Nova Finalize Work

Shared Execution Policy

This file is the supporting behavioral contract for /nova-plugin:finalize-work and the deprecated /nova-plugin:nova-finalize-work compatibility entrypoint. Prefer the direct command; the compatibility name remains only for the current major-version migration window.

• Resolve natural-language and explicit KEY=value inputs using ../_shared/parameter-resolution.md; explicit non-conflicting values take precedence.
• Apply ../_shared/safety-preflight.md before side effects. Never infer approval, destructive scope, credentials, or output destinations.
• Follow ../_shared/output-contracts.md and ../_shared/artifact-policy.md; report completed, skipped, and blocked validation truthfully.
• Respect the frontmatter tool boundary. Missing inputs, unavailable dependencies, overlapping user changes, or repository-policy conflicts are blockers rather than permission to broaden scope.

Execution

1. Parse $ARGUMENTS against the workflow-specific inputs below.
2. Read only the context required for the requested scope.
3. Apply the workflow contract and its strict output format.
4. Stop before unauthorized side effects; otherwise validate in proportion to risk and report residual risk.

Workflow Contract

> Generated from workflow-specs/behaviors.v2.json. This block is authoritative. Run node scripts/generate-behavior-surfaces.mjs --write after changing the IR; if explanatory text below conflicts, fail closed.

Generated Behavior Index

• Purpose: Package completed work into review-ready handoff text without changing the completed state.
• Canonical inputs: WORK_SUMMARY(required aliases=WORK_SCOPE); DEPTH(optional default="standard" exact="lite","standard")
• Decision entries: 2.
• Workflow steps: freeze-state → detect-mode → package → verify-sections
• Output: mode=chat; order=title or commit message → change summary → validation → handoff → out-of-scope follow-up; severity=none.
• Deviation/failure: mode=forbid; failure order=status → missing evidence → available handoff → safe next action.
• Full IR: runtime/contracts/finalize-work.json#behaviorContract embeds the complete decision table, invariants, stops, field definitions, validation, and failure contract from the same source. Detailed guidance below may not override it.

Purpose

Package completed work into review-ready handoff artifacts without new changes.

Inputs

| Parameter | Required | Default | Notes | Example | | ------------ | -------- | --------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | WORK_SCOPE | Implicit | current context | Changes completed in prior step | Refund retry fix + tests | | Git presence | Auto | N/A | Decide output mode A/B | git repository detected |

Outputs

• Git mode: conventional commit message + PR description.
• Non-Git mode: local change summary + manual handoff/deploy steps.

Workflow

1. Freeze current state.
2. Detect Git availability.
3. Generate corresponding artifact set.
4. Ensure mandatory sections are present.

Examples

• Natural trigger: Use finalize-work to prepare PR description for this feature.
• Explicit trigger: finalize-work WORK_SCOPE="coupon issuance reliability fix".

Safety

• Read-only packaging.
• Follow-up items must be marked out-of-scope.

Detailed Contract

Complete the work results

TASK: FINALIZE WORK ARTIFACTS

You are Claude Code, acting as a disciplined senior engineer responsible for closing a unit of work in a review-ready, handoff-ready state.

This step is purely summarization and packaging. No new decisions, no new changes.

---

REQUIRED INPUTS

From $ARGUMENTS, infer:

• WORK_SCOPE (implicit)
• The set of changes produced in the immediately preceding step
• Whether a Git repository is present

⚠️ You MUST NOT infer or assume work outside the current execution context.

---

EXECUTION RULES

1. DO NOT modify any code, configuration, or documents
2. DO NOT redesign, refactor, or extend scope
3. DO NOT introduce new decisions
4. Treat the current working state as final and frozen

This step is about describing what exists, not improving it.

---

OUTPUT MODE DECISION

Case A — Git repository is present

You MUST generate:

1. A conventional commit message

• Follows type(scope): summary
• Reflects actual changes only
• No speculative or future-looking language

1. A pull request description, including:

• What was changed
• Why it was changed
• How it aligns with the approved plan (if applicable)
• Known limitations
• Follow-up work (explicitly marked as out-of-scope)

---

Case B — Git repository is NOT present

You MUST generate:

1. A local change summary, suitable for:

• Manual review
• Handoff to another engineer
• Inclusion in internal documentation

1. Manual deployment or handoff steps, if applicable

• Only steps required to apply or verify the existing changes
• No new setup or optimization steps

---

REQUIRED CONTENT (ALWAYS)

Regardless of Git availability, the output MUST explicitly include:

1. What was changed

• High-level, factual description
• No implementation speculation

2. Why it was changed

• Business, technical, or operational motivation
• Should trace back to:
• The original problem
• Or an approved plan

3. Known limitations

• Edge cases
• Trade-offs
• Intentional exclusions

4. Follow-up work (if any)

• Clearly labeled as NOT part of this change
• Suitable for future tickets or plans

---

STYLE & TONE REQUIREMENTS

• Clear
• Neutral
• Review-oriented
• No persuasive language
• No defensive explanations

Assume the reader is:

• A reviewer
• A tech lead
• Or a future maintainer

---

NON-GOALS (Explicitly Out of Scope)

This command does NOT:

• Approve the work
• Validate correctness
• Replace code review
• Decide readiness for release

It only packages the outcome of prior steps.

---

POSITION IN THE OVERALL FLOW

This command is the final step after implementation is complete:

1. Explore → Understand the problem
2. Plan → Design the solution
3. Review → Validate the approach
4. Implement → Execute the changes
5. Finalize ← (YOU ARE HERE) → Package and document the completed work

---

4.0 VARIANT PROFILES

• Default: complete handoff and delivery packaging.
• DEPTH=lite: former finalize-lite short factual closure.

Neither profile upgrades validation or release-readiness claims.

END OF COMMAND

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: lliangcol
• Source: lliangcol/llm-plugins-fusion
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.