bigpowers 2.88.13 → 2.88.14

package/.agents/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.cline/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.codebuddy/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.codex/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.copilot/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.cursor/rules/gate-trace.mdc

@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/commands/prompts/gate-trace.md

@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/gemini-extension.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "bigpowers",
-  "version": "2.88.13",
+  "version": "2.88.14",
   "description": "81 skills — 73 agent skills synthesizing 17 years of software engineering discipline into a prescriptive methodology for solo developers",
   "keywords": [
     "gemini-extension"

package/.gemini/extensions/bigpowers/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.hermes/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.kilocode/rules/gate-trace.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.mimocode/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.opencode/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.pi/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "bigpowers",
-  "version": "2.88.13",
+  "version": "2.88.14",
   "description": "81 skills — 73 agent skills synthesizing 17 years of software engineering discipline into a prescriptive methodology for solo developers",
   "keywords": [
     "pi-package"

package/.pi/prompts/gate-trace.md

@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.pi/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.qwen/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.trae/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.windsurf/rules/gate-trace.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/.zcode/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## [2.88.14](https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/compare/v2.88.13...v2.88.14) (2026-10-25)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* **ci:** gate release on every check in one test-build-release pipeline ([#162](https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/issues/162)) ([14250d8](https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/commit/14250d843011da03f766de59f18371276fe16478))
+
 ## [2.88.13](https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/compare/v2.88.12...v2.88.13) (2026-10-25)
 
 

package/CLAUDE.md

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Stack: Markdown / Bash (documentation-based; skills integrate with Claude Code,
 | Lint    | `bash scripts/sync-skills.sh` (validates SKILL.md syntax) |
 | Validate specs YAML | `bash scripts/validate-specs-yaml.sh` |
 | Typecheck | N/A (Markdown / Bash project) |
-| CI platform | GitHub Actions (`.github/workflows/publish.yml`, `sync-skills.yml`, `golden-suite.yml`) |
+| CI platform | GitHub Actions — one pipeline `.github/workflows/test-build-release.yml` (sync, verification-gates, skill-verify, story-verify → release); plus `docs-site.yml`, `publish-wiki.yml` |
 | Compliance | `npm run compliance` |
 | Verification Gates | `bash scripts/run-verification-gates.sh` |
 | Traceability | `bash scripts/trace-stories.sh --strict` | grep for story tags (traceability check) |

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "bigpowers",
-  "version": "2.88.13",
+  "version": "2.88.14",
   "description": "73 agent skills synthesizing 17 years of software engineering discipline into a prescriptive methodology for solo developers",
   "main": "index.js",
   "scripts": {

package/scripts/lib/golden-suite-gates.sh

@@ -74,8 +74,11 @@ GOLDEN_GATES=(
   "specs-parse:bash scripts/validate-specs-yaml.sh:false"
   # The runner itself: failing output is shown, skips are named and reasoned.
   "golden-gate-runner:bash scripts/test-golden-gate-runner.sh:false"
+  # One pipeline, release needs: every gate, pinned runner and actions.
+  "ci-pipeline-contract-selftest:bash scripts/test-ci-pipeline-contract.sh --self-test:false"
+  "ci-pipeline-contract:bash scripts/test-ci-pipeline-contract.sh:false"
   # Tier 2 of the verify arc (#106): executes the verify: of every story marked
-  # done. Tier 1 (SKILL.md) is run-skill-verify.sh in golden-suite.yml.
+  # done. Tier 1 (SKILL.md) is run-skill-verify.sh in test-build-release.yml.
   "story-verify-selftest:bash scripts/run-story-verify.sh --self-test:false"
   "story-verify:bash scripts/run-story-verify.sh:false"
 )
@@ -123,7 +126,7 @@ golden_agent_dry_run() {
 }
 
 # GOLDEN_SKIP_GATES (comma list) skips gates another CI job already runs —
-# golden-suite.yml skips story-verify because its story-verify job runs the
+# test-build-release.yml skips story-verify because its story-verify job runs the
 # same command. Local Preflight leaves it unset, so every gate runs there. A
 # name that matches no gate is a FAIL: a typo must not look like a skip.
 golden_is_skipped() { # $1 = gate name

package/scripts/test-ci-pipeline-contract.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# story: BUG-2026-10-25-release-not-gated
+# test-ci-pipeline-contract.sh — the CI shape the portfolio template requires
+# (danielvm-git/.github, docs/concept/github-actions-best-practices.md):
+#
+#   1. one pipeline, .github/workflows/test-build-release.yml, holds every gate
+#      job and the release job; the workflows it replaced are gone
+#   2. release needs: every gate job and runs only on push to main — a release
+#      that does not wait for the gates publishes unverified builds
+#   3. no ubuntu-latest; every non-local action is pinned to a 40-char SHA
+#   4. every job has timeout-minutes
+#   5. release and Pages never cancel a run in progress
+#
+# Agent workflows (agent-locks.yml, generated agentics-maintenance.yml) are
+# exempt from 3–4 per migration plan v2.
+#
+# Usage: bash scripts/test-ci-pipeline-contract.sh [--self-test] [workflows-dir]
+set -euo pipefail
+source "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/lib/skill-common.sh"
+resolve_repo_root
+cd "$REPO_ROOT"
+source scripts/lib/python-env.sh
+resolve_python >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+check_dir() { # $1 = workflows dir; prints violations, exits non-zero on any
+  "$PYTHON" - "$1" <<'PY'
+import glob, os, re, sys, yaml
+
+d = sys.argv[1]
+GATES = {"sync", "verification-gates", "skill-verify", "story-verify"}
+RETIRED = ["publish.yml", "sync-skills.yml", "golden-suite.yml"]
+EXEMPT = {"agent-locks.yml", "agentics-maintenance.yml"}
+bad = []
+
+def load(path):
+    with open(path) as f:
+        return yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
+
+def cancels(block):
+    # Literal true cancels; an expression or false does not cancel a push run.
+    return isinstance(block, dict) and block.get("cancel-in-progress") is True
+
+pipe_path = os.path.join(d, "test-build-release.yml")
+if not os.path.isfile(pipe_path):
+    bad.append("test-build-release.yml missing")
+else:
+    pipe = load(pipe_path)
+    jobs = pipe.get("jobs", {})
+    missing = GATES - set(jobs)
+    if missing:
+        bad.append(f"pipeline lacks gate jobs: {sorted(missing)}")
+    rel = jobs.get("release")
+    if not rel:
+        bad.append("pipeline has no release job")
+    else:
+        needs = rel.get("needs", [])
+        needs = {needs} if isinstance(needs, str) else set(needs)
+        gate_jobs = set(jobs) - {"release"}
+        if not gate_jobs <= needs:
+            bad.append(f"release does not need: {sorted(gate_jobs - needs)}")
+        cond = str(rel.get("if", ""))
+        if "github.event_name == 'push'" not in cond or "refs/heads/main" not in cond:
+            bad.append("release is not limited to push on main")
+        if cancels(pipe.get("concurrency")) or cancels(rel.get("concurrency")):
+            bad.append("release can be cancelled in progress")
+
+for name in RETIRED:
+    if os.path.exists(os.path.join(d, name)):
+        bad.append(f"retired workflow still present: {name}")
+
+docs = os.path.join(d, "docs-site.yml")
+if os.path.isfile(docs) and cancels(load(docs).get("concurrency")):
+    bad.append("docs-site.yml: Pages deploy can be cancelled in progress")
+
+for path in sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(d, "*.yml"))):
+    name = os.path.basename(path)
+    if name in EXEMPT:
+        continue
+    for job_name, job in (load(path).get("jobs") or {}).items():
+        where = f"{name}:{job_name}"
+        if "uses" in job:  # reusable-workflow call: no runner of its own
+            continue
+        if "ubuntu-latest" in str(job.get("runs-on", "")):
+            bad.append(f"{where}: runs-on ubuntu-latest")
+        if "timeout-minutes" not in job:
+            bad.append(f"{where}: no timeout-minutes")
+        for step in job.get("steps", []):
+            uses = step.get("uses")
+            if uses and not uses.startswith("./") and not re.search(r"@[0-9a-f]{40}$", uses):
+                bad.append(f"{where}: action not SHA-pinned: {uses}")
+
+for b in bad:
+    print(f"FAIL: {b}")
+sys.exit(1 if bad else 0)
+PY
+}
+
+# Anti-vacuity: a conforming fixture passes, and each rule fails on its own breach.
+self_test() {
+  local tmp ok=1
+  tmp=$(mktemp -d)
+  trap "rm -rf '$tmp'" EXIT
+  local pin="actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0"
+  write_fixture() { # $1 = dir
+    mkdir -p "$1"
+    cat > "$1/test-build-release.yml" <<YAML
+on: push
+jobs:
+  sync: {runs-on: ubuntu-22.04, timeout-minutes: 10, steps: [{uses: $pin}]}
+  verification-gates: {runs-on: ubuntu-22.04, timeout-minutes: 15, steps: [{run: "true"}]}
+  skill-verify: {runs-on: ubuntu-22.04, timeout-minutes: 10, steps: [{run: "true"}]}
+  story-verify: {runs-on: ubuntu-22.04, timeout-minutes: 10, steps: [{run: "true"}]}
+  release:
+    needs: [sync, verification-gates, skill-verify, story-verify]
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    timeout-minutes: 15
+    concurrency: {group: release, cancel-in-progress: false}
+    steps: [{run: "true"}]
+YAML
+  }
+  expect() { # $1 = label, $2 = want pass|fail, $3 = dir
+    if check_dir "$3" >/dev/null; then got=pass; else got=fail; fi
+    if [ "$got" = "$2" ]; then echo "PASS ($1)"; else echo "FAIL ($1): got $got, want $2"; ok=0; fi
+  }
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/good"; expect "conforming pipeline passes" pass "$tmp/good"
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/no-needs"
+  sed -i.bak 's/needs: \[sync, verification-gates, skill-verify, story-verify\]/needs: [sync]/' "$tmp/no-needs/test-build-release.yml"
+  expect "release missing gate needs fails" fail "$tmp/no-needs"
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/latest"
+  sed -i.bak 's/runs-on: ubuntu-22.04, timeout-minutes: 15/runs-on: ubuntu-latest, timeout-minutes: 15/' "$tmp/latest/test-build-release.yml"
+  expect "ubuntu-latest fails" fail "$tmp/latest"
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/tag"
+  sed -i.bak "s|$pin|actions/checkout@v7|" "$tmp/tag/test-build-release.yml"
+  expect "tag-pinned action fails" fail "$tmp/tag"
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/cancel"
+  sed -i.bak 's/cancel-in-progress: false/cancel-in-progress: true/' "$tmp/cancel/test-build-release.yml"
+  expect "cancellable release fails" fail "$tmp/cancel"
+
+  write_fixture "$tmp/retired"; : > "$tmp/retired/publish.yml"
+  expect "retired workflow present fails" fail "$tmp/retired"
+
+  [ "$ok" -eq 1 ] && echo "OK: pipeline contract self-test" || { echo "pipeline contract self-test FAILED"; exit 1; }
+}
+
+if [ "${1:-}" = "--self-test" ]; then
+  self_test
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+dir="${1:-.github/workflows}"
+if check_dir "$dir"; then
+  echo "OK: CI pipeline contract ($dir)"
+else
+  echo "CI pipeline contract violated — see danielvm-git/.github docs/concept/github-actions-best-practices.md"
+  exit 1
+fi

package/skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md

@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ gate_trace:
 ## Integration Points
 
 - **release-branch SKILL.md** — pre-PR gate (FAIL blocks merge).
-- **sync-skills.yml** — runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as its "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
-  blocks pipeline), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
+- **test-build-release.yml** — its `sync` job runs `trace-stories.sh --strict` as the "Traceability gate" step (FAIL
+  blocks the release job), which shares this skill's coverage data (`traceability-matrix.json`) but
   does not invoke a gate-trace PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict directly.
 - **verify-work SKILL.md** — runs blind-spot checks; gate-trace consumes the result.
 

package/skills-lock.json

@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
     },
     "gate-trace": {
       "description": "\"Deterministic traceability quality gate — reads coverage matrix + blind-spot data, applies decision rules with oracle confidence downgrade, emits PASS/CONCERNS/FAIL/WAIVED verdict. Use before release-branch to gate merges on traceability.\"",
-      "sha256": "978894220e82c96a",
+      "sha256": "282c950cf9db124a",
       "path": "skills/gate-trace/SKILL.md"
     },
     "generate-allure-report": {