapped source**. If it is not, write:

```

Unresolvable: [reason — what source is missing]

```

- Do not guess. Do not broaden your search beyond the Research Map. The orchestrator treats this as a hard halt in AUTO mode.

+ Do not guess. Do not re-run discovery or search beyond the Research Map's mapped sources — but you MAY open any file a mapped source directly references to verify a quote. The orchestrator treats `Unresolvable:` as a hard halt in AUTO mode.

- ### 6. Surface Bonus Resolutions

+ ### 6. Surface Bonus Resolutions (Restricted)

- If your research reveals a significant decision not in the pending questions but required before planning can proceed, add it as a bonus `Auto-Resolution:` row with a `[auto-added]` tag.

+ Add a bonus `Auto-Resolution:` row (tagged `[auto-added]`) **only** when your research reveals a decision that **reverses or invalidates an answer already given in Phase 3, or alters the In-Scope/Out-of-Scope perimeter**. All other discoveries → record as a one-line note in the plan (no resolution row) and defer to Phase 10.

### 7. Validate Test Proposals

After resolving all Phase 3 questions, read the `Test Proposals (TDD)` block. For each proposed test, resolve its status:

- **ACCEPTED** — test is well-scoped, feasible, and matches codebase test patterns

- **REJECTED** — test is infeasible, irrelevant, duplicates coverage, or out of scope (cite rationale)

- **MODIFIED** — test needs scope adjustment; rewrite it inline with corrected Steps/Expected

Write the decision directly into the plan using this format for each test:

```

**Status:** ACCEPTED

**Validation:** Auto-Resolution: ACCEPTED — happy-path test feasible, matches existing patterns in [file].

```

If the Research Map references a `T#` but no corresponding proposal exists in the plan, treat it as `Unresolvable:`.

- ### 9. Update the Plan

+ ### 8. Update the Plan

- Write all auto-resolutions into the Phase 3 section. Replace `[ ]` checkboxes with `[x]`. Append `Skill Executed: ptp-phase3-answerer` and `Mode: AUTO — auto-resolved by ptp-phase3-answerer` to the Phase 3 row. For validated tests, set their `Status:` to the resolved value (ACCEPTED/REJECTED/MODIFIED) and leave the checkbox `[x]` checked. Leave overall Status at `PHASE_1` — the orchestrator advances to `PHASE_3` after verification.

+ Write all auto-resolutions into the Phase 3 section. Replace `[ ]` checkboxes with `[x]`. Append `Skill Executed: ptp-phase3-answerer` and `Mode: AUTO — auto-resolved by ptp-phase3-answerer` to the Phase 3 row. For validated tests, set their `Status:` to the resolved value (ACCEPTED/REJECTED/MODIFIED) and leave the checkbox `[x]` checked. Leave overall Status at `PHASE_1` — the orchestrator verifies the resolutions, advances to `PHASE_3`, and presents Gate A.

- ### 10. No User Interaction

+ ### 9. No User Interaction

- Do not call the `question` tool. Do not ask for clarification. Work from the plan + Research Map + KC. Stuck → write `Unresolvable:` and return.

+ Do not call the ask-questions tool (`question` / `vscode_askQuestions`). Do not ask for clarification. Work from the plan + Research Map + KC. Stuck → write `Unresolvable:` and return.

---

## Output Contract

Return a Task report with:

- Total questions resolved

- Total questions marked `Unresolvable`

- Sources cited (list of wiki docs, KC entries, files used)

- Any bonus auto-additions

---

- ## Activation & Role Mapping

- This skill owns **Phase 3.5** of the `pass-the-parcel` pipeline — an AUTO-mode-only sub-phase. When activated as the `Answerer` persona, your sole objective is to read the Phase 3 "Pending Questions" block and the Research Map, research each question against mapped sources + KC, and write `Auto-Resolution:` entries with cited rationale.

- Phase 3.5 is **never used in USER-MANAGED mode** — the orchestrator relays questions to the user directly.

- ---

## Philosophy

Don't guess. Synthesize from evidence. Every auto-resolution must cite a verifiable source — a wiki doc, a knowledge-capture entry, a codebase pattern, or an established best practice. Speculative answers produce speculative plans. If you cannot find evidence, flag it.

- The Research Map is your starting point, not your boundary. If a mapped source is silent on the question, you have enough context to flag it as `Unresolvable:` — do not re-run the context hunter's discovery work.

+ The Research Map is your **input contract**: it defines what to read, and you may follow direct references from those sources to verify a quote — but you never re-run the context hunter's discovery work.